The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-05
The BritOm on His Travels.
London Examiner.1

The English tourist Of to-day, if he be
middle-aged, is like enough to be an
honest (or dishonest3 grocer or butcher,
who, id spite Of civil service stores COM
petition, can yet find the means to pur-
chase set of tourist coupons. To the
Paris guide he is indeed a refreshing OBJ
ject Of pity, disgust and contempt. He
is suspicious and greedy, impertinent,
supercilious, ignorant and offensive in
every respect.
There Is one thing which above all
Others he has firmly set his mind upon.
He will have his moneys worth for what
ever he pays; and to cafry this priAciple
out he will endure unheard-of agonies
rather than show the smallest sign Of
wayering in his laudable purpose. Leay.
ing the char-a-banc, he will insist upon
tramping up the whole bitter height of
the Arc de Triomphe, two hundred and
eighty steps though there be. But he
has paid his money to do the show, and
up stairs will he drag himself and his
faithful spouse. His honest "missus"
may groan, perspire and shake from head
to foot, but he only answers, matilda
Jane, we've paid our money like Chris
tians, and we'll do the thing proper"
Again, though it makes his very flesh
creep and his blood curdle, he will never
fail to "do" he Morgne. There will he
be seen stSfing at the hideous photo
graphs Of the dead, as if he were per
forming some solemn act Of duty. He
has even been known to grumble when
there we're no corpses over which he
could gloat as he stared through the
plate-glass, and to declare that the whole
thing was "a reg'lar do altogether"
In matters Of food he is always a great
connoisseur. Only a month ago, at q
restaurant Of st. Cloud patronized by
Cooks" burly BritoH was heard
loudly shouting "Gassong! Gassongw in
fact 80 loudly that the proprietor Of the
establishment stepped up and politely
demanded the cause of the disturbance.
"I want to zee this bon biftek,' as yel
call 1t, afore it is cooked, for I know
what's what, can tell yer" Not wish
ing to offend such an engaging patron
man was sent for, and the raw meal
produced. The tourist looked at it in
utter contempt, and, needless Of thots
who might have perchanee1 wished to
partake of it, seized a part of it between
his grubby thumb and finger. "Bah y
he bawled in disguised contempt, "mers
chuck steak, gentlemen and ladies'
nothing but chuck chuck" Another
gentleman among the company of tour
lists seconded him by remarking, "Hoffal
hofalp "''''i @''-.5
In their own country neither Of thest
honest tradesmen would have dared t.
behave in such a fashion. However
these sort Of Britons, in their travels
seem to be possessed with the notion tha
the greater blackguards they make o
themselves when on the Continent th'
! more is their nationality respected. Al
| to his national reputation for generosity
the Partisan shopman can have but
very poor idea Of this sort Of Britons III
enters the shop accompanied by his wifi
or daughter, who, as their saying goes
can Just "parleyvoo" little. Paterfam
| ilias stands close at the elbow of tn
would-be purchaser, and whenever any
thing ia rendered for sale and the pric
asked, invariably calls to mind his stocl
Of French and cries out, "Trow cheer
4 trow lcheerl Don't let that beggar rus
you, my DEAR" .''m. 8 10 .i7 7'.i y ..,...