Smyrna times., 1877-12-19
The Fine Old English Gentleman.

- @AAS S4A 1hSo44pA OOuGlGlUduI
DIR. lren@us Prime, the senior editor OF
the New York O5ScrUer, now travelling in
kurope,gives the following traits of character
IN one OF his interesting letters:
We were dining at Lucerne, in Switzer-
land. The elegant room was filed with
TWO or three hundred guests. Not far from
US but on the opposite side of-the table.
were three gentlemen whose conversation
1t was impossible not to hear, so pronounced
was every word they said. The one whose
voice was the loudest, was speaking Of the
great superiority of things at home COM
pared to what we had to put up with in
lorelgn travel. The tone of his remarks.
the swell, the self-conceit, the contemnf
ior othefS OPINION, and the accent also, led
me to say to myself, "There's another of
those conceited Englishmen: was there
ever such people to pride themselves on
what they have and are, and to desnise
every body and every thing besides
AT THIS moment one of them asked hila.
From what part of America do Won
Gomez"
Alas, lie was countryman of nv own.
and all my speculations and differences had
gone for nothing and worse The tables
were turned against me. TO the juouirv
he answered
" From Boston: you have probably
noticed that more Americans who are
abroad come from Boston, than any other
part of America ?"
And pray, why is that?" asked one Of
the gentlemen near him.
Because there are more pc0Dle Of
wealth and culture in Boston than in any
otner American city: we have no class
c"tIfd the arstocracy, but the best families.
the most refined and the most DISPOSED
and able to enjoy foreign travel, reside in
Boston," -
In this strain Of vulgar boasting, seeking
TO convey the impression that he was one
oi the people he described, this country
man OF mine went on till | was heartily
ashamed Of him, and Of my own first Inn.
preston rs to his nationality.
Ihe next day | was at Andcrmatt. snpnl.
ing the night. A gentleman APPROACHED
me and pleasantly remarked,
think we were at table together at
Lucerne last evening
Yes | replied, "you sat next to \
countryman Of mine from Boston,"
lie laughed and said, 4" lie was from one
OF the first families, one of your aristocracy:
but It was very characteristic, was it not r
vi what? inquired.
hcg your pardon, " he said. "but We
the Ensilsh-have an idea that YOU
Amencan3-are given to that sort Of thing"
And we thinks" | replied, "iust the
same OF you: 1t is six for one, and half a
dozen for the other"
And 50 we chatted, coming to the SAGE
that there are fools in all coun.
trIes, and fool at home is twice a fool
abroad.
At Interlaken we spent week at the
IiottI J.! dts Alpes. The company was very
distinguished, the " first families" from
Germany, Russia, France and England. |
was 9ittlhS one evening in the grand saloon, |
o., on me same sofa with the Princess - of |
huSSla' with whom | had no acquaintance. |
ana OF course we were not in conversation. |
an Eh9iish gentleman, a pater-iamlias |
whose vile and children were around. |
came up, and addressing the Princess |
said, "Shall find a seat here ?" |
moved along, and he crowded in between. |
and began with a series Of questions 10 tLn |
lady: Have you Jtca to London?' (Which |
OF the theatres did you prcfer?' "Did Won
attend any of the races while in Eneland?' |
The Princess gave him brief answers.
ana indicated that she had the true Rus.
SIN dislike to England-she greatly pre-
leneu Paris and The French. lie was
equal to the occasion. Il am fond of
Farls," he said; al have spent three
winters there while my daug ghters were
pursuing studIes-they required instrnc
-i0h IN languages,-hut they were well
educated before brought them to Paris
,hey could follow the hounds with me
my oldest daughter will take any fence that
would 60 Over,-splendid rider-but they
came abroad for languages and SO on.
Ill, wearied with his talk, left him with
he Princess.
The. next morning he came into the
)reakiast.room leading bull-dog-perhaps
I was hali-grown PUPPY a chain. 1t
vas an ugly looking beast, that should have
'een kept in the stable. But he breurht
nm to the table, and the vile animal took
seat, on his launches, in chair bv the
lde OF his master. The wife came in. sat
Town on the other side of the dog. and
pouring milk into saucer, broke bread
nto 1t, and this fine old English gentle.
nan and his wife and the beast ate their
breakfast together As breakfast was
erved on small tables, each family having
me apart, there was no ground for com
'iaint; but as this English family sat
'!tllh Anew ieet OF me, the sight interfered
tNASV VI my bIedhI;lSJ after IL was !
aten. 1t may be civilization for dors TO
at at their masters table in England.
hough never saw it in practice there, but
IS an insult to the decencies of human
ociety Tor any man to take big dog to a
u6lic breaktast-room, and seat him at the
able. '''0
At dinner when hundred guests were
t one long table, this fine old ENGLISH l
entleman led his dog in, and fastened {
i'm to his chair, to the danger of all and 5
ear OF many, for bulldog is not a reliable |
erson when a stranger comes bv. The .
laster ordered champagne, and instead of |
aving it opened by the servant who t
rought 1t, he startled the whole companv !
exploding it himself, and clappinr his
and over the mouth of the bottle sent the '
quor in Kissing streams in every direction.
These are a few specimens of the man.
ers OF this gentleman, an,-evidentv, from =
ne appearance of himself, his family and G
'sociates, man of standing and means. =
ut supremely selfish, having an utter dis. n
sgard for the feelings of others, and intent +
'lely upon his own importance. He q
lnpn f,p 4 !