Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-12
SOCIAL HABITS Or THE AMERI
CANS.

National habits, tastes and feelings differ,
and Americans, III seyeral particulars, are
unlike their English relatives. The Eng
lishman is shy and exclusive. He builds
a high wall around his house and garden,
to keep out the eyes Of the public. The
American builds a fine house and lays
out a handsome garden, that others
may see and enjoy them as well
as himself. Shut in and hidden,
they would lose half their value. He
builds near the road, TO be better seen by the
passers-by; and his only fence is a low
paling, as Light and open as possible. The
Englishman likes 10 eat and drink 10 pri-
vate-shut up in his room OF a close little
box. The American prefers a large, gay,
dining-room, and the presence Of many
guests. What has he to be ashamed Of?
He wishes to see and be seen. He suns
himself in the public gaze. He enjoys So
ciety, and enters into the life around him.
The more the Inerrier. Tue larger the no
tel, the bigger the steamboat, the more PEG
pie about him, the greater
his enjoyment. On the railway,
an Englishman's ideal is to be
shut I'D alone. or, at the most, with his lit
Ntle private party. He has taken the coach
Vi it'll two seats facing each other, so that
half the passengers must ride backwards as
thet model Of his railway carriage. The
American prefers his spacious and hand
someN car with its fifty passengers. He
likes ITO walk through the train, and finds
some c3ne he knows. He Is not afraid OF
intrudiAlg, is gregauOus and social
ready ito discuss trade or politics with a
stranger, without buttOning up his pockets.
He is not afraid that some person below his
rank will \ claim his acquaintance. de
shakes hands with the President, and
discusses the coming election with the
blacksmith or shoemaker. He calculates
to treat every well-behayed man like gen
tleman, and every woman is TO him lady,
10 whom he is. courteous, respectful, and, II
need be, protective. Perhaps the most re-
pulsive thing an English traveller meets
with in America is the want Of any dis
tinctiOn Of classes. On the railroad there
is but one class and one price. Tie best
cars are, of course, reserved for ladies and
those who accompany them; but all pay
tie same fare. The Tudest American
understands that a lady, that any woman,
las a presCiptiye right TO the front seat
at the show, 10 the head Of the table
at dinner, 10 the best cabins and state
rooms on the steamer, and the best cars in
the railway train. She may be rich or
poor, mistress or maid; these are her rights
as a woman. There is not a steamboat
running on the widest Western river
where a male passenger ever takes his seat
at table until every woman is seated in
her own place Of honor. \ hundred hungry
men, with hot dinner smoking before
them, will patiently wait until some young
miss has fixed her last curl, and taken hel
seat near the head Of the table. AND
a lone woman, old or young, pretty OF
ugly, may travel from one end O
America to the other, finding kindness
civility. aud every assistance she needs
from every man she meets. There are then
in price and privilege, no tirst-class, second
class. OF third-claSs passengers. But then
are on steamboats, deck passengers, general
allv immigrants going West, or up the Mis-
s.ssippi: and immigrant trains, at very low
rates, are run upon some Of the prlnclpa
lines Of railway. But an American neye
travels by these trains. He puts onlhls sun
day clothes, pays fdll fare--as high as TN
hiohest-and hold himself as good as tn
best.-FOrtg Years Of american Lge' o.
DR.. NicOlS.