The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-01-14

Our Barbarous Selves ~ Seen Through q
complimentary Sir Hubert's Glasses.
Lord Ronald Covers "reminiscences.
NOT being parsonage, and not car
ing to appear in white tie and fine
linen every evening, and having wished
to see the social life in the American
city not ~ guest. bnt as o traveller, !
think 1 can more impartially judge OF
what would be the impression made on
. cosmopolitan than had I traded ON
being an Englishman with handle at
tached to my name, as probably most
Britishers with such an impediment
would do. mixed with all classes, in
the street car or omnibus (Which in its
American form Is as superior to our
London bus as is Partisan victoria to
q crowley, in the Union Club--the
travellers of New York-and in a pala-
tial steamer of the river Hudson, to
which steamer and to which river we
have nothing to compare in the old
world. Wherever went / 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 court
eous, and, with rare exceptions, we'll
informed, we'll bred and having more
refinement of manner than any other
people have ever come among. What
struck me especially in New York was
theinvariable civility shown by all class
as of men to women, whether the
woman rustled in silk or wore iinsey-
wolsey or homespun; however crowded
the car or the footway, room was at
once made for lady. Does not this
somewhat contrast with the surly,
grumpy incivility that is shown to the
fair sex in our pubic carriages and
streets? This politeness is not, as in a
neighboEng country of ours, mere lip
and eye civility, but arises, believe,
ing with which, as l said before, the
Americans of every class are endowed.
For instance, If one entered room
In club or hotel, one was not met by
those assembled with o who the dash
Is this person whom none of us know
and what the dash does he want here 2
sort of look; or, if one entered into
conversation with some one in rail
way car or steamer, was one greeted
with that truly British stare which, in
this country of insular prejudice and
arrogant assumption, conveys as plain
ly as words the question, What the
mischief do you mean by speaking to
me without waiting for an introduc-
tion?'
my experience has been in America
that if you ask service from stranger
it is accorded readily, without conde-
scension 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 dis
gushing patronage of manner which pre-
walls in this country among the richer
classes, and none of the no less disgust
ing cringiness OF manner which as
greatly prevails among our Trades
people, and which makes me for one
hesitate before asking my way in the
streets of we'll dressed man, or enter
ing a shop where one will off known as
good customer be received by a
mealy-mouthed mortal all smiles and
grimaces, who will think he will more
readily secure purchaser by showing
some article ordered by Lord This or
My Lady That. On the contrary the
New York tradesman or shopkeeper re-
ceives you with civility, but without
any of the cringiness of manner 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
articles his shop may contain, and he
Will be equally civil if you purchase or
If you do not; but be will not rub his
hands and contract his features into q
leer; and If you were to show him
your superiority of position by affect
ing to look down on him as being only
tradesman,' 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 a superior being
from not being a republican or q shop
man, 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 al with whom / came into
contact, and in no single INSTANCE did /
meet with ANGLING but civility-the
civility of equals, which is, after all,
the truest / admire with all my heart
this great people, our brothers, who,
although we have for so many years
presumed to treat them as poor rela-
tions, are in some forms of common
courtesy and general politeness far
superior to ourselves.
Il grant that the Americans we meet
on the continent OF Europe are often
offensive in manner and give q very
unfavorable impression of their coun-
try, both to foreigners and to English
men; but. believe me, these are the ex-
ceptions."
Taylor and Scott.
Gen. Taylor, wrote Gen. Grant in