New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-07
TALKS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS
ARCHIBALD FORBES.

TIE WAR CoRREsPOEDENT's IMPRESSIONS OF AMER
IcA-No BAD MANNERS IN THIS COUNTRY
SOME PECULIAR HABITs-MR. FORBEss PLANS.
SIT you down." said Archibald Forbes in a
cordial tone. as reporter of The
TRIBUNE was ushered into his room at the
Gilsey HOUSE, On Saturday. Mr.. Forbes
was engaged in packing up" fis was stand
ing in the middle of the room, with an express
sion of despair on his bright open Scotch face, he
surveyed the articles piled upon every piece of fur
niture and scattered over the floor. He evidently
was wondering what nexti" as in an distracted
sort of way he echoed the reporters question.
what d. think of America 2" he said, in an
swer to question. Il think you have a country
and people to be admred-to use the mildest term
have Deen very agreeably disappointed. In our
profession we are accustomed to study human ma
seen side OF character which l never saw before,
s9o The English say Eavo p tSS ids ap' f6
maunered, bad-tempered people. But they never
were mere 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 a
ticket agent: Can You sell me Q ticket to such a
placep He replies: 'Two-fftyi' and hands
% you are an empdT nang fellow think not
to answer my, question but on reflection
you become satisfied that it is the most practical
wax Oh dol ing. business. You ask man to move
IN,
stead OF Beg your pardon SIR But as soon as he
catches your meaning he is all poteness and takes
an interest in your welfare
Then, DO you consider the Americans sympa-
thetc peoplep
Not sympathetic, but human. missed q train
in the West. The brutes in England would haye
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 mechanical sort Of way, and
throw Key at you, as much as to say: What the
devil do you want. anyway l left tho fremont
House. IN Boston, on this account. But experience
has 'ad ba bd me Clerk lesson tR 9d nEw
mans best friend. His manners are abrupt
because the public doesn't want tn hear two words
when one will suffice. Bnt if You want TO find out
you 60 10 the same clerk whom yOu have thought
chursh and he does it for readily and satisfac-
torily."
Have You noticed any peculiar American
habits 7"
Yes. There is one thing and that is the disgusting
habit Americans have of clearing their throats
Canadians are also peculiar. They never shut
door. | asked boy in "A hotel what door was for.
and no replied. To go in by But speaking of
Canadians reminds me of my trip through Canada.
II was one continual supper-and speech king.
| could not get away. The Canadians
are genial gontlemlnly men; men of sterling
character who believe mean well. But they are
nsuflerably slow. They admire the Americans,
and when an American happens among them they
receive him with open armS-cannOt do too much
for him. But when they cross the border they are
dignity DeTsonfied and keep the Americans at the
elbow joint, II every man they met wantedto rob
them.p
Have YOU discovered any swindlesp
Not 10y any means. In not single instance has
there been any attempt to get the better of me. You
pay much per day at the hotel, 1uch for this
or that the prco of which eau always he ascer-
tanned. | do not see ~ there ~ any
chance for a man who has his wits about him TO he
swndied. There are no pOrters or servants to ask
yOu for attendance fees. II you give the man
qrarer for carrying your baggage. It - your own
affair entirely. There Is no question but what
America II a very great country, and mean 10 come
back 10 IT,
What arc your present nlansp
We'll. II ever succced N getting my packing
done intend TO 60 70 Chicago Tonight. From there
/ go To Winnipeg 10 lecture and vail continue lee
turing in the West for some tflo tine shall stay
~ New-YOrk for a day Oh nv way to the TAR
Wcs', whence ] shall san IN May for Australia.
Bat certainly intend 10 return 10 America another
year. aud pus,by will lecture agar. Al all events
! shall write q book. having taken number CT
notes. Is TO my 90 NJ ont to son Africa for cam
paign work. It not probable. Had been IN Eng
land should have golr. Bat ava very dad that
vas not, because sympathl2e with the i'ocrs ana
then the warfare iS nothing but skirmshing all tue
time, tho most dangerous Tor lilo aud the most DIM
A. writ.