The morning call., 1893-10-23
AMERICAN MANNERS.
Their Adoption Sometimes Causes
Awkward BIunders.
New York Tribnne.

New York Tribune
It certainly Is fact that in England nova
days what are known as american ways"
have obtained widespread popularity among
the ultra-fashionable people. Notwithstanding
the decidedly radical change in English man.
ners and customs during the last decade. the
"insular British female'' of a certain type still
holds her own and Is al inyeterate I'm her preju-
dices and as narrow in her views as her great
grandmother was hundred years ago. To
such one the sight of pn attractive American
is like the red flag shown 10 bull. An Eng
lish officer who has sense OF humor recently
told a story of an amusing experience which
befell him while travelling with his mother-in-
law in the tidal train 10 Dover not very long ago.
"It might be well to tell you In the first
place." he said. that am AFRAID OF the old
lady. particularly as she holds the purse
strings and can visit my misdemeanors ON my
head in very unpleastng fashion. SO always
make point of carefully agreeing with her ln
every remark she makes, and of course while
travelling am most obsequiouS. On this partic-
ular occasion had hardly settled her comfort
ably in first-class carriage when party OF
travellers came breathlessiy up TO our c0mpart-
ment and, in spite of mamma-in-iaw's stony
glare, proceeded 10 take possession OF all the
nnOccupied seats. There were TWO ladies' In
the party, both young and exqutsilely pretty
and faultessy dressed, and with them were a
couple OF men who also were OF very good
form and wore irreproachaDe attire. They
were in the gayest of moods all chatting
and laughing together and relating their var-
Gus adventures IN just catching the tram; and
although they were most amiable about storing
away their various effects out of our way and
apoOgiZing to US about crowding the carriage,
/ could see that my eminently conservative
relative was not 10 be cajoled, and that every
minute she grew st0ner and more naughty.
Objectionable Amercansr she muttered
to me.
"'Are you sure they are U. S. A.'s? ?" asked.
sotto vooe. "They are very pretty, aud SO well
dressed"
- oh, Americans are always that, in kind
Of way. Look how underbred their whole style
is, and compare them to well-born English
she turned her back with obvious scOrn upon
| the interlopers who. after onr or two civil re-
marks, took no further notice OF US.
"When we reached Dover the young people
bade us goOd-by in kindly fashion, TO which my
| relative vouchsafed no reply. Thank good
| ness, those vulgarians have gomez was her
| lartng fling as l betook myself to the tele-
| graph office TO wire 10 Paris for rooms. One
! of our quondam travelling companions was be-
| fore me, and there lying on the desk was n
| telegram form scribbled over Wi h message il
was impossible to avoid seeing. 1t was EVIL
denIy addressed TO the lady'S husband, and
was signed by one OF the proudest ana best
known names In England. Like flash l real
iZed who the whole party were, for had seen
who were among he most famous of our Eng
lish beauties. and whose names were always
to be found on the most exclusive lists In that
upper stratum Of society which is he accepted
fashion-maker and guide TO modern manners"
.'What did your mother-in-law say?' said his
amused listener.
Never dared to tell her," was the reply
dependent son-in-law. 1 never even told my
wife"