New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-17
A FAIR CRITIC.
WHAT NINE. DE ---- THINKS OF AMERI-
CANS
CHARMING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. YOUNG
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IN EoUIPAGES


printed below, but they will doubtless lind in them
something Interesting. The writer Is n woman whose
experience OF society abroad has given her admirable
scope for comparison. While presenting her frank
statements made, The Tribune begs leave 10 differ
very decidedly from her in several directions:
Like most visitors from Europe. ! landed on your
shores with strong prejudice against America and
Americans Il prejudice which I forced TO
! admit based on Ignorance, and that has now
entirely DISAPPEARED. | attribute lis existence tO the
fact that whereas your people Of refinement so
closely resemble welbred prOple in the old world
that they pas In mds practically unp'rceived.
those Of Your conntTmen who attract attention 10
themselves and 10 their nationality, and who render
Themselves di-agreeably conspicuous abroad pre-
cscly the vulgar and rncducated element OF Ameri
whose manners appear quite as offensive TO YOU
here they do 10 rs. We cannot help seeing them
when they In Europe, whereas do not have our
attention called 10 tIOse whose behavior Is simple and
unoscntaols and the result Is that Americans DO
not enjoy particularly good name among untmvellc1
Europeans. As have said before, this prejudice Is
based on Ignorance, and will disappear by degrees
in proportion We get to know you better.
THE feature OF American he that has struck me
more than anything else since my arrival here Is the
charming character OF your hospitality which com
parcS in every respect most advanageousy with ours
There /, nothing stlf sted about your welcome.
iou have the exquisite tact 10 give us always the
naterng impression that in being entertained ny you
comforting upon you pleasure ard an ooii-
CATION. instead of your comforting II npon H.. 'ni-
iages are placed at disposal flowers, books. boxes
al the theatres invitations to luncheon and dinner are
howcrrd upon rs and all this Is done simply pleas
anuy and without any thought Of ostentailon' Dill
Just Il II "A perfectly natural thing to do.
The blindness that have met with in Ncw-fork
Philadelphia, and even in Chicago. simply amazed hic
and cave ME IN uncomfortable feeling Of conpunc'on
FOR certainly do not act thus In Europe. 10 be
in il upfp-S
only 10 our particular set but to be entitled IN some
decided manner become the recipient OF our com
paraivey limited hospitality; and as far ~ pu''ne
ourselves entirely and without reserve In the hahas
of guests. you Americans DO that see"'' "
b. with Us quite ont OF tho question
"A feature Of American life which Is less pleasing 10
European eye, any rate, Is the absolute lack o'
Difference shown by Inferior, to their sup"ror here.
II Is true that the former do not pretend 10 re'os1c
any hind Of superiority excepting where theS '"'n'
,"lvc, ar" concerned but II l. very trying at hrst "
find how faint the line OF dcmarca'ion separating
the melodies" from the somebodies' In this country
1 know Well that this is merely want Of form, ana
hnt al VOL born Americans fully rs c"Isclohs Oh
their advantages are Of Orr', bnt then WHY ho'
morally compel feel 50 as WELL Just ~ We 10
in Europe! -cr,u ant, and petty ,radeNp"ople are VIII
ont any manner of doubt. the least attractive features
here and their insunerable way OF inprnns 10 you
| their convictions that lhey are qh' ~ e"'' ~ '0
| Is very offensive
Another subject which arouses my alnazemeht
., the American children that have seen, and the
way In which they brought mp. To me ih"v APP
p,nr utterly undlscpned, and they seem TO get 100
| much oi their own way Ia everything. lh'y eau at
| III honr> and whatever they fancy, hav" h" regular
-, m ANYTHING and frequently talk 10 their parent,
| . u.r. IA. latter not worthy Of ihc most trihlne
| continent OF respect. and - If they wcr" nothihH
bu playfellows OF their own. III" result OF thS y
tom or rather lack Of any system Is that these cli
ar,n are fragile Gccat" looking. nervous ana oi''h
| very trying. Their behavior al tn" par'E'al ''oe
| for he nursery and echoolroom are only h'h'u"
analr,. and ar. not. presume. the doUaln oi the
| ildrcp I'm nm american household is rHtraordlrary
u,ev civo no attention 10 the proper use OIL hniI"
napLin fork spoon; they cat f"od mat u .""'
ouglly unwholr,omc for them pickles. t"rts. bon
hons, plr, strongly spicod soups. etc. ana IRON ire
confirmation 81 their cGers which they oF'rho"r' nay
| - vLicl, they take part. learn many things rt''y
ant 81 pl,ec for them TO know at their tender age
md subsequently make themselves ridiculous ny Re-
lcrring 10 them In public
There /, set another remark WHICH WON" nae
10 make and that is with regard to the "''r''li'.uns
| \ugomania prevalent here. why sh"'" w"
| Workers Who have 80 much reason to BE- pr'nd oil
mir ,rr,r, and of their nationality seek t. share
| n. nm. and unnllilat" the other by p1,ry lmia
,ion If our very worst detects Heaven Knows 'h''
h.r, are few thing, more utterly inanr Vh" "'''"
than an Engll.l 'ma~hcr or rather - 'h'' ere ~"
called an English cXqulsitc.' They DO NOT 'A'S''
I am happy to NY. AMONG the higher o"ss'''o' nil
| ..h ,ocioty hui generally fonnd III VIZ "u'''
Inss.s or ,iiil more frequently In the great eo"
rr.rc Of city men, such r"kcrs. bank cicrhs' ''
who fondly imagine that by assuming these AIRS al"
traces they uilcad the common h-ra L" 'AA' '''"'
| for thorough paced arlst"crats NOW, WHY -,
| Americans attempt to do likewise lhrre II NV"
| ing more lovabl- than an American WHO ''"''"''
:, remain wlnt tod has made him-nnll"ly' an non
Cd g.uflpmanlN.
| mani, man I,ut how can one help laughing NJ tue
| p,or creature one encounters only 100 frequently !"
iiuh-avr aud also. alas In faShonapi" 'r'"> n'''
| who IS physically only poor ih''"''oh vi '"''
fashion engraving and morally an absolute hoh'"'",
ui sorry variety exists In Paris ana Is 'h'i' oe
| nd.d hy nil the really smart set E"' YET 'n'i'
tho. s,lly boys Initiate nobody they are genuine
urir imlccinty l. not affected or pu, on hi
in'Iv rhc result Of "A 100 advanced star" Oh mus
iIrES GyuIyntion and OF the impovcrlshment OF Il
rim d.. steele race and 1t palms one 10 81. mr. ~,
,idIculou behavior adopted ana even cAass''"'" ~
,,r,r,n nome, seem to lar les conliorab
han hnS> y or York o"k as ii they butt by the
.amc architect the very sell same pun. n ia
nice shapr being generally too long ana TOO mlaow
and one not ind there III sl'', VI , t The
om.k. meet which the Grrmans 30 graphically Term
ccnnelhlch. The bcdrooms 100, are rno w.
,s ar" ours. in Europe aud III" 'ooidoir' unsoh
ghiiul bcnreiiro without %h, hart,v an consnnt TO-
,ti IL lacking IN most New YORK ',stnpii'lmht,s
winch have Visited. Another tlrhs 'hht nI,ao ~
w TO- nch.r.' or covered entrance Tor cnThS@
III. l. much 10 regretted. for on a winters nis,.
II i, truly awful 10 be- forced 10 aien. .' h w,nS
c ~, IN, sidewalk and 10 BE- bnnet~u ny Win
cal,iaa NV while walking up the steps leading 10 me
anu 49, No amount OF awnings can Obva'r ms
nous "u "a. ,.nect OF the entire house Is spoiled
ihrrrby WIEN nr, saw the p,acs TclThs" to,n ~
-" NJ any kind OF garden Surrounding thrNe
SPLENDID nbodcs. In Paris London, vienna vienna Mo our
y Ir,r ,rn always entire cOur ~ jardin. ana are
,s i.on,cd direct conta,, MN rI,soS, for
In ,nmnt.. ana / cannot help being surprised VA
I'LL r,"nrv f. no object such plan should ho' pe
gen , viii think me hardy complimentary ana GER
,,nly very ungrateu nfer VIVA, aye s n s racsved
.aII"! ,r,IInr way In which have Doeh rref',s s
, ,n ~ add That in fashionable drawing ,os"'s ,rh
,opcs OF conversation are worst man nn ~ have
.opi an. meets at entertainments seem 10 NJ, H.
pcope W" ,aIL about save tribes concerning lhrlr