Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1817-05-27
american Officers IN Europe.

Extract ola letter TO the Editor Of she M
rora, dated LiUertool, 7th FEB. 1917.
SIR-Th people of Europe were pre-
pared TO respect, and In some degree ad
mire, the naval and military character Of
the United States. Is il not, therefore,
much TO be regretted, that those officers
who, since the war, have travelled into
these countries should, by their silly top
peries, change prejudice in their favour in
to contempt OF themselves and their coun-
try Such has been the case. An emil
nent American General appeared on our
exchange with golden spurs Another
American officer, Major---, is exhibI-
ting himself in the same place dressed up m
the following ludicrous manner: turkish
quilted trowsers, military laced coat, large
black stock, golden spurs, and, to crown
all, tremendous pair of musiachios cover
ing his upper lip !. Had this gentleman
noticed the sarcastic leer in the countenan
ces ofthe lockers on, he would have suffer-
ed the punishment due TO his folly Both
these gallant officers arrived In this town
by the stage coaches, and had no more &C.
casion for golden spurs, than cock not
going to fight has for steal ones ;--and tru-
ly it would be well, in both cases, TO keep
spurs and other warike trappings for the
cockpits or scenes OF action. People here
are very apt 10 suppose, that where the
heels are unnecessarily furnished, the head
is not redundant.
Last. year some very Mdicrous exhibi
tons of The SAME kind were made in Lon
don--some of the London waes hired two
of The tallest men they could find, and went
TO The expense OF having uniforms, OF what
they called the American fashion made );
one of them they had dressed off in blue
with gold embroidered button holes and
guilt bullets for buttons; and put fierce
chspeaux bras on him the other who
was not quite SO tall, was dressed some
thing in the hussar style with cap: the
man hired 10 play the general squinted
little. and appeared to be fresh caught
Scotchman; the other had very long nose,
and something Of a swabian countenance,
but the crowd which followed was not lei
into The joke, for they really believed these
strange looking people 10 be American cffi-
GERS; they did not perceive that one OF
them wearing a sash, must be only a mock
officer, as real officers never wear sashes
but on duty however, John Bull was rea-
dy enough 10 overlook those things in or
der to have laugh at Brother Jonathan.
The MOB that gathered round them in
Piccadllay followed item up Bond street.
where the iinposiers were obliged to take
refuge in offee-house, and there the
Tick was discovered: bat hundreds still
believe that those people were American
Indians dressed i'll American uniforms.
As well wisher to republican America,
il pains me 10 see SO many OF your young
men eyincing, in their ridiculous conduct
the efforts OF an EDUCATION so opposite TO
that Of modesty and manly simplicity
which ought TO characterize the citizens OF
a free republic. / should wish 10 see the
press Of America use lis influence to pre-
vent this disgraceful exhibition of Amer |
can fo.ly. which, although most glazing in
your officers, extends to some OF your CT
Williams VINO have visited This country |
Your press ought 10 & shoot such lollies as
they rise and inform these recresn. re
puhlic2ns that they make but sorry hgure |
IN tic eyes OF Europeans, when they de
sert the character and plain appearance OF
the unaffected republicans, for these con-
iemptlbls fopperies which SIT With pecu
liar bad grace epon your counsrymen, who
are generally of grave satutnlne disposI-
ton, entirely devoid of lrisolily, humor OF
pleasanuy--u j. paying Amelicons com
pIimsni TO say, hat nature ntrsg intended
them fer soxcombs.