Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-01-12
THEY'RE CHARMING.
An Englishwoman's Opinion Of
Her American Sisters.
Agreeable and Never Rude-Usually Very
Pretty. and Always Well Dressed
Views Which viii Be Generally In.
dorBod ON This Side.

views which Will BE Generally In.
dorsed on This Side.
We do not me an to attempt long
dissertation on the ''beau sexe" of an
other quarter of the globe, or to write
an exhaustive essay on the female por-
ton Of the American nation; but as
the American ladies who come over to
this country form such feature. and
generally such a pleasing one, in the
society of the present day. there may
be some interest in noting the differ
ences existing between them and our
own countrywOmen.
1t is no wonder that, though in the
great minority as far as numbers 90,
they hold their own in London or any
other society. The days are long past
since The Fair Barbarian" was looked
down on by the self-important leaders
OF a small country town coterie simply
because she was an American. The
tide has completely turned the other
way. and Americanisms from fair lips
are hailed with delight; their quaint
sayings and way of putting things
often remind one of Mark Twain, the
accent that SO few of them get the bet
ter of makes every thing sound still
quaintcr, and when to this is added a
charming manner. partly the gift of
nature and partly also owing to their
being accustomed to society from their
earliest childhood. no wonder that
they are welcomed with open arms.
The American child and the Ameri-
can girl seldom experience the COM
parativc seclusion of nursery and
.SchOol-rOom which is the common lot
of English children. They are before
the public" SO to speak. from the be-
ginning. This may work badly in
some respects, but case of manner is
certainly gained. The ordinary Amer
lean girl is rs much at home in society
rs if she We're an experienced dowager
of fifty; mauudis honte is unknown.
They may err in the other extreme. but
as rule they are quite at their ease.
not forward. and do not often resemble
that precocious brother of Daisy Miller.
who at nine years old sat up all night
in hotel ''parlors." refused to go to
Italy because there was no candy
there, and, to use the words of his Sis
ter. Randolph C. Miller believed in
nothing"
No one takes SO much trouble to
please. t. make herself agreeable. and
to say nice things rs charming
American woman; and. as rule. it is
not only the young and attractive she
lays herself out to fascinatc. but even
those who are voted ''old bores" and
at her hands. An American woman
is never rude; the insolence of many a
London lady who poses for being u
grsnde dame would be impossible to
her. She does not pose for any thing;
Ill she wishes is to have q ..good
time" and that with a singular
mixture of acuteness and good nature,
she finds she can best attain when at
peace with all the world. Family jars
and family quarrels are not at all in
her line; live and let live is her motto.
by which means large families dwell in |
peace together, and under the same |
roof. who in England would not tempt |
Providence by doing so. Of course.
these easy-going ways have some dis
advantages-children are not kept in |
order. girls are practically their own |
chaperoas; mothers, as a rule. spoil |
their children. and seldom interfere |
with their daughters arrangements
In fact though we may be general
izing too much, the am and object Of |
American women is to enjoy them
selves; they like society. and shine in
it; and they do not like bother. BE
good and you'll be happy. but you
won't have . good time" is most
appropriate American saying. They
are very seldom possessed with the
feeling that 80 many Englishwomcn
have that they must be up and
doing" On the contrary. they
like things done for them; and.
to tell truth. pretty American |
gets Is much work out Of whole |
train of admirers Is possible
Henry James says. in one Of his |
novels: ..American women-tAe pretty |
ones, It least-are ct once the most !
ex.cting in the world. and The least
sndowsd With > sense of tndsetsdr
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