Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-27
AMERICAN MANNERS.

AS Seen Through English Eyes--Impressions, Of
Archibald Forbes, the London Times Cor
respondent
A reporter of the New York
Tribune recently called on Archibald
Forbes, the famous war correspondent
of the London Times, who gives the
following spicy account of the gentle
mans opinion of our people in general:
"What do think of America e. he
said, in answer to question, 81
think you have country and a people
| to be admired-to use the mlldest term.
have been very agreeably dis
appointed. In our profession, we are
accustomed to study human nature,
and while have been in this country
1 have seen side of character which
Inever saw before, and which, L must
say, I never expected to see. The
English have the idea that the Amer
lean people are race of ill-mannered,
bad tempered people. But they never
were more mistaken in their lives.
There are no bad manners in this
country. What has been mistaken
for bad manners is the abruptness.
One says to ticket agent: "Can you
sell me ticket to such a place? He
replies: "Two-ifty, and hands one
out to you. You instantly think:
Well, you are an ill-tempered fellow
not to answer my question, but on
reflection you become satisfied that it
is the most practical way Of doing
business. You ask man to move a
little. He does not hear you, and he
says Aye, instead of Beg your pardon,
sir But as soon as he catches your
meaning he is all politeness, and takes
an interest in your welfare
"Then, do you consider the Ameri-
cans sympathetic people?"
"Not sympathetic, but human. l
missed train out West. The brutes
in England would have laughed at me
and said, You'll be in time for the
next one.' But what did they say
out West, oh, that is too bad, and
Immediately helped me to get out Of
the difficulty as much as was in their
| power. / have met no bruteS in this
country. At first / thought the hotel
| clerk was one. He Will answer your
! questions in a mechanical sort of way,
and throw a key at you, as much as
to say. What the devil do you want,
anyway But experience has taught
me a lesson, and I now think the
hotel clerk is the travelling mans best
friend. His manners are abrupt
because the public doesn't want
| two words when one VIII suffice. But
if you want to find out anything, or
get anything, or to have anything
| done. you 90 to the same clerk whom
you have thought churlish, and he
does it for you readily and satisfac-
torily.'
Have you noticed any peculiar
| American habits o.
Il cannot recall any except per-
| hapS, the habit Americans have of
| clearing their Threats. Canadians are
also peculiar. They never shut a
door. 1 asked a boy in a hotel what
door was for, and he replied, ITO go
in by But speaking Of Canadians
reminds me of my trip to Canada. 1t
was one continual supper and speech
making. I could not get away. The
Canadians are genial, gentlemanly
men; men of sterling character. who
I believe mean well. But they are
insufferably slow. They admire
Americans, and when an American
happens among them they receive
him with open arms--can not do too
much for him. But when they cross
the border they are dignity persona
fed and keep the Americans at the
elbow joint, as if every man they met
wanted to rob them"
"Haye you discovered any swim
dlel''
"Not by any means. In not d
single instance has there been any
attempt to get the better of me. You
pay so much per day at the hotel, or
so much for this Or that, the price of
which can always be ascertained. 1
do not see as there is any chance for
a man who has his wits about him to
be swindled. There are no porters or
servants to ask you for attendance
fees. If you give the man quarter
for carrying your baggage, it is your
own affair entirely. There is no
question but what America is very
great country, and I mean to come
back to it,