Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-30
THE ENGLISHMAN'S VIEW.
Free Sketches of Some Peculiarities of
American Life.

From the Universal Review
1t is an Englishmans own fault if he does
not feel at home during his travels in America
Many people are sure to welcome him and show
him courteous attentions, because he comes
from the old country. Nowhere, perhaps, is
hospitality SO freely offered, or SO hearty re-
ception given. People mingle much more
than with us. The old story about the drown
ing man who hesitated about accepting rope
thrown by q stranger on the bank of a river be-
cause they had not been introduced would not
be possible in America. II any man there
wants to know anything, he asks; or
if in inclined to make q remark to
chance companion, he does it, sure that he will
be met in the same spirit What boundless
capacity for talk is displayed by our American
cousins! With the generality it is penance to
remain silent They have no need for CONVEX
sational aperients. They display marvellous
resource and felicity in opening frank COM
munications with entire strangers. IL some of
them are embodied and peripatetic notes Of
interrogation it must in justice be added that
they are as ready to impart knowledge as they
are to seek it If the confession may be made,
with perfect good humor, one does sometimes
weary, after a month or so, of being asked a
score or more times in the day BY travelling
and hotel companions what is ones opinion Of
the country and its institutions.
Taken as a WHOLE the Americans are better
takers and speakers than the English. Per-
haps our best orators excel theirs, man for
man. although, as is natural, this would be
denied. But the average people are easier and
more accurate of speech. They are trained to
1t from childhood. REGULATIONS are an import
ant pare Of school exercises; meaning thereby
not words repeated by rote, but the substance
OF the lessons learned, clothed in the pupils
own language, or such knowledge as may have
been gained on some particular theme. This
is helpful to public speaking, which forms
such an important part of the duty and the
pleasure of nearly all American citizens. Hence
they acquire the art Of saying what they know
ease, propriety and force, whether addressing
one person or q thousand. When an average
Englishman is asked to speak at public meet
ing or at a dinner or q wedding breakfast he
will probably hesitate, and stammer and repeat
himself, and become nervous and confused, be-
cause he il unaccustomed, however intelligent
and well informed he may be on general topics.
But the stump orator 10 by no means extinct
on the other side, although the more ludicrous
and exaggerated displays Of former times are
now seldom Witnessed.
There is no difficulty In America In gaining
access to the president Of . bank or a railroad,
to an editor, to q governor of Q state, to the
President at Washington or to any other high
official. You send in your card and admission
IL speedily granted or course there are ready
ways Of terminating an interview IL il threatens
to become tedious, and no one Of common sense
would think Of intruding where he had no real
business or for minute longer than necessary.
All public buildings are open. Fees are un-
known. Strangers walk in, look around and
pass out unmolested BY touss, versers and the
whole race of hunkeyA The halls of the state
legislatures and Of .Coneress are accessible
TO anybody while there 10 room in the
galleriea No tickets are required aud
The accommodation d ample for ordinary 90 :