Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-11-22
LONDON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
To,-Do,- ~ Al s-C

EEOlA OuI COEEespO1QGnL
LONDON. Nov, 4th. '7S.
1t may be a revelation to Americans at
hOme-I know it was revelation to me-tO
learn that our eountrymen and country
women are not popular abroad-that they
are not, except in rare and isolated cases,
either liked or respected. This is the op-
posite of what most American tourists viii
tell us, but after careful observation and
study Of causes am convinced that We
are not the admiration and the envy of the
European world. Those who return from
Europe with unelipped vanity to dilate
upon the esteem in which Americans are
held on the Continent, have, it may be said,
always got their opinions from hotel-keep-
ers, shop-keepers, and guides; and they
have paid dearly, you may be sure. for the
sweet delusion. Americans have q reputa-
ton for astuteness. Yankee has become a
synonym for shrewdness the world over,
but the ease with which the modern Ameri-
can tourist is fattered and gulled, by
those who tolerate him only for his shop
ping and purchasing capacity, gives color
TO the opinion that the more sensible Amer
leans are staying at home.
The cause Of the unpoInlarity of the
travelling American is his impoliteness.
He land she too) is rude, awkward, obtru-
sive; doing those things that good taste
would have him aYoid, and emitting the
thousand and one minute civilities which
are the oil of the little pinions as well as
Of the great gudgeons Of the cosmo-sOcial
machine. The American abroad is DIS
tinguished above nearly all other people for
uduvaiss homie, for want of urbanity.
It would be tedious to tell all his social sins
of omission and commission-how he Of
tends good taste in the house, ct the table,
on the street, in the cars, with his eyes,
and nose, and mouth, and arms and legs.
1t wonld seem very trivial catalogue to
our people who pique themselves on sterl-
ing rather than shining virtues; but among
the superficial people Of the old world, who
like all people, Judge first from superficial
appearances, and maybe have neither time,
inclination, nor capacity, to see deeper, it
is sufficient to confirm the impression
which our geographical position suggests
to them-that we are uncultivated from
tiersmsn. 1t is not pleasant to write this;
it would be more agreeable to tell f1atter-
ing tale Of the esteem in which our coun-
trymen sre held abroad on account of their
gentle manners, and superior breeding;
but that would not be the way to tell the
truth or to s'effect reform within the party"
There is already an excess of treacle litera-
ture from gushing tourists, and from the
regulation female correspondents at Wash
ington, who make edemi-goddesseso Of beauty,
form and fashion, of the homely, common
place (but very estimable to be sure) wives
and daughters of Presidents and Cabinet
Ministers.
One of the favorite ways Of Americans
abroad for manifesting ill-breeding is in
rudeness to servants. They seldom speak
kindly to this class, or thank them for any
service, but will say ''take that dish away"
or, ''havs you nothing better than this"
with voice and manner that have never been
smoothed by attrition with the polite world.
1t is too true that Americans haYe sufficient
cause for disgust and ill-humor at the ia
BILE on the continent. The deceitful, meagre
shsps that are placed before him for a din
ner are so unlike the exuberence he is ac-
customed to at home, that his stomach feels
defrauded and his pocket outraged, but
there is no reason why he should hurl his
Indignation at servants, who are not ac-
countable for the table, who are much su-
Perior to the same class in America, and
who are accustomed to considerate polite
ness from all save American tourists.
There is something wanting IN the early
training of Americans who go abroad which
makes them appear not only in all social
relations, but in every situation where
bearing, manners, and address tell, viii
not say inferior to all other peoples, but
certainly inferior to the French, Italians,
Spaniards and Belgians in the same sphere
of life. have thought that this defeat of
our countrymen might in part be account
ed for by the absence of military training,
which, no doubt has an effect upon life
and manners in Europe, imparting grace
full carriage, easy, dignIfed bearing, defer
entail address, and through the incubation
Of habits Of obedience, order, and precision
distinguishing them from the loose,
staggering guerillas of the Western world
There is another reason why Americans
appear to disadvantage abroad. They
must be compared with travelling class
socially, financially and educationally su-
perior to themselves. Americans are no
doubt the most extraYsgant travellers in the
world; that is, they go farther beyond
their means, to see the wonders of the
world than any other people. Surely it is
a laudable desire to go abroad and seek that
experience, and breadth of premisein ideas,
which travel will surely help to bring.
But no Frenehman. German or English
man, would think of spending all the saw
iDgs of years for jaunt among the art
galleries, eathsdrals, and museums of Eq-
rope, without knowing in advance anything
of art, architecture, or archaeology.
1t may be said that no Europeans traYel
unless they can afford it. 1t seems now to
be the fashion and the passion of Americans
to start abroad on the only five hundred or
thousand dollars they have ever had, or
have reasonable expectation of having, and
no matter what may be the elevation of
their moral character and the worthiness
Of their liYes. they must appear to disad-
vantage when compared specifically with
those to whom wealth, leisure and the hab-
its offefned society have given elegance,
grace and simplicity Of manners.
In one of Burke's letters he says:
manners are of more Importance than
laws. Upon them inca great measure the
laws depend, The law teaches bHt here or
there. Manners are what veK or sOOthe,
corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, bar
barrie or refine US, by a constant, steady,
uniform, insensible operation, like that OF
the arr we breathe in. They give their
Whoie form and color to our lives. Ac-
corclng to their quality, they aid morals,
they supply them, or they totally destroy
| them"
An oiloloth satphel containing COM