New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-17
FOREIGN IDEAS ABOUT AMERICANS.

II was in a Nuremberg horse-car that ~e ladies
opened our map IN the gudeuook ana called lOrtn
by the act this remark from gentleman VINO
thought we understood no German lie turned
upon US a most natteTlng look OF fesptcttnl
admiration and laid 10 his companion: nat -
the way the American women get about TIE $orld.
They start ont alone. consult their maps 20
ahead and seem 10 ENJOY themselves beyond any
women alive. | must say | Ike IL IN them'
Rnt the other gentleman gave his shoulders a
significant German shrug AMI replied thal u d"nb
lutte suit his idea OF wOmans vocation. am
sure he comparing Us uniavoraby WIKI MS own
good HGWsfrGa, very likely at nome lhdt uoine.'
coucocting "A favOrite dish for his supper or KNIT
ting the garden, gossiplne harmessiy, Win
neIghbOr perhaps and probably weaIiht TIE same
stOiid expression when abroad that the Othet
women in TINS same horse-car wore az thai mo-
ment. Yesterday read IN an Austrian paper IN inc
correspondence OF a contributor, now IN America,
a most hattering Article concerning American
ladies' lt has an apologize tone, however ~hIcn
is a little ANNOYING for naturally We do not know
the need OF being apOlOglzed for, though am aware
that We are not altogether esteeIaed III herman
households, where We have the reputation OF i,elng
poor hOusekeepers and lacking domestic Puaities
dear u he German heart. Ay observation 'eacpes
me that we are much better housekeeieFs IMAM
the German women. In the hrst place. we nave
three times the house To Keep. 10 u rue. we arc
not always hanging about the Kitchen or notiDg
down expenses IN a LOOh, but "A good general makes
little noise. This CORE, pOndent say, ere ~
legal for nc TO have two wives would take one
an American, the other z tTertnan. Inc hrst
would keep upon pedestal he would have gOod
time, fancy, keeping hef stationary dIH NVulo
worship her from distance. She would wear tue
beautiful clothes and always delight my eye; but
the German should be my househeepcF ann Tue
mother of nv children. American women direct
their households only, whlle our women are hoV
afraid TO nut their hands To work A. FOR that
matter ] am a. proud Of being good ruler as
common soldier. and ind II much mole agreeable.
We told IN this article that We are cultured,
beautiful and amable, but not domestic HOW
does the New Eugla and hJusekceper like That
We feel annoyance very often at the erroneous
impressions We ind among foreigners o. AMERICAN
women as whole. Last night. at irend-' Inet
An English girl Of the austocracy clever, frank
girl who looked me straight IN the face and said,
Your American elris are 50 pretty, oII away 80
fast you know II YOU are wise you never di-ue
with an EnIishwOman. Your English II net 80
bad she said again bat n does amuse fc 10 near
you Americans talk In the net DreStn sho
asked NE If thou-ht certain c3urt neants; VINO
was present had gone OF IN her lo9A9 since 'tw
her last and if dldn think Oscar Wide was quite
That We are inpo,rd upon because we are Amer
leans aud ladies' Is very true. If coachmAn asks
Us rhe first time the tarlf price. It Is matter ~
surprise 10 rs: ii orr bill IS not thru more az
every hotel than II would he for naive We leel
like rewardug the landlord on inc spot III one
hotel ". ordered some melon. or three slices we
were charged sevcutF-uye cents. We were assured
that melons only grew under glass III befmdh4.
half hour later found them IN the market place
we always 90 Though the maIkets-loi ulleeh
We cot list of private lodgings and the hunt
began 10 be exciting We had chance 10 see now
the middle classes, who let lodgings during thus
crowded time, live aud | assure you the American
housekeeper Who takes care OF her own house,
need not be ashamed OF her household ana house
keeping compared 10 those Oi THESE thfIlty,
domestic German wives We picked our way
pretty dainuly mp and down good MANY STAIR
cases What is everybOdy's business Is uObOdy's
business" is old saying and II certainly APP lles
TO these halls ana stalrcasrs, which are used IN
common by half dozen families. AWrtments,
neat enough. even pretty, were reached by snch
vllauous passdgeways that We were almost dls;
couragcd " hen at last We found woman V 40 had
put Lcds in her best paror
This being a paror there was gas IN TO- Having
been converted into sleep.ng-roou thc gas was
turned OH at the meter and two candies Stood upon
The centre table We at once begged for -i,iigllt,
anI the good soul looked incredulOus Was 10
possible that we demanded gasght IN our sleeping
APARTMENT! We s,gnIicd our great Willingness
to pay the extra expense. and the gas - turned
on. She lighted one burner tlrned IL halfway up,
and went out. We locked the door. lighted lOue
burners and reveilcd IN "A luxury We hln nos IOund
before on the Continent, anu don expect 10 hnd
to prevent landIady from tlInkln us fuite ~
sane, We turned out three h-hts aDG turned Town
the one every time she paid Us visit She Was
very sOclable and CaWe often, ana TX kept enc OF
the ct her OF us busy striking matches anu locking
the door behind her. They have 80 niue '4ea OF
luxury here, even In the best hou,eh0an. IN sl1
months OF living in private houses 10 Luf0pe-and
handsome houses. too, some OF them belong NJ 70
the wealthiest OF the nobilty-I never saw BATH
room add nese made an evening toilet except W
candlc-hsht. two wax candies being consiH3tei
sufficient Imagine "A Back Bay belle makIn2 Da,i
toilet by the light of two candles. III Is Win
incredulOus faces these people listen To my ac-
counts Of our daily Use OF the telephone, OnIy
Yesterday sOMeNntJ pompouS N,ihldi S"" /" -,
We invent these things but you Americans apply
them to your everyday use Under her breath, l
heard one OF the quartet say, should smile"
She told me later that only pOltteness forbade her
hurling steamboats, aud telegraph poles al hls head,
and that she was surprised into slang expression
she had never been guilty OF IN her lie before
An Austrian baroness told me yestelday that
friend of ours of whom asking who had dled
mysteriOusly, had possibly died from an American
duel / begged her to explain what an American
duel was like and she looked at me IN amazement,
having a trm belief that most Americans died IN
that manner II that here IN Austria 10 Is not
uncommon. though considered a most cowardly
thiug TO do for two antagonists to draw lots by
means Of two balls. one black and the other white,
10 decide which shall put end TO his lie lie
who gets the black ball must Kill himself IN some
way This is always termed an AmerihG leTiscke
LueI and is manner cf settling difficulties, and
going out OF this world, supposed 10 prevail very
generally III America.