Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-03-01
PLEASANT IMPRESSIONS.
a Titled EmgIishmen who Found
Americans Intelligent and
WelI-bred

mind of man on whose head he has
alighted. Altogether l was but fort
night in the Imperial Cty-ss believe
New York is now called on my voyage
to and from San Francisco for hurried
across the vast continent, only stopping
on my voyage out day at n agara and
one at Salt Lake City, ON my way from
the shores of the Atlantic to those of the
Pacific. In New York saw but little Of
the society of that place, not caring for
dining out or for calls Of ceremony, and
passing my days in walks about tho town,
and my evenings at the theater, or in
theatrical club yclept "The LAMBS" in
Union Square, whero poor Harry Monta.
que, one Of the best fellows that ever
stepped, had, on the day aite- my arrival.
entered my name as honorary member.
Not having n perSo'mGge, and not caring
TO appear in white tie and fne linen
every evening, and having wished to see
the social life in the American city, not
as n guest, but as a traveller, | think can
more impartially judge of what would be
the impression made ON cosmopolitan,
than had traded on being an English
man, with handle attached to my name,
rs probably most Britishsrs with such an
impediment would do. | mixed with all
classes, in the street car or omnibus
(which, in its American form, is ms super
ior to our London bus ms is a Partisan
Victoria to 'growler,O in the Union
club-the Travellers of New York-and
in the palatial steamer OF the Hudson
river, to which steamer and to which
river we have nothing to compare in the
Old World. Wherever ] went found
all casses Of the Americans not only civil
but highly civilized, as compared class
for class with the English not only
amiable, but, as rule, kind and courte
Gus, and, with rare exceptions, we'll ia
formed, well bred, and having more re-
fnement Of manner than any other people
l have ever come among. What struck
me especially in New York was the in
variable civility shown by all classes of
men TO women, whether the women rus
tied in silk or wore linsey- wolsev or
homespun; however crowded the car or
the iootway, room was at once made for n
lady. Does not this somewhat contrast
with tho sury, grumpy civility that is
shown to the fair sex in our public car
riages and streets? This politeness is not
rs in a neighborng country to ours, mere
lip and eye civiIty, but arises, / believe,
from mutual and intuitive good breed
ing with which, MS | said before, the
Americans OK every class are endowed.
For instance, if one entered room in
club or hotel, enc was not met by those
assem- bled with n "Who tho dash is this
person whom none Of us know, and what
tho dash does he here ~ sort of look /;
nor, if one entered into conversation with
some one in n railway car or steamer, was
one greeted with that truly British stare
which, in this country Of insuar preju
dice and arrogant assumption, conveys as
plainly as words the question, "WhGt
the mischief do you mean by speaking to
me without waiting for an introductionf"
My experience has been in America
that if you ask service from a stranger,
it is accorded readily without condescen-
sion or fuss that among them is little Of
the snobbsh wish tc appear to those we
do not know ms greater people than we
really are, little of that disgusting pat.
ronage Of manner that prevails IL this
country among tho richer classes, and
none Of the no less disgusting crlnginess
OF manner which so greatly prevails
among our trades people, and which
makes me, for one, hesitate before asking
my way in the streets Of well dressed
man, or entering a shop, where one will
Gf known good customer) be received
by n mealy. mouthed mortal all smiles
and grimaces, who will think that he will
more readily secure purchaser by show
ing some article ordered by my Lord
This or my Lady That On the contrary,
the New York tradesman or shop keeper
receives you with ciyility, but without
any of that cringiness Of manner which
seems 20 mo little less insulting than act
ual insolence he will allow you to look
rs long as you like at any Of the
articles his shop may contain, and will be
equally civil If you purchase or If you do
not but he will not rub his hands and
contract his features into leer, and ifyou
were to show him your superiority or po-
stion by affecting to look down upon him
as being "only a tradesman," he would
probably show you that there is something
more in being a citizen Of great Repub-
lie than mere sound, and that. although
you may fancy yourself a superior being
from not being Republican or a shop
man, he might be able to prove to you
that one man is as good as another.
| mixed thus with all classes, and spoke
to all with whom came in contact, and
in no single instance did ! meet with
anything but perfect eivility-the civitiy
of equals, which is after all the truest.-
admire with all my heart this great
people, our brothers, who, although VIC
have for so many years presumed to treat
them as poor relations, are in some forms
OF common courtesy and general polite
ness far superior to ourselves.
! grant that the Americans we meet on
the Continent Of Europe are eften often
sive in manner, aRd give a very unfavor-
able impression OF their country, both %