The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-13
from S,TcJHCr'S Monthly.
Ihc Improved .SmsricdH.
by In. j. q. HOLLAND.

Those Americans VINO nave tfaNCltu
over Europe during the past three or
four sears, expecting to be shocked by
The vulgar display of their countrymcn
aud countrywomcn, and shamcd by their
gauchcricS, have been pleasantly sur
priscd to lind their expectations unreal
izcd The American III Europe is now
u quiet person, who minds his own bust
ness, takes quickly to the best habits of
the country in which nc finds himself,
pays his bills, and commands universal
respect The vulgar displays on the
continent are now made mainly 10y men
who were born there, and who, having
made money IN America, have returned
to their carly homes to show themselves
aud their wealth. These people do
more 20 bring America into disrcputc in
Germany than all the native Americans
have ever done and many Of them, we
regret to say, have been sent there by
the American government rs consulS
and other governmental agents whose
end in securing such appointments was
simply that Of commanding respect and
position in communities in which neither
they nor their friends had ever had the
slightest consideration. In railway car
riagca and diiigenccs and steamers the
American is always courteous and
Vcll-bchaycd person, who bears with
aood-naturc his full share of inconyom-
inccs, is heartily polite to ladies of all
nationaltics. is kind to children, and
helrrul to ALL He and his wife and
daughters are invariably more tasteiulIy
and appropriately dressed than their
English fellow travellers, ANA ut the
laGia IL hotc their manners arc irreproach
able, while very little that is pleasant
can lie said of the table manners OF
the subjects of the Kaiser William. In
brief, the travelling american is greatly
improved, and it is time that nc were
relieved Of the lampoons OF lll-naturcd
correspondents and penny.a-lmcrS, and
placed where he belongs-among the
best bred of all those who are aHoat up
on the tide Of travel.
Again, those who have visited the va
rlous American watering places during
She past season, have not failed to re
mark that great change has occurred
among the summer pleasure seekers. -
At Newport aud Saratoga the efforts "a
vulgar display, which were ircqucn
during the last years Of the war and TIN
first of peace, have been entirely want
ing. A stunning toilet" was nevc
trailcd through the halls and parlor o
the Ocean House but once, by the same
person, during the past season. Til,
eminent rcspcctability and quictncss o
the surroundings were such rcbuk
that the wcarer disappeared the mex
morning, or subsidized into the universe
tone. The vulgar love of the dane
and the display which it involves, in al
the popular places of resort, have al
most entirely disappeared. With tn
most inspiring bands of music there la
been no dancing during the season, OK
ccpt at the small family hotels in out-oi
,ho.way places Bathing, driving
walking, rowing, sailing, bowling, am
cgoquct, and pic mic have given a health
,ul tone to the sea side and inland place
OF recreation, and dress and dancin
have been at discount. People spca
of this change Us il it were Il fashion {
The year, but in truth it is the cvidcnc
Of an improvement Ill the national cLal
actcr and life. We arc less childre
md more men and women than we wei
liner and higher in our thoughts an
tastes.
There are other signs of improvement
IN the American, and these relate mail
Nv TO the female side of the nation
The American woman has long been n
gardcd by Europeans as the most bcav
tiful woman in the world This she
and has been for twenty-five years, witt
out n doubt; and as tho circumstance
Of her life become easier, her labor lc
severe, and her education better, 81
will be more beautiful still. Amcrit
never possessed more beautiful gene
alton of women than she possesses t
day, and there is no doubt that the sty
If beauty is changing to nobler tyr
The characteristic American woman
iic present generation is larger til;
thc characteristic American woman
tho previous generation. 1t comes
better food, better clothing, better sleC
more fresh air, and less of hard work
mothers during those periods when The
vitality is all demanded for their motht
ly functions. We venture to say tn