Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-28
AMERICANS ABROAD.

They Arc R-ndiiy distinguished from
Their English Cousins by tho switz.rs.
The Americans touring in Switzerland
are Of two kinds-those who travel in
order TO travel and those who travel in
order to be able to say that they have
Travelled. The former, writes an Inter
laken correspondent are the best trav-
elcrs on earth, with all the Unsuitable
curiosity of the Britisher and with none
of his exclusive inaccessibilitv TO
strange men and manners The latter
are, as a rule, as offensive rs they can
be, for not only do they not care about
scenery or picturesqueness, but they
are determined TO let You know that
they do not care about such things
They will play a rowdy game of poker
while you are watching the sunset
from the Rhigi, and they usually sue
coed in doing the wrong thing at the
wrong time Happily for the reputa.
tion of America, these miscreants are
In n minority, They are the exception
that proves the rule that, as nation,
America is the vanguard of civilization.
II Is always easy to recognize the
American, though it is difficult to say
how one does II. A Swiss paper re-
Gently stated that II n tourist talks
English but looks like u German, he Is
sure to be an American. There is in
this statement just this minimum Of
truth that the American, while preserv.
ing the Anglo.SaXon speech, has In no
way preserved the English type. On
the other hand, II is an insult to say
that the Americans as whole
have the German type. AS q matter OF
fact the American type is still in the
process of development, and, indeed,
with the different climates and habits
OF our great republic we shall in all
probability produce not one but many
distinct types OF American manhood.
There Is one serious defect in the
Americans which must not escape no.
ticc. Americans can not walk. Whetlr-
81 II is laziness or the result Of univpr-
sal tram cars, or feeling that we have
got beyond IL, or tho bad training one
is in after long railway travelling,
don't know, but Americans are lament
able In long mountain walks am
not talking of difficult mountain climb
ing but Of ordinary seven or eight hour
iramps over easy, low mountain passes.
A guide with u great deal Of experience
tells me that the Americans tire sooner
than any other nation he knows OF, in
Guiding Italians. In the case Of Ameri-
can ladies this is not surprising. They
come te Switzerland to look about them
and be looked at They fulfill their OBJ
iect for they are looked at They are
not dressed for walking and there is no
object In IT, But American men should
remember that there is sort of inter
national competition in walking In tn n,
country, and they should uphold Ihe
honor OF the land Of freedom.
American tourists always 20 a the
best and most expensive hotels They
try no experiments, and they ar quite
right you have spent seve raj hun.
dred dollars In bringing your family &c
Switzerland IL Is not WORT while, for
the sake Of few cents, 10 run the risk
OF being made uncomfc .rtable. And
then there comes in the question OF
health, The economic ol .d.fashionetl inr
is picturesque and int resting, but the
drainage, as rule, Is sadly deficient
and In the long run 4 is safer and prob
ably cheaper to go 60 the modern no tel
As result, Americans are held to b'
more or less mil honaires. But as lonl
as one ~ not sw mdled one can afford e
be considered a millionaire. -PhiladI,l
phia Times
Mrs GEORGE BowRoN, of Chicago
mas recently patented car coupler o
her own invention, whose simplicih
ana ingenuity have won the praise q
all practical railroad men who have
seen IT. Experts say that by its help
ears can be handled much more expedi.
'Na'ly' aud with perfect safety.