The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-25

soil he had acquired during his trip from
Fresno, "but." he concluded, IL would
rather be beggar in this glorious climate
than millionaire in some places l know
Then he told a story about an English Off
Ger who was showing pretty American girl
around Woolwch. The Britisher pointed
out trophies of military triumphs taken
from Sebastopol, Waterloo and Lucknow,
but was unable TO arouse the enthusiasm of
the young lady. At last he said triumph
antly: Here is a cannon we captured at
Bunker HILL" But the American girl was
equal 10 the occasion.
STILL HAVE THE HILL.
''Ah. YES" she replied. but we still have
the hill"
NJ. Blouet is typical Frenchman in APP
pearance-more especially when he stands
behind the foOtiights in evening dress. He
Is OF medium height. stout and dark. with
keen eyes that twinkle, a small mustache,
covering a particularly attractive mouth.
which twltcheS when he sees that his
humorous sallieS are appreciated. he Is
interested in his OWN funny stories, aud he
enjoys the enjoyment of his auditors.
\ foreigner can criticize a country and
its people in such manner that they will
remain his friends" continued the French
critic. " He needn't be offensive in his re-
marks, nor should he see only the defects
OF his subject. Ii Charles Dickens had
paid brief visit to France and made the
statements about Frenchmen which he did
concerning Americans, we would not feel
very kindly toward him.
The English are great travellers, but it is
curioui how little travel bToadens their
minds or decreases their bigotry. An Eng
lishman at home is n courteous gentleman,
but let him 20 TO France or Switzerland Or
Italy and he is the most dsagreeable beast
imaginable. He reserves his nastiest COM
mentS for America, because he thinks this
Tn bsl n hn
resents the disputed ownership"
AT THE oPERA-HoUsE.
The lecture ia the Grand Opera house last
night was thorough success, viewed from
every standpoint. There was hardly a
vacant chair in the orchestra, parQuet or
dress circle. the proscenium aud meZZanine
boxes were all occupied. and the two gal
lerles were we'll filled. Mime. and Mile.
Blouet were seated in box Il, and seemed to
enjoy the lecturers success.
The audience was representative OF the
best literary, social anu professional circles
OF the city, and the lecturer smiled in
gratiied manner as he made his bow and
waited for the applause to cease.
The stage was covered with Turkish rugs,
boxes Of growing palms and ferns gave
dash OF lie and color 10 the background.
and across the curtain the American and
French flags were draped in connecting
folds.
81. Blouers first object is to make friends
with his auditors and to gain their con-
iidence. With this end inView he proceeded
to tell some stories at his own expense and
to make fun Of his own countrymen before
laughing at the weaknesses of hiS listeners
or eriticizing their idiOsyncracies. As soon
as the audience was IN good humor he
delivered some sharp thruSts ar 1.-THE Amer
lean man, but the comments were covered
with delicate coating of sarcasm, ana no
trace of malice was felt 10 the point of his
criticism.
FINELY DRAWN HUMoR.
His hum0r is finely drawn and his irony
Is neither heavy nor gross. His fun was
ueDly funny by reason of the tone, ex-
preston and gesture of the speaker. "You
see no stupid, stolid faces in America" he
said, "and that is great deal to a man who
has lived in Europa, particularly when he
has spent some years 10 England. You
Americans are not all beautiful. but YOU
are all Misunderstanding.
There are two kinds of men in Amer
ica," ne proceeded, those who ara gentle
men and those who are not. BY gentlemen
do not mean those objects called dudes
who 60 about with single eyeglass; do
not refer TO the sacred 4c0, so sadly reduced
TO $50; do not mean those individuals who
have recently acquired coats of arms, and
whose ancestors had no arms 10 their coats.
l never find difference in gentlemen.
They are universal not local, and are found
In every civilized country-inciudng Ger
many"
NJ. Blouet paid his compliments to the
Glover Club OF Philadelphia, to the news
paper interviewer, to railway restaurants,
10 Maine audiences and to men who wear
blazing bits of glass on their scarfpins. He
described the typical American man as in
QUisitive and mOney-seeking, possessing I'M
limited natural conceit, but good natured.
and noted for his fellowship. At
times during the lecture. which was
delivered in an easy conversational style,
he became quietly but effectively eloquent.
He concluded by advising Americans 10
make some money, to keep it. to invest it
judiciously, ana then to devote the balance
of their lives to enjoyment; "for," he
naiveiy added, you will never have another
chance"
Nj. Blouet lectures tonight in Oakland.
and again at the Grand 0pera-hous in this
city tomorrow evening. when his ST. beet
will be The British Trinity John Bull.
Pat and Sandy" During his visit to San
Francisco be will be entertained by the
Press Club, and may also accept the hos
pitality of some of the other social organiza-
tions of this city.