, 1876-11-18

pretty sure to have shown it to Hdmiring
friends, and been complimented on its accuracy,
they, at first, do not quite like to hnd on its
return that 1t has broken out everywhere
into palm trees as into chioken-p Ox or ma0-
sles. But they gradually learn that the British
public, or, at least, the picture loving portion OF
It, is not going to believe Ia Indian scenery
without palm trees, and they subsequently, 6nd
1t both safer and simpler to supply their
palm trees on the spot. After all, If by the par
tiouIarly untrue, you convey to ignorant minds
a vivid impression Of the generally true,
does not truth become untruth and un.
truth truth =? This is, perhaps, what that
eminent m0raliSt Plato meant when be said
that falsehoOd might be used by his guardian"
as q medicine, say l&udanum, fer instance,
labelled "poison," and trusted only to discreet
hands. Certainly, If Ignorance is the chief
qualification Of the patient, there Is every ex'
cuse for any guardian OF the public morals ana
intelligence who orders " local colour " to be
sent for the benefit Of bis readers by the bale
from Am erica to England. Americans whose
word, I regret to say, | have no reason TO
doubt pour into my sympathizing ear appal'
ling tales of the Ignorance" cultivated Igno'
rance, " as they call it, in bitter jeat-of thetr
own great country and remarkable fellow
countrymen which they find among English
people, even 10 good society. They give me
the names Of the oulprits-s0me OF them we'll
known In tic fashionable world. One lady 10
hopeleesly perpleYed by being told that Albany
is the capital Of New York, and thinks 1t a
"%quaint and original idea Of a picturesque
young country, " and just Gas funny as If we
English called Mayfair the capital Of London"
The lady has not yes arrived at the elamen-
tary conception Of a State Of New York as
something different from a city Of NoU York,
and triumphs over oil well-meGning efforts to
help her to il. Another lady c0ngratulGtes an
American visitor on the purity OF his English,
being under the impression that 10 American
speech there is a large admixture of Indian
words. a third thinks that the Americans are
usually waited on at table by Red Indians,
attached to the family with touching savage
like fidelity, and warranted not to scalp any
one connected with it. A fourth begs a gen
ileman returning to his home In Boston TO take
some gloves to her cousin 10 New Orleans or
San Francisco. A gentleman told me that on
his going to stay at a country house 70 Eng
land, various members of the family who saw
him, from their respective posts OF observation
in their rooms, as he entered the garden, all
came at oaco independently to the same
conclusion that he could not be the "Ameri.
can gentleman " whom they were expecting.
and told him 80, with the laudable desire, il
would seem, to please him, II ia a favorlte
form OF aattery from Eagllshmeu to Americans
TO assure them that they cannot really be
American, but must be English. lie wonders.
not altogether unnaturally, II the a rrtorS
conception formed by his hosta Of an Ameri.
can gentlemen " led them to expect that ne
would come suddenly with a bound over the
garden pailings. or make his arrival known By
~war-whOop, Instead of ringing the bell. |
could multiply tales Of this kind without end,
all duly authenticated with names, addresses,
and other social afidavits. Perhaps the most
obvious moral that they suggest is that Amerl'
cans are too thin-skinued, that they want q
little of the stolid dissatisfaction which
makes an Englishman feel anything but pity
for poor creatures-if such really exist-who
do not know all about England, and profoundly
admire her. Not a day passes without some
French critic or carioaturiGt, of the NJ. Asso.
liant type, sending over to Paris pictures Of
England quite as unfair and exaggerated as
eny thing that has gone TO England of Phila'
deIphia. But, If 90 Englishmsn notices hem,
1t is only 20 raise a laugh, whereas here the
victims are really hurt and annoyed. l try to
consoIs them with the assurance that some
fashionable people i'll England are more igno-
rant, If possible. OF India than of America,
though the former now does She duty, 10 Par
liamentary and after dinner speeches. long re-
Iinquished By the latter, as I" the brightest jewel
of England's Grown " that an Anglo.Indian
bound for Bombay ia asked to leave a parcel at
Madras, or on his return bone is offered blan-