Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-22
The SnOb on His travels.

iEl1idGtlI.lld 1liltc-
Perhaps there Is hardly any more useless
CTt aJuTe in The world than the pure and simple
snOs who has plenty OF money and no particu-
lar employment. As a general thing he has
Inherited wealth, which Is no fault or MS, Du5,
on the contrary, thing which he could not
help. The snob Is sometimes well educated
that Is TO say. he has been in certain way
furnished with something procured at schools
and which passes for education. although it
does not always store the mind with vaiua-
be knowledge. This is very much accord
Ing TO the use made OF IL 10 passing through
these educational establishments. The SnOO
Is not studGus. II he were he would no.
be snob. His furnishing is that OF ratment
and JeRelry rather than the adOrlug OF the
mind. Having little 10 occupy him al home be
has abundant leisure for travel, his preference
usually being for foreign countries rather than
fer what is 10 be seen IN his own land. There
is more opportunity for putting on airs In for
eign country than there Is among American
s1ght-Seers- There are more cathedraIS and
castles and picture galleries and ruins In Eu-
rope than there are In this country; and it Is
among these that the snob particularly delights
10 spread himself The Snob is exceedingly
happy when toady1ng to titled foreigners. a
thing for which American travel affords little
or no opportunity.
One OF the ridiculous features OF the travelling
snobs conversation Is his exaltatiOn OF all that
Is foreign and the contempt OF the institutions
OF bis own country. General Grant took Oc-
casion In one OF his speechlets delivered few
evenings ago at washington to administer
severe rebuke 10 the whole army OF travelling
Snobs for this offensive habit The General has
very large acquaintance with snobs OF all
sorts, but In his travels among foreign coun-
tries he has been especially disguised by the
remarks and the bearing OF the class alluded TO-
AS NEST OF these persons are OF the sort VINO
would rather be thought fools than
not De thought OF al all, they are not
likely TO be Offended by an adverse criticism
The generals opinion OF them Is that they are
shallow, and that they have made but little
acquaintance, either by study or travel, with
The Land they left behind them. To hear these
people talk and 10 see them put on airs is
enough 70 make plain American ashamed OF
them- The influence which these people carry
sDooS though they are, Is considerable In flS
way, for It Is that which wealth carries and In
many quarters wealth Is power. Exactly how
much harm the Sno0 influence abroad may have
done US Is matter which viii never be definitely
known. for statistics are powerleSS TO reach
IL. IL Is certain, however, that the snObS have
done enough mischief 10 make IL an object TO
put stopper On them. II some sensible
American traveller could but follow in the wake
OF every snob. or rise up In his presence and
make sport OF his ridiculous ways and his
empty pretenSiolS. he might be driven back &c
his obscurtty. But sensible travellers have bet
ter business TO attend 10, and there Is little
hope that the snobS Will have their ways
mended by any such effort. Meanwhile the
steamers and railroads continue 10 carry snobS
al the same rates charged for ordinary paSSen.
gers The probability Is that they viii trave
as long as travelling IS fashionable, and that
they viii for all time be the same ridiculous
SLoOS that they are to-day.