The Delta independent., 1886-12-21
SOCIETY IN ENGLAND.
The Only Terms Upon Which Amer
leans Can Enter It.

leans Can Enter II.
Mr.. Watterson. in recent letter to
to his paper, The Louisville Courier
Journal, says: There is much in and
about London for the American to see.
which he ought to see, and which will
more than repay him for going to see:
The education of no man is complete
which does not include some personal
knowledge of England. This knowl-
edge, however, to be entirely satisfac-
tory, must end with the local scenery
and the historic remains There is lit
tie in English society and association
but that is repugnant to American sem
sibilities.
Being myself member of three Lon
don clubs. it does not. perhaps, lie in
my mouth to speak of certain exclu-
siveness and inhospitality, which no
native Londoner will deny. marking
the club lifc of London. and in striking
contrast with the club life of New York,
but it is fact nevertheless. Nowhere
is the Englishman seen to such character
istic disadvantage as in his club. where
the pig in him comes out strongest and
is ever present-at the dinner table. at
the card-table, and in the smoking
room. As to the great private houses,
there is but one key that opens their
doors to the foreigner, particularly to
the American, and that is the key
which fits into the domineering spirit.
the admirable system of self-enlarge-
ment, the complacency and the vanity
of the British aristocracy. without a
current American beauty" says The
Standard, "the fashionable world
would get on with difficulty" Alack
the day; this is as much as to say that
without mercenary mother having Il
daughter to sell the occupation of the
lewd young bucks of the peerage, not
to speak of the prince of Wales, would
be very much circumscribed; for,
in plain English. that is just
the size of it. Social sue
cess" for the American in England
means the acceptance with a good
grace of a state of case abhorrent to
his love of his country and his respect
for himself, and the American whom
The Standard describes is one who by
cajolery and servility has contrived to
penetrate the inner circle of the nobility,
where he is received with stretch Of
tolerance and allowed to remain on a
ticket-of-leave. He must speak low
and mind his eyes, or he will find him
self down the back stairs, being. in
deed, but n little more distinguished
than the servants. As for the women,
heaven help them! They must be
young and pretty, and fetch their dot"
with them. or else they must have some
baser sacrifice to lay at the feet of the
ever-hungry. always brutal social
Moloch. if they look for recognition.
Nobody enters this theater without an
admission ticket duly stamped and paid
for. Upon its outer doorway Is per-
petually hung the familiar legend.
1.-The free list is suspended and for
the untitled american. at least. Stand
ing room only"
do not quarrel with this Mt all. 1t
is good thing for the British as long
ms they can keep it up. 1t is pleasant
dare say. to receive tribute and to
have incense put beneath the nose.
Sometimes it is profitable also. A
millionaire is not to be blamed for keep
ing out of the company of adventures
and paupers, nor a lord for looking
somewhat askance at the unknown and
unanonted herd. But, as David says
in the Rivals it is poor rule that
don't work both ways, and it is no
more than right that the commonality
should stick to itself and stand or fall
together. Each to his peer, say I. and
in an aristocratic system Of rank, based
upon birth. the foreigner who has no
handle to his name has no place. The
American who goes to England should
carry this in his mind and be content
with the outside of the show, which is
well worth seeing. That he should en-
deavor as far rs may bo to do in Rome
as the Romans do. preserving at all
times and in all places civil tongue.
goes without saying. Thus shall he
have his fill. paying for 1t out of his
pocket, and not out of his conscience,
and get him back to his home, o patriot
undefiled,