The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-07

The EngIfsh are Moved to Consider
why Their Distinguished Country
mes seek Fair Americas for

Brides.
LouSua standard
The frequency with uhich English
men Of distinction select their comeS-
TIC partners from the United states
may vel set people asking what y Is
that causes the occurrence The fact
that Lord Randolph Churchill, Sir
William Hareourt, u. ctemenceau.
the Duke OF Marlborough. and the
sBcces or Of Count Molke in the inn
rortsnt military post with which his
great name Is associated have married
American ladies may tempt philo-
sophie inquirers to go IN search OF
true and efficient cause Of the occur
renee, row brought still more into
prominence By the engagement OF Mr..
Chamberlain. II we are to initiate
them we might fad certain number
OF plausible explanations, but at the
end Of the exercise Of our best inge-
nnitv. we should have to confess our
selves puzzled.
J That there are number of Ameri
can young ladies who are most at
tractive and charming vi. readily be
admitted. Bat. without postuTing as
Z outrageous patriots in this respect, we
are disposed to think that English
girls can hold their own against even
their fair American cousins in the
matter OF good looks, and decidedly
out-trip them in the qualities which
most Engljshmea regard as engaging
aud irresistible The ideal in the
states is, VIGOROUSLY, not quite the
same rs tina. which for the most part
prevails in this country, and We sus-
pect it would be found. on searching
and impartial investigation, that the
American standard Is less OF what is
usually meant By an ideal than the
Engli-h standard. In other words, it
j.. ike the Americans themselves,
more practical. Just as, for the most
part, they educate their children not
so much with the object of making
them fine scholars and cultured gem
ilemen. as OF making them capable
and successful citizens, so, probably,
they aim, even unconsciously, at pre-
pairing girls not 50 much for a
brief passage of romance, as for the
long and unromantic business OF life.
At the back of the head, as the phrase
is, OF most English girls is the idea
that Lancelot or Prince Charming, or
some equivalent OF those agreeable
and seductive personages, Is living
somewhere in the world; that il would
be delightful 10 meet him; and that,
conceivably. that happy fate is re-
served fer them in particular. In
word English girls are what is called
romantic, and American girls, if ro-
mantle. are 20 in less degree. Like
the rest of their race they are educated
to understand and be in harmony with
the hard and somex hat cynical condi-
tons of their life. They have less nom
Oh .tnvT, 4tar, EHs,tsuk rsria
They are sensible women OF the world,
" knowing all about it, not easily de-
luded, and quite equal to the task of
confronting existence in all its varions
phases.
Hence they enjoy considerable sue
cess i'm society, even on this side of the
ocean. Society does pot ask for a
romantic disposition, for refinement
or delicacv Of temperament, but, on the
contrary, for practical good sense. for
a certain businesslike quality, and for
those gifts which enable people to sue
coed in dealing with their fellow
creatures. 1t is often remarked that
American women push their way
where English women, possessed of no
greater personal advantages, would
fail. The reason is that the former
understand the conditions of success
better, and accommodate themselves
to them. They are not the women
that stir the passions or inspire the
song of poets; nor will they 60 down
to posterity as heroines or cbarmers.
But they have their day. They sue
coed in London drawing-rooms as
their brothers succeed in dry goods
stores" in New York, and for much
the same reason. We have no doubt
they make excellent wives to men who
live in the full glare of society, and
prefer clever, capable associate to a
tender domestic cOmpanion