Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-22

An English IItstOrisn's observations
of Anerichm aocielY.

Of American Society.
[Brycos American Commonwealth
In no country are women, and espe-
cially young women, SO much made Of.
The world is at their feet. Society seems
organized for the purpose of providing
enjoyment for them. Parents, uncles,
aunts, elderly friends, even brothers are
ready to make their comfort and conve-
nience bend to the girls wishes. The
wife has fewer opportunities for reign
ing over the world Of amusements, be-
cause except among the richest people,
she has more to do in household manage
ment than in England, owing to the
scarcity OF servants. But she holds in
her own house a more prominent II not
a more substantially powerful position
than in England or even III France.
With the German Haus frau, who is too
often content to he a~mere housewife,
there is, Of course. 10 comparison.
4 European cannot spend au evening
in an American drawing without
perceiving that the attitude Of men to
women is not that with which be Is ia
miiar at home. the average European
man has usually slight sense OF conde-
sccnrion when he talks 10 q woman on
serious subjects. Even If she is his SUI
perior IN intellect, in character, in social
rank, he thinks that rs man he IS her
superior, and consciously or uncon-
sciously talks down to her She Is too
much accustomed b. this to resent It.
unless it becomes tastelessly palpable.
Such a notion does not cross an Ameri-
cans mind. lie talks 10 a woman Just
as he would to a man, OF course with
more Difference Of manner and with
proper regard 70 the topics likely TO IN
terest her, but giving her hlsintellectual
best, addressing her ms a person whose
opinion is understood 10y bOtu to be
worth as much rs his own. Similarly an
American lady does not expect to have
conversation made t. her. IL IA Just as
much her duty or pleasure to lead It as
the mans is. and more often than not
she takes the burden from him, darting
along with a gay viyacity which puts TO
shame his slower wits 1t need hardly
be said that in all cases where the two
sexes come into competition for comfort
Three causes combine 10 create among
American women an average OF literary
taste and influence higher than that OF
women in any European country. These
are the educational facilities they enjoy,
the recognition Of the equality Of the
sexes in the whole social and intellectual
sphere. aud the leisure which they pos
SECS as compared with men. IN cOun-
trv where men are necessarily occupied
at their business or profession the func-
ton Of keeping up the level OF culture
devolves upon women. II Is safe III
their hands.
What is the effect Of social equality
upon manners Many causes go to the
making of manners, as one may see by
noting how much better they are in some
parts Of Europe than in other parts.
where nevertheless the structure OF So
ciety is equally aristocrstic or demo
cratic as the case may be. one must
therefore be careful not to ascribe TO
this source only such pecullautles as
America shows. On the whole, bearing
in mind that the English race has less
than some other races OF that quIckness
of perception and sympathy which goes
far to make manners good, the
Americans have gained more than
they have lost by equslity. L
do not think that the upper class
loses in grace | am sure that the
humblerc class gains IN independence. The
manners OF the best people are ex-
actly those Of England, with a thought
more of consideration toward interiors
and Of fraDkness toward equals Among
the masses there is, generally speaking,
rs much zeal courtesy and good nature
rs anywhere else IN the world. There Is
less outward politeness than II some
parts OF Europe, Portugal for instance,
or Tuscany or Sweden. There Is a GER
tain GOODNESS or OF hardness, which at
frstannoyst the European visitor, who still
thinks himself "a superior, but when
he perceiyes that II X not meant for IN
science and that native Americans DO
not notice It, he learns to acqulesce.
1t may seem paradox TO observe that
millionaire has better and easier So
cial career open to him in England than
in America. Nevertheless there IS a
sense IN which this is true. N America,
if his private character be bad, If he be
mean, or openly immoral, or personally
vulgar, or dishonest, the best society
will keep It's doors closed against him.
In England great wealth skilfully en-
ployed will more readily force these
doors TO open. For IN England great
wealth can, by using the appropriate
methods, practically buy rank from
those who bestow it ; or by obliging per-
sons whose position enables them TO
command fashionable society, can in
duce them to stand sponsors for the up
start, and force him into society, thing
which no person In America has the
power Of doing.
Good nature, heartiness, readiness 70
render small services to one another, an
assumption that neighbors i'll the coun-
try, or persons thrown together IN travel,
or even 10 a crowd, were meant to be
friendly rather than hostile to one an
other, seem to be everywhere IN the AR
and in those who breath it. Sociability
is the rule, isolation and moroseness the
rare exception. 1t is not merely
that people are more vIvacions or
laxative than an Englishman ex-
poets to find them, for the western
man is often taciturn and seldom
vresthes his long tsce into smile. Ii
is rather that you feel that the man next
you. whether silent OF laxative, does
not mean 10 repel intercourse or convey
by bis manner his low opinion Of his fell
lov-creatures. Everybody seems dis
posed to think well OF the world and its
ishabitants-weil enough, at least, to
wish to be on easy terms with them and