The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-04-24
Extracts from Jonathan and his Con-
finnnf.
BY MAX O'RELI.

In France we look well at the bill
and study it; we discuss the dishes, ar
ranging them discreetly and artistical,
1y in the mind before making their ac-
quaintance more fully on the palate.
We are gourmets. In America the
question seems to be not, (Which OF
these dishes will 60 well together":
but, "How many Of them can I man
ageW It Is so much day; the mod,
crate eaters pay for the gluttons.
breakfast in silk attire, and decked in
diamonds. And what breakfast
Firts an orange and banana to fresh
en- the mouth and whet the appetite
then fish, bacon and eggs, or omelet,
beefsteak or chop with fried potatoes
hominy cakes, and preserves.
"How little you eat, YOU French pco-
pie I" said an American tome one day.
as was ordering my breakfast of ca;C
an lait and bread and butter.
"You are mistaken" / said, "Only
we do not care for onr dinner at s
o'clock in the morning"
Those good negroes have such cheer
full, open faces! Thew seem so glad to
be alive, and they look so good natured
that it does one good to see them.
When they look at one another they
laugh. When you look at them they
laugh. If negro sees another negro
more black than himself he is delight
ed: he calls him "darky" and looks
on him in a patronizing way. Their
great dark eyes that show the whites
so. when they roll them in their own
droll fashion; the two rows of white
teeth constantly on view, framed in
thick retrousse lips : the swayinG man
ner of walking, with turned out toe.
and head thrown back the musical
voice, sweet but sonOrous. and so pleas.
ing compared to the horrible twanG OF
the lower class people in the north. al!
make up picturesque whole. You
forget the color and fall to admiling
them.
And how amusing thev are!
At the Everett hotel, jacksonville, 7
one day went to the wrong table.
"You've come to de wrong table.
sah," said the attendant darky. Then.
indicating the negro who served at tho
next table, he added: "Dat's de gen.
tleman dat waits on you, sah."
Immediately recognized my "ren-
tleman," and changed my seat. The
fact is that all the negroes are alike n!
a glance. 1t requires as much perspi-
cacity to tell one from another as it
does to distinguish one French gen
darme from another French gcndarme
America has been doubling its poru-
lation every twenty-five years. IF i'm
migration continues at the same rate
az it has hitherto, i'm fifty years she
will have more than two hundred mil
lions of inhabitants. If, during that
time, Europe makes progress only in
the arts and sciences, while the social
condition of its nations does not im-
prove, she will he to America what
barbarism is to civilization.
While the HohenZollerns, the HapS-
burgs and the Firebrandenburgs re.
view their troops; while her standing
armies are costing Europe more than
$1,000, 900. 600 year, in time Of peace
whilst the European debt is more than
S25, 600, 600, 900, the American treasury
at Washington, in spite Of corruption,
which it is we'll known does exist, has
q surplus of S60,000,0O0. Whilst Euro.
pean governments cudgel their wits tc
devise means for meeting the expense
of absolute monarchies, the Washing
ton government is at loss to know
what to do with the money il has i'm
hand. Whilst the European telegrams
in the daily papers give accounts o.
reviews, notifications and military
maneuvers, of speeches in which the
people are reminded that their duty is
to serve their emperor first aud theil
country afterwards, Of blasphcmou-
prayers in which God is asked to bless
soldiers, swords and gunpowdcr, tho
American telegrams announce the
price Of corn and cattle and tie quota
tions on the American stock exchange
The truest sympathy is that which
is shown voluntarily, without waiting
for specific call upon its cNcrc Sc
There are few persons SO hald-hearled
as not to profter bread to an honest
man whom they know to be starving