The record-union., 1892-03-21
MAX O'RELL.
He Delivers a Budget Of Wit and
Sarcasm Here.
A Frenchman's Satire on Some of our
National Failings-Display Of
Intellectual Pyrotechnics.


Max O'Rell, the well-known French
writer, humorist and lecturer, appeared
at the Congregational Church on Satur-
day evening under the auspices OF the
Sacramento Lecture Association, 1t il
impossible to give, in cold print, any
thing like a correct idea of the mans
manner and the effect of his delivery
which must be seen to beappreciated. He
talks with considerable of an accent, and
his frequent omissions are almost as elo-
quent as his sentences, which are of the
eplgrammatic sort. These extracts from
his lecture are given. He said:
l am now paying a farewell visit tC
your great and hospitable country.
have passed about sixteen months in
America-a long time-about fifteen and
half months longer than is necessary
for Frenchman to understand all the
features and characteristics of a country.
Sometimes my American friends have
given me their opinions Of France Will
take my revenge tonight.
My friends, there are two kinds Of mis-
takes-one to arrive at conclusions toe
quickly, the other to apply for informa-
tion at the wrong places. As an instance
10 a French hotel and finds no soap.
What does he do? Does he conclude that
Frenchmen carry their own soap? No!
He concludes that Frenchmen do not
washi Mark Twain, finding no soap,
exclaims: 'No soap! Porter, do you
an American ?"
/ remember meeting Mark Twain, and
I said to him, 'It is perfectly clear.
Frenchmen object to using secondhand
soap, the same as some Americans object
to the secondhand tooth brush. But
people have different manners, too. Some
like secondhand soap and some.
pass"
| shall divide my lecture this evening
into two parts. First a Erenchman' s
impressions of American men; second,
impressions of American women. Amer
lean KIen are not typical. American
women are typical.
Now, my friends, I may use the word
Jonathan freely in my remarks. q
The world contains two kinds of men
gentlemen and the other kind every
where the same. By gentlemen / do not
mean dudes, nor the upper 400 of New
York (Which l understand has been re-
Gently reduced to l50). l do not mean the
zristocratS with cOats-of-armS their an
cestors, some of them, had no arms to
their cOats)I mean true gentlemen.
There is no difference in gentlemen.
American gentlemen are like all other
gentlemen. Gentlemen are not local
type. Those of every country are alike
latter pausel including Germany. If |
use the word Jonathan, y / do not mean
the man of refinement-but the other.
Jonathan wears long hair, broad
brimmed hat, iringed leggings and pis-
tolls in his belt. Buffalo Bill impressed
Frenchmen deeply as to what Americans
are.
T. l..
ers than any other people. They care
less. If dog is run over in Paris they
know more about it, and care more than
they do for a Presidential election in
America. They are not concerned about
foreigners, while all foreigners are con-
cerned about them. The French are a
modest people!
Five years ago I was the happy pos
SCISSOR OF q dear mother in Britain (or
Brittany. She was born, married and
brought up her family there: she died
there and never left her country. While
she was living | received an invitation to
come to New York and give series of
readings. When | sent word to my
mother that was going to America she
telegraphed me to come to her at once
there must be something the matter with
me- When l went to her she exam
ined me closely-especially my upper
regions. She said, You want to 90 to
Americap 1 replied, Yes l am proud
of the invitation from some great men.
and | am going there to lecture.'
ITO lecture? And in what language?'
/ replied, SIN English" English! Do
they speak English?'
1 replied, ~ believe so-fairIy well. y
With look of sadness and concern my
mother said, Don't go. 1t will not look
respectablei'
After while let her know that If was
all arranged; that l must go. Then | re-
ceived letter of coincidence from my
loving mother, with apostscript-women
always show afterthought in a postscript.
Her postscript read ''Since you must 90
TO America, make your mind easy-I viii
let no one know it in this town 20
On my arrival in New Y ork was enter
tanned by the Union Club, and sat among
very eminent con1patriots and Amerf-
cans. During the evening there came up
for discussion the subject, Typical
Americans" The gentleman on my
right said the typical American was 81
lent, morose, gloomy and sullen. The
gentleman on my left said he was happy.
joyous, talkative and brilliant. I said to
these eminent Americans, Gentlemen.
you all have-my sympathy"
l have met the American who would
not talk, and l have met the one who
would. On the steamer that took me to
New ork there was an American He
was not shrewd, as it took him five DAYS
: TO find out the English was not my
tongue. But in five days he got it. and
said: Foreigner, / think?" / said |
would be when we arrived. German ?''
Guess again. He asked, Bound for
American Ireplied, Certainly; cans
stop herer "Ah what business ?" /
told him French goods. "What kind OF
goods?' After telling him in French. |
Interpreted it, Article of Paris" |
found the American to be a good fellow,
and by the time we reached New York
he knew all about me-and l knew every
thing about him.
On my first railway journey in this
country, from New York to Boston. |
met, at the-depot laughter WHATS the
matter? After had bought a coupon |
sat down, and by and by an American
came and sat opposite. He was gor-
geously dressed, with patent leather
boots, elegant pantaloons and a wonder
fully-embroidered waistcoat-all over
howers-pink, blue, apple green; and
here pointing to his bosom) [ cannot de-
scribe it-but / was always shy of bic
piece of-glass. Well, by and by he
opened the conversation, and | was sur
prised to find him a well-informed, in
tellectual and interesting man. lie saw
9 favorite book l had selected 20 read on
the train. He took the book, looked at
the title, turned the leaves, and became
interested. He then lit cigar, took the
book, and settled for the journey. In
Boston he came TO me and said: Have
you read this book?" l replied mo; /
would like to very much.'' Then he
said: do; it's good-you will enjoy it ~
made warm friends in Pittsburg
The morning after my lecture my porter
brought me card, and said young man
urgently requested To see me. When ad-
nitted he rushed forward and embraced
me warmly, saying had done him great
good. grasped his hands with thanks.
thinking ne had been pleased with my