St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-08
A NEW VIE w.
The Complimentary Things Lord
Cover Says of Americans.

The Complimentary Things Lord
Cover Says of Americans.
mot being parsonage, and not caring
to appear in white tie and fine linen every
evening, and having wished to see the social
life in the American city not as a guest but
as traveller, think can more impartially
Judge of what would be the impression
made on a cosmopolitan than had | traded
on being an Englishman with handle at
tached to my name, as probably most Brit
isherS with such an impeachment would do
l mixed with all classes, in the street car or
omnibus (Which in its American form is
as superior to our London bus as is a Paris
ian victoria to a 'growler'), in the Union
club-the Travellers of New York-and in
palatial steamer of the river Hudson, to
which steamer and to which river we have
nothing to compare in the old world.
Wherever 1 went l found all classes of the
Americans not only civil, but
highly civilized, as compared class
for class with the English; not only amiable,
but, as rule, kind and courteous, and,
with rare exceptions, well-infOrmed, we'll
bred. and having more refinement of man.
ner than any other people | have ever come
amongst. What struck me especially in
New York was the invariable civillty shown
by all classes of men to women, whether
the women rustled in silk or wore linsey-
WOlsey or homeSpun: however crowded the
car or the fOotway, room was at once made
for lady. Does not this somewhat con-
trast with the surly, grumpy incivility
that is shown to the fair sex Ii our public
carriages and streets?
THIS POLITENEss IS NOT,
as in a neighboring country to ours, mere
lip and eye civility, but arises, believe,
from mutual and intuitive good breeding
with which, as l said before, the Ameri-
cans of every class are endowed.
''For instance. if one entered room. in
club or hotel. one was not met by those as
sembled with Who the Dash is this per-
son whom none of us know? and what the
Dash does he here?' sort of look; nor, if one
entered into conversation 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 as plainly as words the
question: What the mischief do you mean
by speaking to me without waiting for an
introduction?
MY experience has been in America
that If you ask a service from stranger it
is accorded readily, without condescension
or fuss; that among them is little of the
snobbish wish to appear to those we do not
know as greater people than we really are,
little of that disgusting patronage of man
ner that prevails in this country among the
richer classes, and none of the no less dis
gushing cringiness of manner, which as
greatly prevails among our trades people,
and which makes me hesitate before asking
my way in the streets of well-dressed
man, or entering a shop where one will (if
known as "a good customary be received by
a mealy-mouthed mortal all smiles and
grimaceS. who will think that he will more
readily secure purchaser by
SHOWING SOME ARTICLE
ordered by My Lord This or My Lady That
On the contrary, the New York tradesman
or shOpkeeper receives you with civility,
but without any of that cringiness of man.
ner which seems to me little less insulting
than actual insolence, he will allow you to
look as long as you like at any of the arti-
cles his shop may contain, and will be equally
civil if you purchase or if you do not; but |
he will not ruD his hands and contract his |
features into leer; and if you were to |
how him your su periority of position by |
to look down upon him as being |
only ira desman,' he would probably show
you that there is something more in being |
citizen of great republic than mere sound, |
and that although you may fancy yourself !!
asuperior being from not being republic |
can or shopman, he might be able to prove |
to you that one man is as good as another. |
Il mixed thus with all classes, and spoke |
to all with whom [ came into contact, and |
in no single instance did | meet with any
thing but perfect civility-the civility of |
equals, which is, after all, the truest. I |
admire with all my heart this great people, |
our brothers, who, although we have for so
many years presumed to treat them as poor |
relations, are in some forms of common |
courtesy and general politeness far superior |
to ourselves.
81 grant that the Americans we meet on |
the continent of Europe are often offensive |
in manner and give very unfavorable i'm
preston of their country, both to foreign
ers and to Englishmen; but, believe me,
these are the exceptions. Lord Roland |
Covers "reminiscences.