Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-23
Americans in ENGLAND.

In an article upon the American Wis
itors who arc now flocking to Eureps.
the London Times says: "American
tourists speak Of coming, not to Great
Britain, but to Europe. Some even
persuade themselves that Paris 10 their
actual goal. Large numbers Of them
spend less time in these islands than on
the European continent. They are to
be found more profusely in every Eu-
ropean capital than in London. 1t u to
be feared Americana commonly find
English family circles not very accessi-
bic. Every Englishman has learned TO
value the friendship OF the few whom
accident or intruductions have made
known to him. But for the majority
nestle life is as sealed book ~ French
or Italian. They arrive with kind OF
belief that they are turning home; they
go back with SO much Information on
English nature and habits as can be OBJ
tanned by perambulating the streets and
comparing the fare and charges o.
thirty or forty hotels in different parts
of the kingdom. A foreigner among
people speaking different language,
aud all whose institutions indicate Q
different origin. does not expect to feel
ut home. Americans in Eng land do not
feel themselves foreigners, and must be
painfully surprised to discover how en-
tirely they are strangers. The contrast
can scarcely fail to be the ruder for the
conviction OF most Americans that in.
their own country they would extend o
much warmer hospitality to British Wis
itors. The truth IL, that British visit
ors to the United States at present gain
by their rarity and American visitors to
Great Britain lose by their abundance.
Englishmen in the United States are
still few enough to occupy the position
of guests of the nation. Americans
disem bark at Liverpool in numbers
much too great for individuals to DO
noticed, unless they adopt means to
render themselves individually c0nsid-
cred. In proportion as the inestimable
advantages begin to be understood OF
being able to observe the operation OF
British qualities and institutions in new
circumstances, English visitors to the
United States must prepare to dispen se
with the extraordinary attentions which
at present minister to their sense OF
personal importance. We should re-
joice if, on the other hand, Eus llsnmen
would take more paiRs to fscliitAte for
Americans who desi,e 1t, tue means OF
making acquaintance with English life
AZ 1t really Is. The more direct the in
tercourse between English aud Ameri-
can homes, the brighter will bs the
prospect Of permanent International
good will. Every autumn tourist to
New York and Pennsy lvania and New
England comes back with cordial ad-
miration of the couAtry he has trav-
ersed, and still more Of its people.
Roughness and cruditles which offend
on the surface disappear on nearer ap-
proach. The same pleasant consequence
would attend q closer familiarity OF
American tourists in Europe with Brit
ish peculiarities. If the legion Of trav-
elers which the United Kingdom is
promised during the next few months
from the United States will consent TO
study their blood relations Of the
mother country from some less general
points of view than the EPSON race
c0urse or the ride in Hyde Park, and ii
Euglishmen will afford them opp0rtu-
mites, the temporary migration may an
swer more durable purpose than the
inundation of the United States with
French fashions and unauthenticated
Italian art"