Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-25
Americans in Europe.


The Americans in Europe may be roughly d.
vided into three classes. First come the cult
waited aud esthetic few of the type that the late
Mr. Lengfelow giorified in his Hyperion" and
that Mr.. James loves to elaborate in q series Of
novels which would seem more artistic were
they less mOnOtonOus. Then follows the far
more considerable body who are refined i'm man
ners rather than in intellect; and who, settling
chiefly in France. although sometimes In Italy
ehaEeleon-like, take the eolors of the people
they live among. Finally. we have the grand
ruSh or the tribes or the Philistiues or tourists
proper, VINO might of course be subdivided al
most indefinitely. but who, nevertheless. have
their most characteristic features In common
The cultivated American, when he does not
carry estheticism to excess ard initiate the
morbid eccentricitieS of the femisine-lnnded
English phiiandeger. Is one OF the most agree
able and entertaining of travelling companions
1t IS gGdsead when the solitary English tourist
stumbies upon him in of those out-Of-the-Way
towns which are the relics of the middle ages
and the favorite resorts Of Mr.. James heroines.
He 10 q man of the world. yet something of q
dreamer, with q great deal of the student. He
seems to steep his soul at the shortest notice in
the characteristic spirit~0f the place: yet he re-
CARDS objects and their associations from the
original standpoint of one who has been bred In
new country and braced By habitual contact
with the practical. He is well, if somewhat
superfIiciaiIy, read, and he has dreamed and
tpeSutstleu With tuOu1Diui interest on the arts
which he has mastered Theoretically; ii not me
chemically. And withal he generally shows
certain m0desty of thought which IN far from
being conspicuous feature Of the national char
aeter, as OF one who feels himself treadng IN
familiar ground, and ia cropping his way can
tOusiy to conclusions.
In short, the cultivated American, when he is
free from one absorbing taste, is generally an
excellent fellow and capital comrade-always
ready to change the subject of conversation at a
hint, and able 10 meet you agreeabiy on most
sOpics- We may say as much of his countrymen
who are settled in Europe, although their dis
course is rather social than Intellectual. To
politics they are. for the most part profoundly
lndinerent; at least their only strong feeling on
the subject is hearty deteststion of demo-
cratic institutions Consequently the feelings
Of the American colony In France are anything
put friendly to the existing form of govern
ment, and at best they have resigned themselves
20 the republic with cold acGuiescence. Their
strong points are horses and hospitality. The
American likes the habits of the French and
Hatters himself that he rather shines i'm the
salons; but what he respects in the Englishman
h his knowledge of hursehe3h and the heredi-
tary frmness of his seat in the saddle The
only time when, as a rule, he cares to face the
t0gs and damp of our island is on the eve OF one
OF the great summer race meetings, especially
~ American colors are likely to run forward
The spring meetings are somewhat too thor
oushiy professional for his tastes; and even
the Injuries and good company of the Langham
can scarcely tempt him TO risk the probable In
clenency OF the weather. Even in a hotel he
cannot help feeling hospitable and he would
rather any day entertain old acquaintance
than accept shat aequaintance's invitation to
pot-fuck. The genial back-settlement fashion of
standing drinks to everybody all around at the
bar has developed in him into the art or instinct
Of dnner-giying In his own home and at his
own round table he is seen in his glory. He ia
seldom or never guilty Of these dreary state ban
qnets which have the so!emnity and chill pr0fu-
sion OF funeral feasts; and We need hardly say
that he holds aioOf from those public entertain
n'ents, with their interminabIe I" Grating" which
come OF periodically In Paris at the Grand" or
the Continental" hotel He IL no public speaker,
anhough he is a pleasant talker. He asserts his
snug Ettie parties Of six or eight thoughtfully
mixing the materials according to mia knowledge
81 men and women