Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-07-22
A PLEASANT VISIT.
An English Lord Has Some Pleasant
Things to Say of Us.
Lord Ronald Covers Relnlnisee aces
-EnsIIsi mud American TPndes-
People Comprehensive TO
Young EnglishInen.

Lord Ronald Cover. in his book, "My Rem.
iniscences," speaks as follows Of his expert.
, enccs while travelling in the United States:
~lf one entered q room in a club or hotel,
one was net met by those assembled with a
Who the dash is this person whom none OF
as know. and what the dash does he berei
sort OF look; nor, if one entered into CONVEX
sation with some one in a railway car or
steamer, was one greeted with that truly
British stare which, in this country of insular
prejudice and arrogant assumption, conveys
plainly as words the question, What the
mischief do you mean by speaking 10 mo
without waiting for an Introduction
my experience has been in America tina.
if You ask a service from stranger it is ac-
corded readily, without condensation or fuss,
that among them is little of the snobbsh
wish TO appear TO those we do not know as
greater people than we really are, little of
that disgusting patronage of manner that
prevails in this country among the richer
classes, and none Of the no less disgusting
cringiness Of manner which as greatly
prevails among our traies-peopIe, and which
makes me for one hesitate before asking my
way IN the streets of yyell-dressed man, or
entering shop where one will Gf known as
mouthed mortal, all smiles AMI grimaces,
who viii think that he wiil more readily SO
cure a purchaser by showing some
article ordered by My Lord This or Ny Lady
That On the contrary, the New York
tradesman or shopkeeper receives you with
civility, but without any Of that cringiness
Of manner which seems to me little less in
sulting than actual insolence; he will allow
you to look as long as you ike at any Of the
articles bis shop may contain, and will DO
equally civil if you purchase or if you do
not; but he will not rub his hands and con.
tract his features into u leer; and if you
were to show him your superiority of posi-
ton 10y affecting to look down on him Us be-
ing only "A tradesman,' he would probably
show you that there is something more in be-
ing u citizea of a great Republic than mere
sound; and that, although you may fancy
yourself a superior being from not being a
Republican or n shopman, he might be able
% prove TO yoa that one man is as good a.
another.
Il mixed thus with both classes, and spoke
To all with whom came in contact and in
no single instance did | meet with anything
hut perfect civility-the civilty of equals,
which is, after ali, the true,t. ] admire with
all my heart this great people, our brothers,
who. although we have for SO many years
presumed 20 treat them as poor relations, are
in some forms Of common courtesy ard gem
eral politeness far superior to ourselves.
81 grant that the Americans we meet on
the continent Of Earope arc often offensive
in manner, aud give "A very unfavorable inn
preston of their country both to foreigners
and to English,nen, but, believe me- these
are the exceptions. As "a rule they are those
who have inherited or made fortunes which
they know not how to spend, and therefore
have come over to the Old World, which
they astonsh with their vagarie5 and ex-
travagances. But it would he most unjust to
Ju ige the American people by thess units.
~ would wish every young Eng lishman OF
means-ani osl ecia!ly of postion--to visit
the great country across the Atlantic, and TO
mix with that great people. He would learn
more, by spending few months in tue
states, of matters appertaininS t. humanity,
and the ways of the world not what Lon
doners call the world, but the real world of
thought, Of intellect, and of tiIe future
than he could 10y passing a year at Oxford or
Cambridge, or in the house OF commons 4
youn; French noble having visited England
toward the end of the ancient regime on his
r. urn. being asked what he had learned in
lag land, rcIlicl-'to think This might he
the rep,y of one of our jeunesse doree after
willing II q states