The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-12
ON THEIR TRAVELS.
Amusing Incidents of Self Conceit, Ingrati-
tude and Selfishness.

Amusing Incidents of Self-Conceit, Ingrati-
tude and Selfishness.
Charleston tS. o. News.
In the Tennessee mountains few summers
ago we saw in the hotel dining room a lady who
| seemed to excite a certain amount of amused in
| terest She had way of hurrying out of the
room after meals and gathering her children
round her like hen guarding her chicks from
| the approaching hawks. The little family party
| spoke to no one and hocked by themselves in
corners. When she saw us she fastened mp:
| ''Oh! how glad am to meet some other Charles
tonian. These barbarians here" a semi-tone
| lower, NEARLY kill me- What mistake for any
| OF us to come here" She forgot the delightful
air, fare and scenery of the place; also, that no
| coercion was used to keep her there, and finally
that she was inspiring those around her with
anything but affection for her native place That
afternoon we heard her telling new arrival,
| foreigner travelling on scientific errand, that
he really should go out of his way to visit F.,
| in Carolina. You would meet our best people
| there in the summer" she assured him. '"That
| would be pleasant said the foreigner bowling
politely. We learned incidentally that this gen.
tlenan was habitue of a very brilliant literary
| circle in Vienna.
| Again, in Virginia, party was once made up
to cross the lake and dine at neghboring hotel.
| An elderly fellow citizen, staying at our inn,
went over, Also but in a smaller boat, belonging
to friend at whose house he was to dine. 1t
was understood by himself and friend that he
should return with us at night but not knowing
this, we set out on the return trip and were half
way across before his son, pleasant lad who
was with as, wondered why the friend had not
yet rowed his father over We Immediately
turned and found the old gentleman at the land
ing in state of unappeasably offended dignity.
Our explanation Was received In implacable
silence, his only remark the way being a sar
castle one to his son: II understand. A De
Brown was forgotten" His wife was almost
fearful hearing of the incident. and told her
son she could not forgive the gentlemen of our
at home" They both absented themselves from
the evening meal, though it did not seem to in
| terfere with the general gayety
| 1t was only the other day that Northern
friend told US of meeting III a sleepingcar going
| somewhere in his region lady who insisted on
| having section not previously telegraphed for.
! She kept repeating to the distracted conductor:
| Perhaps you do not know that am Mrs. John
| Smith, of Charleston, S. c." while he
| deavored to make her understand that sail the
| blood of all the Towards" could not procure for
her in that crowded sleeper berths which she had
| not secured beforehand. One more illustration
/ to conclude: youth among us recently re-
turned with his family party from Western
| tour. They had received through an accidental
| introduction, some kindly civiiities from gen
tleman there of high position, Intellectually and
socially This young man, describing the trip,
/ spoke of the circumstance. saying that MIR.
| - was SO pleased to meet his family. Put
himself out in every way for them. Was evident
| ly glad to get the opportunity. He knew, of
-course, who we were" One of his hearers OBJ
served that the gentleman in question was
known to him by reputation "Eie has been
very well spoken Of" replied the youth. conde
| scendingy. He really deserves" pulling up
| his collar with fatuous air, great credit Has
worked himself up wonderfully. Very low ORR
| gin, hear Carpenters, or something of that
Sort His much-amused listeners neglected to
inform him that Mr.. - was of antecedents
education and position infinitely superior to his
own. Certainly, modesty and gratitude for kind
ness received are attributes of the highest form
| of breeding
| 1t would be narrowing to think of all being
| judged by these exceptional cases, but it is con
soling to know that we have quite another class
| of travellers to represent as creditably-persons
/ OF liberal culture and true good breeding