Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-11-05
BRITISH BOO7eS IN AMER
ITA.
An Engtisha.am Uho Sees Mach to Con-
denim im HIS L,cm Commt,y,,en.
lord Brabazon in Ti,ue

CONNGlN1lCn,
[Lord Brabazon, in Ti,ne.l
Americans are sometimes heard to
complain of the manners of certain
class of young Englishmen who ought
to know better. They are accused of
accepting American hospitality and of
neglecting the conventionality of dress
and etiquette which are customary in
good European society. The Ameri-
con naturally resents the idea of an
Englishman doing in America what he
would not do at home, and very justly
considers such action a want OF proper
respect toward his entertainers. 1t is
hardly likely that any man, calling him
self a gentleman, would deliberately
wish to insult his host. It would be
difficult to find term too strong to
characterize the atrocious nature of
such an offense against good manners
and gentlemanly breeding; the expla-
nation is probably to be found in the
gross ignorance in regard to all things
connected with America, which is some
times to bemet with in England, even
among the so-called educated classes.
The ordinary Englishman's ideas about
America are often hazy. and sometimes
mythical. I hope the generation is
now defunct which was under the firm
conviction that all Americans were
black; but there are, fear, some still
to be found who, when they speak Of
America, picture to themselves a
country in the early stages of civil
cation. This is not to be wondered al
when we consider how meager is the
information impaired at English schools
or colleges, in regard to history,
geography, politics, or progress of this
great country. The result of this is
that some Englishmen firmly believe
that a dress coat and q silk hat are I'M
necessary impediments to the trans
atlantic tourist, and consequently scan
dalize their hosts by appearing at din
ner-parties in shooting coats, and on
AAl1A <eNSAuC LII LII IL
also difficult for them to realize that a
black coat is de rigaleatq, not only at
New York but in more than score of
other cities OF the Union, and that
Americans are even more particular
than Englishmen with regard to the
little conventionalities of society. The
former are, perhaps, q little oversensi-
tive upon some of these points; but
this should make an Englishman only
the more careful not to be guilty Of any
act which would be construed into want
of respect for either the country or his
hosts. The kindness, the hospitality
the courtesy which a traveller meets
with in the States will make hin
anxious to do all he can to show his
hosts that he is sensible OF the trouble
they have taken to make his stay in the
country agreeable. There is genera,
disposition among all classes of Ameri
cans to be civil to Englishmen. Or
the street, in the cars, in the hotels
the traveller will often be astonished q
the amount of trouble which the I'M
known American will voluntarily under
take in order to assist him, or to ren
der his journey, or sojourn in place
more agreeable. 1t is much to be
feared that Englishmen do not Away.
as readily put themselves out for Ameri
cans, when they visit Great Britain.