New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-17
AMERICAN MANNERS At TABLE.

EXPLANATORY CARD FROM Mr. PROCTOR
70 the Editor OF The tribune
SIR: A friend has just sent me n cutting
from THE TRIBUNE Of Tuesday last containing comments
on little sketch sent several weeks ago to The EG9'Sh
heeAanie q lectured al watervlle Me, on the lO'I'
ilth, and 18th, did rot the New-York paperSJ
You are hardly so air usual. You say that / am
evidently collecting material for book on America
"aer the usual style Of British tourists" and give rs
"a sample OF my observations the only passage thIs
Tar in which have expressed the least dsapproya OF
anything have noted IN this country Il one unsavory
fruit fair sample Of basket OF good fruit Again, y0n
hsser that "assured my friends after my proht Die
featuring campaign two years agO that was not going
to write book on America :" yet at that time did IN
tend to write such a book and IL not TIL
months after my return England that / gave up
the idea. partly influenced by advice (your own among
others to the contrary. partly by pressure Of scientific
work At present have intention 10 write book on
America though propose TO write the American
system chiefly for the benefit OF my own country Which
Is far behind you in such matters think that AFTER two
long lecture in this country and after giynZ
nearly $50 lectures here (Of which only O2 given
In the earlier aud the whole less profitable Of my two
seasons herel write such book with some little
experience OF the subject
As for tie passage you object TO- It describes fact
which occurred precisely have stated Il The five
Inches OF knife were however. three"i my narrative
Il used the nufneral 3. the wr word. Several
americans TO whom have related the story II good
oAe nave matched 1t with experiences OF therown in tbs
ar west THIS Ia not surprising when considers tie
onuuons OF travel there all classes travelling together
'ans meals together and forth. ! should no more
i"A' however, OF describing such cases as typical of
""nefS ID tle Tar West than of mentioning your own
nSii'eness on the point as a characteristic American
non. And II Is only when a cash Of the kind Is
ueSoloed that wrong Is done That IL the great and
S'"s iAuit IN Dckenss American scenes ~ Martin
0nuzziewit Thackeray gives an amusne Illustration OF
VIC S"'uiaity OF such descriptions In his Irish travels
"0fo al EhgahInan. who has been told that on par
0uiAr occasion Goals carried In soup plate, IN
oi"s 1ln That in Ireland Goals always carried IN
.p PiA'esl expressly state. the contrary that
u DOT seen single instance Of the sort beOrotha Is
euIlhg Ten months In ali Of travel In America
iou cay that when next visit Des MOnes had bet
"f BOARD with FREUD II this is meant for Il
lou really think unreasOnably squeamish In object
A. 70 es az The same table with man VINO behaved ~
SrsciiDed do not admire your taste. But IN truth II
va oOuDt 3 the mefest accident that met the wrecl
Dos holn,s. He was traveller, aud probably was oI
Us way from some savage region " another equally
erlta For anything know or care he may have CONT
from Patagonia. II have the pleasure OF revisit
nk les hones, shall return that excellent hotel thu
avofn House. confident that shall not again have sucf
sneApetence Even IN did. 10 IL easy TO remove iron
ens table 10 another Yours respectfully,
Sost0n, April Ia, 1876. RICHARD A. PROCTOR