Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-10-17
Effect of Travel on Americans.

However grand in its natural features
America may be, and however vast in
it's material resources, these PECULIAR
ties are hardly legitimate subjects of
pride, and in the presence of what man
has done in Europe, the American
grows ashamed of his vanity of what
God has done for him, and acquires a
more modest estimate Of himself and of
his grade and style of civilization. The
great cathedrals, the wonderful cities,
the collections of art, the great high
way, even the ruins of the ancient
buildings, minister to his humiliation
by showing him how far other nations,
new aud old, surpass his possibilities
of achievement. When q man is
thoroughly humble in the presence OF
his superiors, or in the presence Of
work that overmatches his power and
skill, he naturally becomes not only
teachable, but an active and interested
learner. Europe to-day is great in
spirer to America and great teacher.
1t is true that she gets but little OF her
political inspiration from Europe, but
her instruction and inspiration in art
are almost entirely European. In arch
itecture. painting, sculpture, and even
in literature. European ideas are domi-
nant.
So this great tide of life that goes out
from us every year does not return
without that which abundantly repays
all its expenditure of time and money.
For in all this impression of European
superiority in many things, there is
rarely anything that tends to wean the
American from his home. The con-
ventionalities of old society, and habits
and customs that had their birth in cir
! cumstances and conditions having no
| relations to his life, do not tend to at
tract the American from his home love
and loyalty. He usually comes back q
| better American than he goes away,
with the disposition only to avail him.
self of what he has learned to improve
himself, his home and his country.
The American, bred to great social and
political freedom, cannot relinquish it,
and can never feel entirely at home
where he does not enjoy it. He per-
fectly understands how European can
come to America and be content with it
as home, because he can shape his
life according to his choice, but he
cannot understand how an American
can emigrate to Europe and make sat
isfactory home there, because the
social and political institutions would
be felt as a yoke to him. and burden.
DIR. HOLLAND in Scribner.
Thackeray's nose, through an early
accident was misshapen, being broad at
the bridge and stubby at the end. He
was near-sighted; his hair at forty was
gray, but MASSEY and abundant; his keen
and kindly eyes twinkled, sometimes
through and sometimes over his specta-
cles. A friend said of his face that its
predominant expression was courage
readiness TO face the world on its own
terms. Unlike Dickens, he took no
regular walking exercise, and, being re-
gardless of the laws OF health, suffered
in consequence. In reply to one who
asked him if he had ever received the
best medical advice, his reply was:
"What is the use Of advice il you don't
follow it? They tell me not to drink,
and do drink. They tell Lie not to
smoke, and l do smoke. They tell me
not to eat, and do eat. In short, do
everything that am desired not to do;
and therefore what an I to expects"