Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-06
II. WHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor,
Insulting the Americans in London.

Insulting the Americans in London.
London Cor. New York Hcrald.l
Dropping in at Longs Hotel, in
Bond street, this morning to call
upon a gentleman from New York,
| presently found myself the center
of a throng Of Americans, who re-
lated to me grievance, forgetting,
perhaps, that | am no longer the
editor of a paper in New York,
ready at all times to take up the
cudgels in . good cause, and quite
willing to leave others to bag the
credit and profit Of whatever might
be accomplished. | must say that
found the "others" play their
part with great alacrity, especially
as it required no effort, mental or
physical, to enable them to do it.
Well, the grievance in question
was this: A certain man named
Benjamin-not a nice sort of man
either to look at or have any deal
ings with, dwelleth in Conduit
street, and there selleth Ulster
coats, as some of your readers may
be aware. 1t appears that Benja-
min has put a placard in the win
dow setting forth that no order
will be received from Americans
without prepayment Of a deposit.
This was regarded by my friends as
a slur upon the whole body Of their
countrymen, and not without rea-
son. Yet some of the gentlemen in
the room had given Benjamin Or
ders for goods, Notwithstanding
the notice, which do not think |
should have done under the cir
cumstances.
However, my curiosity was
aroused, and | went round to the
house Of Benjamin, and there, sure
enough, in the window was the
notice complained of--not written,
or even printed but painted on a
big board, the word Americans "
being large enough to be read across
the street-a manifest and pointed
declaration Of hostilities against
one particular nation. Had it said
"No orders taken from strangers
or foreigners without a deposit" no
one would have had a right to re-
sent it, but to single out Americans
for the reproach implied is merely
carrying the joke a little too far.
| happen to have a slight ac-
quaintance with this firm, and
thought l would goin and ask them
about it. | soon found that the
war was intended to be one to the
knife, and that Benjamin means to
extinguish you all, and show you
no quarter. | asked him if he did
net think it was an imprudent
thing 10 stick such a notice in his
window, merely from a business
point Of view. "No, he did not
1t was his intention to keep Ameri.
cans out of his shop. But they
would come, Notwithstanding the
notice" "Pray, what harm have
Americans done you?" said / to this
queer man, who wore blue spec.
tacles, and had one eye turned to.
ward heaven, and the other in the
contrary and less pleasing direction.
"what harm have they ever done
you?" 81 don't want them here
quoth Benjamin again. "Americans
are people j don't mean to have
about this shop" "But why stick
an insulting notice in your win.
dow?" "Because," replied Benja.
min, 81 mean to insult them
"This will do you a great deal ol
harm, and serve you right
"No, it won't; orr reputation
is enough" "Your reputa,
tion," said |, sis that Of an un'
pleasant and offensive little Jews
and, therefore, not a thing to boas
Of" whereupon, strange to say
Benjamin and his tribe waxet
! wroth, and danced about as if al
the listers in the place had turned
. into hot bricks beneath their feet
This led me to repeat what | haC
said in somewhat more decided Ian
guage, for it is pity not to max
! ones self understood on such al
. occasion.
. The particular Benjamin, VIII
l. was adnrned with hlue sDeCtacle