The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-30
Reception Of Foreigners In America.


When private persons, or even members of
Parliament arrive from Great Britain on the
Con tinent, their advent creates no excitement
whatever. They come, see, grumhie, and go
hack home again. / is the same thing when
foreigners of distinction from the Continent
visit Great Britain. They see what they want
to see. transact what business they have to
transact, and quietly return, unnoticed and
uncared for save by the few for whom their
visit was especially intended, with whom
they have business CT to whom they nave let
tiers of introduction.
II is not so with us. No sooner does a
foreigner, be he who or what he may, land
upon our shores, than he is converted at once
into n celebrity, by The imaginations OF our
people They call on him AT his hotel, leave
their cards for him If he be not visible, invite
him TO their houses, and crowd their attentions
upon him in every possible way. In nine
cases ont Of ter, these ciVilIties are meant for
any thing rather than what they appear to be
meant for. They are designed, in plain Eng
lish, not to crafty the subject of them, but 10
acquire n little glory TOR the person who offers
them. / is such distnc ton to be seen in COM
pany with my Lord ToMNoDDY or the Hon. AU-
GvsTUs FITzDooDLE, or to be known as the
host of these distinguished nonentities, that
flesh and blood cannot withstand the tempta-
ton. The guest generally pays the politeness
in the proper coin. He eats the dinner, and
he drinks the wires, If they be tolerably good,
and he turns up his nose at his entertainer
There must be something particularly seduc-
| tive in crinGing and fawning; there must be
something supremely delicious in the smack
| of the calt.skin. How else could it be poss BILE
| that onr cis-oceanic tuft-hunters could retain
| all their tondress tor the society OF those whe
| regard them as infinitely beneath themselves,
| after the rebuffs that have been so plentifully
and so heartily administered
| We would advise all Americans, who are not
| incorrigibly and uralterably devoted TO Guilt
waiting the art OF cringing, TO let foreigners
| alone when they come 10 this country. Let
| them go where they like, and amuse them
selves in tie best way they can. Show them
| no attention whatever. II they have earned
any reputati which would render them an
object OF curiosity, consider them precisely as
! you would q rhiIocercs or an ourangotang
Lock at them, satisfy yourself by looking at
tAe!n, and 50 away. If they have any bust
ness W..h you, let them come after yen, and
don't 40 after tieln. The very smallest man
among them, AZ ae have me slightest claim TO
yoCf attention, regards At a. ac0ndescension
on ms part 10 lake notice OF you in return for
III Srea ,vs. CiNiltty You can offer him. Even
50 uuur q cTes.- ale is EEAETLBY BERKLBY
fss!s hiInsa.1 authorized &c sneer q the sixteen
no-,cue y no hc gays were waiting for him at
me rat'~oed station in Philadelphia. He
lnr.c4t .hsy Aere paying court 10 him, no
doubt, on account OF his mem beIship Of Par
Lament, and ne despIsed them accordingly
1t is impossible, indeed, TO treat such travel
| legs as be waS-and the country Is always full
of such-uithout rendering ones self liable
| to misinterpreta;iou, even where nothing more
| than The simplest ciVility was designed. Best
I have nothing to 60 with them.
| Let US not be misunderstood. Oar caution
| is applied 10 that description Of persons who
! are known as celebrities. With the hundreds
| of English, French, and German merchants
| and men of business whose affairs call them
| to this country, the case is entirely different,
| as il is with gentlemen like Measrs. BRIGHT
and Golden whose enlarged views can take
| in the greatness OF great people, and find
! ample apology for eccentricities in the album
! dance of good tGey see around Them.