The native American., 1838-04-28
A COMPARISON BETWEEN ENGLISH
AND AMERICAN FEMALES. at a

From Cooper's g Gleanings in Europe"
The young play very different part in Eu-
rope from that which is contded to them at home.
On the continent Of Europe-though girls of con-
dition are now permitted to mingle little with
the world previously to marriage-it is under Sc
we're restraint, and with much reserve. The
English have greater latitude allowed them,
though infinitely less than is granted with us.
They still play secondary part in society, and
are subjected to good deal of restraint. should
say that tone, reflection, and perhaps necessity,
impart more refenn Of manner here, than it is
common TO with us, though girls of good fam
lilies, certainly the daughters Of good mothers at
home, come pretty nearly up to the level Of
English department. 1t is the pele-melc Of So
ciety in towns that double their population in if
teen years that is so destructive of manners with
US. In the general scramble, no set remains long
enough in prominent situation TO form model.
The growth of the country has this sin to an
swer for, as well as many others that are imput-
ed to the institutions. In brief, then, better
manner prevailed at these balls than is usually
met with at ours. say usually--for know ex-
ceptions in America-but our present concern is
with the rule. There was less noise nothing Of
the nursery, and generally that superiority Of air.
which is natural consequence of minds more
scrupulously trained and cultivated and of breed
| ing subjected to laws more unyieldng and arb-
trary. Do not whisper these opinions, | beseech
you to any of your acquaintances, lest they mur-
der me.
| In making these comparisons, however, do
not wish to be misunderstood. could fill a
drawing room, even in New York, that Babel of
manners, with women who should do credit to
any country. The difficulty would not be to Sc
lect, but to exclude.
have certainly met with few instances of
the exuberant manner among English women, but
never among the higher classes. In caste or
two, lower in the social scale, it is not uncom-
mon, and there is set in which it actually APP
pears to be the mode. Taking one example
from this specimen of the nation, will describe
her, in order that you may know, not ,chom, but
Dhaf, mean.
Imagine pretty woman, who will put herself
in the centre of the floor alone, entertaining two
or three men! She talks loud, laughs much, and
has altogether most startling confidence about
her; she looks her companion full in the eye,
with determined innocence that makes him feel
like victim, and causes him to wish for fan.
This is decided garrison manner, and has little
or no success at London. Something like it
might he seen in the house to which first went
this evening, but nothing like it at the two
Others
The English women are little apt to strike
an American, as, in slight degree, less feminine
than her own countrywomen. There is some
thing in the greater robustness of their physique
to give rise to such feeling, and think they
are, to trifing extent, more pronounced in air.
While they are much more punctiiously polite,
they are scarcely gracious. There is certainly
less nature about them, though there is more
frnnk ,fo 10 ~
Igidly regulated, and while they give you their
hands in the manner of friendship you do not feel
as much at home, as with the American, who does
not rise to receive you, and who protects
the extremities of her fingers as il they were not
the prettiest in the world. While the English
woman would command the most respect, the