The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-29

49, : .lE1E1l4-4eQ.eI q
THE DAILY DISPATCH:
WEDNEsDAY MORNING. MARCH z. Isst.
FOREIGN VISITORS TO THE UNITED
STATES.
II Is the good fortune Of America to De no'
only a land of refuge to the subjects o. ~.
oman monsrchies, but an object Of cariosf
Nv and consequently OF visitation and ex,
nioratiou BY the upper classes. lnere
was 4 time when this new world fu's'ui' pro- i
dnct;ve and almost as beautiful as the garden
~ Eden. was not thought deserving the
notice Of any but plebeians, when this mas
ter.p;ece of the Almighty's hand was con
,;dered unworthy the attention of the good
society of Europe Buttimes have changed.
and since the New World has kept the Old
World from starving; since from her boun-
teous breasts she has supplied life and nour-.
ishment to both hemisphere; since an en-
pire has sprung up here, whose fresh, vivlfy'
ing principles of civil and religious freedom
have scattered their fruitful seed to the ends
of the earth, and whose material progress IS
UNPARALLELED in the annals OF history, Anne
RIGA has become an object of curiosity and
interest to men of letters, to men OF science,
and even to men Of rank, who have deigned'
not unfrequently to descend from Their sub
lime, aristocratic spheres, and actually permit
their noble feet to alight upon this portion Of
the creation of God. This amazing conde-
scension, which must be highly fattering to
the superior intelligences, whose works are
thus graciously patronized, and for which
even inanimate nature ought to show its graft
tude; for which Niagara ought to roar with
deeper bass, and the Mississippi to blush
with modest red, and the Blue Ridge to bow
its lofty crest,-this amazing eondeseension,
it cannot be denied, is sufficiently apprecia-
ted by the animate and rational portion of
the western world. Whilst the arrival of a
ship-load of foreign laborers produces no
greater sensation than the arrival of ship
load of guano, and whilst the consignment OF
the living cargo to the grave by the ravages
of cholera would arouse no greater emotion
than the distribution of the guano aforesaid
upon wheat field, the advent of a noble
lord sends thrill of rapture, romance and
enthusiasm through every human soul in this
transcendently republican nation. Censor.
vative old gentlemen forget their govt, and
hasten with spasmodic activity to do reve-
renee to the illustrious stranger; scheming
matrons, if he be bachelor, prepare matri-
moniallasso to cast around his lordly neck, and
make him prey for their daughters; roman
tic damsels imagine themselves decked with
an aristocratie title, and sensible young men
initiate the air, the walk, and the shirt col
lar of the magnificent visiter. In the mean
time, the object of all these attentions exhi-
bits as sublime an indifference to the cour.
tesies of his entertainers as Vesuvius does to
party of tourists who have come to witness
an eruption. Ten to one that the volcano
preserves the most provoking placidity and
peace, Just to tantalize and battle impertinen
curiosity Or if there is an eruption, it viii
be very likely to throw FIRE and einders int
the eyes of the inquisitiye crowd. Even s,
doth the noble tourist in America regale TIL,
= sycophsntic crowd which follows his foot
steps and renders him homage He eithe
does not notice them at ell, or he says snap
pish and ill-natured things to them, making
them look very foolish and feel very uncom
Portable, in spite of the martyr-like smiles
with which they sustain their torture. Ne
vertheless they cling closely to him; they
surround him in public and private the,
follow and frisk about him like ours of low
degree around a majestic Newfoundland. O,
dog of St. Bernard in short, by thousan,
looks gestures and actions, as well as words
they declare that they consider the nobl,
tourist q superior being and themselves infe
rior creatures. who are only too much honor
ed in being allowed to be the footstooIs OF
nobility. ~. f.r-7....- 81 -. =
1t is, however, a serious misfortune with
our American worshippers of title, that they
are 80 often imposed upon by counterfeit
coin. The aristocratic champagne, which
they quaff with such exquisite gusto, is often
nothing but plebeian cider. 1t is difficult 10
distinguish the lord from his valet: and in
nine cases out of ten, it is the valet, the
coachman, the butler, or some other discard.
ed serving man, who visits this country as
baronet, lord or duke. This mental creature
treads with scornful air upon carpets which
were never soiled by the foot of poor Anne
rican; criticizes men, women and manners in
America in the most impudent manner; Dor
rows money of his entertainers, who are on
ly too proud and happy to be the means Of
accommodating their noble friend; and dis.
appears some fine morning, leaving no trace
behind. The real noble has learned to travel
incog. in the United States, not because the
country is SO republican that the plain citizen
will command as much respect as the lord
but in order to escape being smothered and
overwhelmed with republican idolatry of
rank! tE 9eIflEF
These remarks do not apply to the mass OF
our people-to the unsophisticated, industr;.
Gus. toiling millions, who are too busy to read
novels and romances, lin which none hut mo.
BILE lords and ladies are the heroes and hero.
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