Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-19
ANGLoMANrAcs IN LONDON.
IN Infatua,ion for Everything English.

An Tnfatuasion for Everything English.
London Letter to the San Francisco Arronaut
One of the glsring anomalies observable m
the actions Of wealthy Americans who come TO
London in these days is that they almost in
variably stay at the old-fashioned hotels con-
Quoted upon the English plan. And not only
do they select those which are merely different
In their style Of general management from
american. hotels, but eagerly seek sdmittance
TO those whose ways and customs would have
oeen antiquated in the reign of Queen Anne
and are renowned for the observance OF all
those petty rules which make the lives of the
English upper classes ridiculous in tho ewes Of
the rest OF the world. but without which there
are some people who feryently believe the
nation would not be safe nor the crown secure
Why Americans should do this is past COM
prehension. unless il be the result o, that blind
mfatuation for everything English which is the
controlling principle OF the anglomauiac's ex-
istence. IL cannot be because they like it
really like il If il be done for the qualification
of curiosity, purely and only, we might be
able TO understand it. III American ladies and
gentlemen Of large and unlimited means want
TO see what a characteristics English hotel is
like. and SO to it SO TO see. il is one thing. But
If they go because English people so TO il. aud
that, therefore. il must be ''the correct thing 10
do, don you know. tits quite another am
afraid the latter motive controls the whole bus
mess. All can say is, il Is pitiful and enough
TO bring a blush of shame to the faces OF real
Americans. 1t is not as if there were no hotels
in London conducted on the American plan.
and. as In the days when George Wilkes wrote
Europe in a Hurry" there were nothing
but dark and dingy little English hotels TO
go TO. But there are dozens of hotels such as
are the rule in America. and under the roofs Of
which you would be justified in supposing an
American lady or gentleman would feel thor
oughiy al home. At any one OF the modern
hotels any American. with an American love of
comfort might be contented. There they can
have hot and cold water, bath rooms a bar
room, billiard room, an elevator and table
d hote. Everything with perhaps a slight
English tinge) which they are accustomed to
In America they can have at these hotels. Yet
Americans seem 10 prefer the opposite. Instead
OF going to the sort of hotels they have been
used to all their lives and their fathers before
them-the sort Of hotels which even some OPEN
minded English people are generous enough 10
admit are the best hotels in the world-they
turn their backs upon them and rush 20 Longs.
Claridge's and Moreys where they are no more
really at home than a bird would be in a cage.
As a rule, the better classes In England DO
not stay at hotels in London. Some do. of
course; but the majority have town residences
of their own, and when in London during the
season they live in them. But sometimes.
when obliged to be in town when the season il
over. they may go for night or two to a hotel
and to hotels such as Long and Ciaridges
But they go TO hotels of tins kind simply be-
cause they prefer them. and they prefer them
because they have always been accustomed TO
them. They would sooner walk upstairs than
be carried up by lift they would rather
have their bath In a portable tub by their bed
side than in the most deliberately appointed
bathroom; they would sooner shave themselves
than go down to the hotel barber shop. and are
decidedly happier with small can OF hot
water, brought up by the chambermaid. than
they would be if drawing it themselves from a
slIver-plated tap. Inc very things they do not
ike IN hotel. Americans do Tor ought to-; the
very things they do like, Americans do not
lor ought not to-. Yeti is all reversed directly
Americans come TO London.
Another thing: Ii costs a lot more money TO
stay at Long or Claridges than at the Ameri-
can hoteis-or rather those English hotels which
are kept on the American plan. Besides which
all ana every of the great sweis of high life,
whenever they may be compelled TO go to a
London hotel, always go to Longs or Clar-
idges. or one OF the other leading West End
family" hotels. In which cast their arrivals
and departures are carefully chronicled and
published in the Fashionable Intelligence"
column of the Morning Post. The American
plan hotels do not soar TO this height he
great puzzle to Englishmen in this respect is
why Americans want TO show of in England.
They can understand their liking TO live well
and have nice things and TO live in good houses
as they themselves do; but what they do not COM
prehend is why they do not prefer America
TO swagger in. English "swagger," in Its
truest sense and meaning. is INDUCED in only
IN England. L allude. Of course, TO the best
people They swagger at home because il is
perfectly legitimate that they should. 1t is
their right and privilege and habit to do swag-
ger things and to be thought very swagger by
people beneath them. 1t is the snobs who
swagger when they go abroad on the astonish-
alternatives principle. They cannot swagger at
home and SO they go abroad. On the other
hand, the really swagger people in England are
quiet, unobtrusiye and simple when they travel
or go to stay anywhere out of England. If
you see a man travelling with half dozen serv-
ants. showing up at every station and a
great row and noise going on when
ever he makes his appearance, be sure
he is a retired tailor butter maker. The
dukes and earls go about like other people.
They keep their swagger for their own country
and do not assert themselves abroad. There
fore, they cannot imagine why Americans who
have a standing at home are not content with
it. l suppose you might talk and write till
doomsday. but you could not hope 10 impress
these Americans swaggerers abroad with the
utter bad form, lin English eyes, of the things
they do. OF course they have right to do
what they hke-if they can pay for il. But be-
cause man is able to pay Tor a thing is not
justification for his doing it or having it.
once met a great, big, burly, oyerbearing
man crossing over from Boulogne TO Folkes-
stone. will not say what nationality his was
but will remark that be made himself both de-
testable and ridiculous to the other passengers
by his self-asserting manners. When we got TO
the train for London he was occupying first
class compartment all to himself, and it so
happened that the train was crowded that
several ladies were forced to wait for the next
one. Still this creature peered out of his win
dow. and in reply to some of the plain-spoken
comments which filled the air. remarked COM
placently: well, can pay for it, can't f.
Whenever have since heard people justified
for what they do, by being told that they can
pay for it, always think of this man. Oh. no,
it isn't a matter of ability, but good taste.
And that money will not carry it of has been
shown in the baccarat case, where the Wilson's
got such a scoring from the solicitor general.