Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-29
Americans Abroad.

We utslIt " lldhb our republic respected aS
much abroad as it deserves that we are keenly
alive 70 all shortcomings. When see French
man glaring impudently at a woman, or Ger
man swallowing both knife and fork in the pro-
cess of eating, or an Englishman bullying his
interiors and being "umhle" in the presence Of
those above him in rank, am disguised but not
personally concerned. Let an American give
offence and feel in a measure responsible for
his conduct, for, remember, Sally, that our ma
tion is child in years, in fact is but just born,
and in European opinion is on trial. As the pre-
vailing governments Of the old world are more
or less despotic, and thoroughly aristocratic,
they look with no love upon a republic whose
success is a menace to divine right and the de
grading spirit of caste. Singularly ignorant OF
all that concerns us, not thinking II worth While
to study either people or Institutions, all their
traditions aud preudices are against us, aud
they are only too happy when individual ex-
ampleS confirm previous conclusions, There
fore You see, Sally, how important it is that
Americans abroad should honorably represent
their country. Each man and woman is bit of
the republic, is scanned and discussed as such,
condemned or praised as such European radi-
calls. anxious for the coming of the universal
republic look 10 us for practical evidence Of
what they so earnestly and unsel6shly preach.
They grow fainthearted when they find folly
aud vice added to a total Indifference to the
propagation Of the form of government which
the most advanced minds of all countries believe
to be but for the advancement of humanity.
do honestly believe that if Americans abroad
fully realized their influence, either for good or
evil, there would be much less cause for adverse
criticism than there Is at present Many come
over for the purpose of what is elegantly termed
"a spree" Out-Frenchifying fast Parisians,
they do everything that public opinion restrained
them from doing at home, and, returning TO
America accomplished in little but vice. graft
French manners on to republican principles
with bad results to the tree of liberty. Bear in
mind, Sally, that am dealing with our sinners,
not our many saints. The men go all lengths;
the women 20 as far as they dare-sOmetimeS
farther. Paris is the chosen rendezvous, not be-
cause of bright sun and many works of art,
but because vice and folly need not be sought.
They come without bidding, and stay by you as
long us there is franc left in your pocket.
When you have no more money you are no
longer charming.
And the fattery, Sally, that one is obliged to
eldure in Paris! 1t must pay, otherwise it
would not be so ,universa; and when think
that Americans receive it not only with tolera-
ton but pleasure, wonder what has come over
the people since the landing of the pilgrims If
q Frenchwoman smiles and compliments mon
Sieur on the shape of his hand, monsieur is so
charmed with her bright eyes and pretty lies as
to pay any amount she chooses TO ask for the
gloves And the amount Of whipped sylabub
administered to us women is positively appall-
ingl If you try on boots you are overpowered
with euloges over your "petite pied" The more
you don't like the boot, and the more the shop
keeper wants to get rid of It, the smaller and
more beautiful is your "petite pied" Listen to
the following dialogue between myself and a
bOotmaker.
81 do not like the boot 1t does not ft."
"Mais, pardon, Madame, it exactly fits your
little foot"
at does nothing of the sort. 1t is too long
and narrow"
"On the contrary, Madame, assure you that
| nothing could be better. Perhaps it is q trihe
| lOnp lut foot ig LITTLE tbatp
81 repeat that the boot is too long and mar
row."
Pardon, Madame, but if you observe close y
you will see that your little foot
Let me hear no more nonsense about my lit
| tie foot, which isn't little. You know perfectly
well that the boot does not fit, and unless
| you show me another pair l shall 20 without
| any"
"Bien, Madame, on the whole you are right.
| think that the only way to fit you properly
is to take your measure"
And this change of base is made without a
blush in the coolest possible mannerl The man
lied as long as he could, and when he found it
impossible to get rid of the ready made boots
told the truth with perfect eXacttude.
This is my experience in everything, Send
for a woman who deals in "lingerie" and be-
fore showing you what you desire she will ex-
| hlbit Valenciennes dresses for one thousand
| francs, you knowing that if beaten down with
infinite labor she will take six hundred. "But
the collars you say, impatiently. "In one
moment, Madame. Here is lovely hchu."
| please cast her eye over this exquisite bit of
| lace2" "The collars" pardon, Madame, but
gaze upon these beautifully embroidered hand
| kerchiels,"
And so you will be politely bullied into exam
| lining everything that you do not want or
| ought not to buy. Finding it useless to display
her wares, the woman at last produces the col
| lars, which are not pretty and are not what you
| want She employs much rhetoric to make you
believe that never were there such beautiful col
lars, nor collars so becoming to your STYLE Re-
main o5durate, and the wretched creature at
last says, "There are moments when my selec-
ton OF collars is not very good; this is one of
them. When madame returns ] promise to suit
| you exactly, for now / see what you requireF'
| Again not blush, and the woman leaves with
| smile and bland "bOn jour-" There are peo-
| pie, Sally, who, if not fooled into buying, re-
1 celVe the lies with perfect equanimity, 1t may
| be unamlable, but ] cannot; and believe that
| fewer Americans would be cheated if more re-
scented the attempts in this direction.
| Then when it comes to dressmakers, Sally,
| no words can describe the acting that takes
| place. If you possess good points, they are de-
| seanted upon in all their length, breadth and
| thickness. If you possess none, they are ill.,
| vented. Iou are model for a sculptor; you
| are dlStingue beyond Processes. You have eyes
| beaming with intelligence; YOU are so spirituelle
I
| whom you come in contact; you are, you are,
| you are-until you feel'lke presenting pistol
| at their long heads and eXcaimng, "Dead ST.
| lence or your dead bodies" But, Us remark
| ed before, it answers admirably as a rule. I've
| seen women accept this adulation with delight,
and as consequence order dresses they did not
| want, and which their husbands growled at pay
| Ing for Sally, human nature is excessively
| lrail, particularly when it comes to Paris. There
| all your weaknesses break out and, like the
| measles, come to the surface. Ny opinion is
| that many saints would be full-grown sinners if
they only had the opportunity that Paris affords
for developing latent capacities.
10 return to dressmakers; let me tell YOU,
| Sally, that Americans ruin them by paying fab
| ulous amounts. Because clothes at the highest
| prices are notion account OF the taTiffs-as ex-
| pensive as at home American women rarely
dispute bill, and are laughed at by the very
| person who realizes enormous profits from their
folly. For six perfectly plain underwaists
worth at the most six francs apiece, and for two
| similar waists trimmed with lace, worth fifteen
francs apiece, was recently charged by fash
| ionable modiste one hundred and forty francs
| On looking at the bill murmured, then count
ed out the money, and was about to pay it, when
concluded TO express my indignation, and see
what would be the result. 1t was received with
perfect composure, as though in no way sur
prisng. 81 shall not pay this outrageous bill, j"
declared. Every WE'LL" quietly reioiued the
| enemy, "when madame returns she will make
some arrangements" Now, Sally, is not this
| dishonesty enough to spoil Anglo-SaXon tenn
peri 1t is quite time for me TO return to Amer
lea. | can't make matters better, and they
make me much worse.