The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-20
Americans Abroad.

From the Daily NeSoS.
The pending war in Europe seems to have
aroused the desires of vast numbers OF Ameri-
cans to visit the Old World, and to share in the
excitement and interest attending upon the
hostlities about to commence. The state-rooms
of the steamers are engaged for weeks before
hand, and more passports to visit Europe are
issued by the State Department to Americans
this year than on any previous one.
The Yankee desire to 'see sights" will doubt
less be gratided by following the drum" in
Europe during this summer and fall in more
ways than one. The American Consuls and
Ministers abroad, especially those near the
scenes of action, will have their hands full OF
business in eXtricating intrusive and meddle-
some tourists from the wrathful hands of field
marshals and generals commanding; and it will
be q special blessing il, IN the confusion and
the uncertainty that are sure to prevail, q half
a-dozen adventurous Americans be not shot as
spies, for prowling near outposts, or catechizing
cavalry officers at farm-houses over bottle of
bad wine, or, like the Tribune correspondent
on the Canada border for sporting an opera
glass and being suspicious generally.
In view OF the national character, it is not too
much to anticipate that in the very lmminence
OF the conflict, whether between Prussans and
AustIians or Austrians and Italians, or both
Prussians and Italians against Austrians a wild,
enthusiastic American on horseback may be
seen flying about the field, with notebook In
hand, throwing brigades into confusion, discon-
certing plans of battle, and arousing the sur
prise of the combatants hemselves-pursued,
perhaps, by troop OF cavalry, and seeking
shelter in either army inditerently-to be finally
captured by somebody, after hot chase, lodged
under guard, tried by drum-head court-martial
the next morning, in company with batch Of
spies, deserters, etc., and duly shot before doc
tors call.
Then, as might be supposed, a great deal of
red tape will be put in requisitjon, clustering
old officers will write curt letters on the sub
jecC, polite ministers will smooth over the un.
fortunate occurrence with many regrets, and IT
will finally be made to appear that the lamented
deceased brought his late on his own head and
the matter will die out OF the public mind until
another tourist will be caught hanging around
the fanks of an army and will suffer The same
fate, accompanied by volumlnous correspond
cnce wherein everything will be proved to
have been legally, and according to pituitary
law performed in the unfortunate mans case
Whilst this latter fact may go lar to mitigate
the ofense, it will still not atone in the mind OF
the victim for the presence Of the corporal and
his file Of men.
The habit that our people have contracted OF
viewing foreigners in light little removed
from childhood, will, also, make itself apparent
in a desire to instruct if chance be allowed
them) the more prominent officers OF the various
services in their business: Strategic points ana
matcbless campaigns will be pointed out 10 tnen
attention, and General Grant, or General Butler
or Pope, or somebody else, Will be quoted as
| having performed the same move success
fully, and great stress will be LAID upon the mar
tial experiences of the American people. Then
when these advisers are, so to speak, KICK {
out, or politely shown the door, they VIII go tS
work and write furious letters st'gmatHlng suct
and such General as charlatan, and prophe
sying all sorts of hon rible results of his cam
paigns-which letters will be despatched to thei
country newspapers, and signed with the iami
liar initials of the writer, Will eXclle tne aston
ished awe of country pumpkins, who will rathe
think that the words of the dismissed party i
question would make the foreigners feel ittl
low-spirited if they should read his opinlon 0
| them.
These are some Of the possibilities that ma
sDring from the great travel 10 Europe this sum
mer III less our compatTots should cool dow
somewhat before reaching the helds OF strlte, "
may expect that, from their natural go-a-heaC
aiYeness, mot . hw OSmieal, and perhaps seriou;