New-York tribune., 1891-04-24
DEFENDING THE AMERICAN MAN.
HIS CLOTHES FIT HIN, He WEARS CLEAN
LINEN, AND HE Is ALL IdGHI-
HERE Is THE PROOF.

Ii lNEN, AMI he 10 HA%'
HERE Is THE PROOF.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In your last sundays edition read with much
rnrse and more indignation an article, rather ex
tracts from an article by Julien Gordon In the March
"COsmOpolltan," upon "SlOvenly Americans AIo"
me here most emphatcaly and positively TO deny the
correctness OF every statement therein made III 1c
first place the male American is not an unceany' hor
is he even an untidy creature. on tho contrary al
his tastes and habits known to nicely, aho' 10
quote the words of julien Gordon, cleanliness, neat
ness and money nothing to do with each Other
for we find tho same habits OF personal cleanliness
among the poor Of people are practised by the
more favored Of fortune.
Our British cousin is held up as example Of what
we should be- but before posing pattern to be cop
led by his betters, let him look at home and correct
some OF his own faults. What American wouIu uo
what is very commonly done by Englishmen land /
refer not 10 the poor woriingman, who Is law unto
himself but 70 men Of easy circumsances) who think
nothing OF wearing q flannel shirt two, three, ana even
four weeks at q time, simply changing their collrs'
cuffs and dicly when nicely demands NO American
would ever be guilty Of such an outrage upon decehcy
Take as suggested one Of eur morning trains or
ferries carrying into the metropolis its vast freight OF
wording humanity, and out of the whole multitude
not over one-nfth will be Americans and by Amer
icons mean those who were born and brought up in
America not merely Americans by virtue OF papers
Of naturalization And this fifth will be clean
and well dressed with fresh hnen clothing ana har
brushed and shoes polished. Among the other four
hfhs will be found all that Julien Gordon pOrtrays,
only they are not Americans; for they have come
from all the OvercrOwded lands of earth TO ma HVhg
in our rich and liberal country and on their ACCOUNT
our men are called unclean. For shame! a. r..
SO the average American shuthes with his IeeG
and carries his head sunk low between his sh0udes
l. n native American, have never yet met uaV I'M. I'M
yldual nor do l know where he is 10 be round INC
most usual criticism offered by strangers is tnat our
men hold up their heads and walk az II they OWheu
the town." asd well they may for there Is not peoPe
on earth who can equal them land or sea- AS
for his not knowing how properly 10 SALUTE
an acquaintance the allegation Is aDsnrd iI ior
there are no cOurtly men than ours; Dut WIN IN
them il Is as natural to be courteous and p0llte 70
require master OF department 10 educate tIen
And if Of our heiresses are wOocd ana Won ny
smOothOngued foreigners, it Is not on account - "a
any superiority but because these impecunlOus I9N-
lngs bold and press their suit so naiu, Uete
as a bait some highSounding name, whlch nan , tIe
time does not rghtfully belong to them ana S IleSy
ask at tho first opportunity what the dover Is reveal
ing at the basenesS Of their nature even WIFI
trained to the niceness Of dancing masters Hslnes'
No. there Is not one American in a huhuIe %llo
would cOndescend to marry a woman simply 1or her
fortune - ~, -
As for poor little dudes, they occupy te @ vtTS
lowest grade among Americans, but II they kE0w h0t %
ing more, even Julien Gordon does acknowledge Unst
they cleanly and they will, II prHP1y t' tr1eu'
some day attain the elevation of their 1eIOW
men. In n word every American IS SnIynIII SehuITnI1II
KATHARINE CARVlLLE.
New-YOrk, April 1s, 1901