The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-11-27
From Our Special Correspondent.
OUn LONDON LETTER.
LONDON, Nov. Is. ISIS

1t may be o revelation TO Ameri-
cans II home, / know it was a reve-
lation to me, to learn that our conn
try and country-women are not
popular abroad that they are not,
except ia rare and isolated cases,
either liked or respected, This is
the opposite Of what most American
tourists will tell US, bat after careful
observation and study OF causes | am
convinced that we are not the adali-
ration and envy Of the Europesn
v Grid. Those who return from Eu.
rope with unclipped vanity to dilate
upon the esteem in which Americans
are held on the continent, have, ii
may be said, always got their opin
ions from hotel keepers, shop keep.
ers, and guides and they have paid
dearly, you may be sure, for the
sweet delusion. Americans have q
reputation for a%stuteness. Yankee
has become a synonym for shrewd-
ness the world over, but the ease
with which the modern American
tourist is hattered and gulled, by
those vino tolerate him only for bis
shopping and purchasing capacity,
gives color to the opiaion that the
more sensible Americans are staying
at home.
The cause of the unpopuIarisy of
the travelling American is MS impo-
likeness. He, (and she too), is rude,
awkward. obtrusive; loving those
things that good taste would have
him avoid, and emitting the thous-
and and M minute civilities which
are the oil of the little pinions as
well as of the great gcdgeons of the
cosmo-social machine. The Amer
lean abroad is distinguished above
nearly ell other people for mauUaise
honte, for a want of ~urbanity. 1t
would be tedious TO tell all his So
cial sins of omission and commission
how be offends good taste 10 the
house, at the table, on the street, in
the cars, with his eyes, nose, mouth,
arms, and legs. IL would seem a
very trivial catalogue to our people
who pique themselves on sterling
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 suf-
icient to confirm tie impression
which our geographical position sug-
gests to tEem-thst we are unculti.
waited frontiersmen. IL is not pleas
ant to write this ; it would be more
agreeable to tell a fattering tale OF
the esteem in which our countrymen
are held abroad, on account of their
gentle manners and superior breed
ing bat that would not be the way
to tell the truth, or to EFFECT reform
within the party" There is already
an excess OF treacle literature from
gushing tourists, and from the regu.
lation female correspondents at Wash
ington, who make demigodesses Of
beauty, form, and fashion, Of The
homely, common place, (but very es'
Unable to be sure) wives and dauga-
ters of Presidents and Cebine, Min.
listers.
One of the faTorite ways Of the
Americans abroad for manifestiug i'll
breeding is in rudeness to servsnts
they seldom speak kindly to this class,
or thank them for any service, but
will say, take that dish away, or,
have you nothing better than this
with voice and msnner that have
never been smoothed by altri,ion
with the polite world. II Is too true
that Americans have sufficient cause
fos disgust and i'll humor At the table
on the continent. The deceitfal mea.
gre shsrns that are placed before him
for a dinner ate unlike the exuber.
ance he is accustomed to at home
that bis stomach feels defrauded and
his pocket outraged ; but there is nc
reason why be should hurl bis indig.
nation at servants, who are not &C.
countahle for the table, who are much
superior to the same class in Ameri
ca, and who are accustomed TO con.
siderate politeness from all, save
American tourists.
There is something wanting in The
early training Of Americans who 90
abroad which makes them appear not
only ia all social relations, but ir ev.
cry situation where bearing, man,
ners, and address tell. | will not
say inferior to ali other peoples, bal
certainly interior to the French, lLal-
ians, Spanisrds, and Belgians in toe
same sphere of life. | have thought
that this defect Of our co%uutrymeH
might in part be accounted for by the
absence Of military training, which.
directly, or indirectly, through III
influence and spirit, nc doubt has al
effect upon the life and manners o
all classes in Europe, impartiug {
graceful carriage, easy, dignifeC
bearing, deferential address, arc
through the medication of habits 0
obedience, order and precision-dis.
tinguishing them trom the loose.
staggering guerillss of the Western
world.
There is another reaso why Amer
leans appear to disadvantage abroad
they must be compared with a tray
cling class socially, financially, auC
educationally superior to themselves
Americans are no doubt the most ex-
travagant travellers ia the world
that is, they go farther beyond theii
means to see the wonders Of the
world than any other people. Surely
it is g laudable desire to go abroad
and seek that experience, and breadth
of premise ia ideas, which travel will
surely help 10 bring TO the mind ca
pable of receiving it. But no French
man, German, or EnglishmaD, would
think of spending all the savings o.
years for a jaunt among the art gal
%leries, c~sthedrals, and museums q
Europe, without knowing in advance
anything of art, architecture, arcb9Jl
ogy. il may be said that no Euro
peans travel unless they a afford it
II seems now to be the fashion aud
the passion of Americans 20 start
abroad on the only FIVE hundred OF
thousand dollars they haze ever had
or have reasonable expectation Of