New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-11
LINDAU ON AMERICANS
NOTES AND IMPRESSIONS.


p.ul Lindau the clever and popular German
.,hor who has been travelling In this country, has
"-st,en A number Of letters to the Bcrner Tage-
,,.r descriptive Of his experiences, impressions and
adventures.
ain general" he writes in a letter from New-Or-
,,.,s people say that the Americans are unconven-
,,oral and care little for form That shall not con-
,-aS,ct With them, however, the less conventional
,be FORM the truer and more sincere the action.
Tbsy nav little attention to affected scrapings and
,ov4ngs' They do not always get up from their
ebairs when stranger bearing a letter OF introduc
,,on enters their Offices Nor do they take their hats
,om their heads nor remove the cigar from their
mouths when with short OF the hand they order
,ou-not beg yOu-tO take seat. They do not take
ce trouble TO excuse themselves if they happen to
,eeejve ron on hot day In their shrt-seeves.
These things, II is true impress the European. &C
eustomed TO exaggerated pohteness as peculiar and
urpeasant But he viii overcome his objections
ouiehv when he discovers how earnestly DESTROYS Of
serving him. how useful and pleasant these n0nchalant
gentlemen arc 70 the stranger within their gates
rhey are really untnng IN their efforts to make the
,orsners sOjourn pleasant agreeable and instructive
and they sacrifice their precious time TO these ends
A. a matter Of course for which they do not expect
the least gratitude In truth they much more ap
NEGATIVE much friendler, much heartier than many
rrat people Of cities. celebrated for the friendly
treatment Of their guests. With II too often hap
mems that InaL excessively lilehu9 lhVcINst - "a
1ansed after receiving the stranger most politely, as
Surfing him that entirely at his service, and
proy1ne it by inviting him 70 dinner once or twice and
attending the theatre with him The American, how
ever 4, always DESTROYS that the stranger become &C
euapted with everything peculiar and interesting IN
tse cities and country. He is glad Of any personal
s,sce or discomfort which will add pleasure to the
,3s Of his guest or enable him 10 study at better
advantage the habits and customs Of the people. This
same spirit is to be found all parts of the country
Wherever there are strang it manifests Itself in
Kav that Is really embarrassing.
Il shall relate experience Of my own IN IL
,,s,-aHon Of nay remarks New-Orleans is a city in
h,cb is difficult for :le foreigner find his way.
The plan.of the city avas him nothing, as there
M signs bearing .he names Of the streets. Here and
tler IL is true the names Of the streets 10 be
fogpd on a piece Of tin nailed to the corner houses
tgt that is comparatively seldom. The stranger Is
Obliged often 10 ask ten or twelve times the way his
destination When in foreign cities always as
few carriages as possible In this country reason
fr NY doing so i that they very, very dear.
But on the other hand it always gives me pleasure
10 wander along through unknown streets.
on the first morning Of my stay in New-Orleans
started on nv way 20 find our consul knew his
eddres and the directions. Ny attention was diverted
lv some interesting sight, however. and lost nv
bearings ] was obliged to ask gentleman who was
,,sssinc the name of the street in which the consul
had his Office. lie thought moment and then
t,caD a very complicated explanation telling 20 90
90 many blocks in one direction, take yellow
fr 80 many more az tlat point, then 70 continue 10
ceri ain rolorcd house. suddenly he interrupted his
& Are Won a stranger he asked.
Then he replied in answer to my affirmation.