Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-26
The Opinions Of a Well-KnoWn Diplomat
and Editor.
GREATEST TRAVELLERS ON EARTH.
About 100000 OF Them Go Abroad Annu.
ally and spend siO0. O0O. OOO-How the
Majority Appear 10 Europeans.
Charles Emory Smith In New Orleans
Picayune)


press; the occasional vulgar displays and
| misdirected and unworthy ambitious.
which bring the blush to the true Ameri-
| can. and the far more general exhibition
| OF true American sense and culture which
is altogether creditable II is possible In
| this paper 10 touch only few of the re-
| Elections which are suggested.
The Americans are the greatest travel
| lers in the world. They food Europe. and
| are getting TO penetrate every corner OF
| the globe. They travel farther. go
oftener. probe deeper. see more.
spend more, and get more than any other
people They have n restless energy,
| which Is all their own. They have the
practical turn which educates itself by
actual contact with men and things.
Not less than 5000 Americans are living
In Europe for longer or shorter periods,
and every year witnesses the flight of
more than 1000 to those attractive fields.
They leave annually in the countries
which they visit not less than sl0O, 900 0O0--
an amount which in its Potentially in the
domestic life and economic system OF
those who reap rich harvest is as good as
800 0O0,OO0 here. This expenditure by the
10000 Americans in Europe is almost
one twelfth as much as the entire annual
savings of the 5000 600 American people.
II furnishes very nearly or quite $40 Of
every sle0 saved by the entire population
of Europe. numbering over 35o.o1,oo0. Is
IL any wonder then, that the American
abroad is an object Of very decided inter-
est and Of very considerable principal?
THE AMERICAN UBIQUITOUS.
The Americans are found everywhere
In Europe. They are entirely at home
on Piccadilly and in Westminster Abbey.
They throng the Champs Elysees and the
Louvre. They make the crowds of Luz
Zerne and Interlaken seem much Ike
those of Saratoga and Narraganse't.
They are equally i'm the schools of Ber-
lin and In the glass-works Of Venice,
under the shadow OF the North Cape. and
on the massive wall of the Coliseum. There
is no place where they are not welcome
and where they are not treated with re-
spect. Their patronage is a large fac
tor, and its constantly increasing volume
makes il more and more cultivated. |
happened 10 be in Rome shortly after the
New Orleans lynching. That event was
followed 10y reports Of violent outbreaks
in Italy and of resentful and threatening
manifestations towards Americans who
CHANGED TO be there. 1t IS doubtless true
that the national feeling Of volatile and
excitable people was kindled TO some
extent by that bloody and tempestuous
tragedy. II would be strange and I'M
natural II were it not so. But 1 found
that the chief and most lasting feeling
was one of concern lest these reports
OF an indignant and menacing attitude
should deter the usual influx of Americans
and should thus make poor season.
The Americans who were there had no
unpleasant experiences, unless in very
exceptional instances.
a CREDITABLE REPRESENTATION.
The great body of Americans who go
abroad are creditable and worthy repre-
sentatives of their country. 1t Is true
there are exceptions. and the exceptions
cut an altogether disproportionate figure
In the current idea, There Is the sycO-
pAantic tuft-huuter ana The % ..lI. -
snob whose small foreign limitations show
that they have no true American in
stncts; there is the parvenu who be-
trays himself in his eager ostentatlon and
his awkward freshness: the occasional
ambitious women who shames the Ameri-
can blood in hunting the glamor Of a
title; the Elijah Programs who let the
eagle scream at all times and places
caricature. but do not represent the body
of travelling Americans any more than
the English cockney represents the tra-
yelled Englishman. 1t is the odd and ex-
ceptional which attracts special notice
If cyncsm and rdicule find expression
they are based on a few illustrations.
The obtrusive, the ostentatiOus. and the
pretentious draw particular attention. The
great majority pursue the even tenor of
their way. and are recognized as intelli-
gent, sensible. and self-poised. The mass
Of Americans abroad Is made up of earn
est, courageous students, who illustrate
the American energy, and determination
to get ahead. and the cultivated. expert
enced. and rational people. who travel TO
widen their observation and culture and
who reflect the worthiest and best Ameri-
can life.
AMERICAN ADAPTABILITY.
The American bears himself well even
In strange climes and unaccustomed
scenes. because he has aptitude and
adaptability. He has had varied expert
ences and understands how to fit himself
to surrounding conditions. He is as a
rule endowed with a saving sense. and
ii guides him correctly through the
emergencies In which he may be placed.
The freedom and competition of American
life developed the faculties which are
equal 10 the occasion. They strengthen
Judgment self-reiance. and confidence.
Ii is this ready aptitude which makes our
American ministers for the most part sue
Cessful. despite the lack OF diplomatic
training. In some quarters II Is urged
that our country should follow the prac-
tice OF European nations and establish Il
distinct and permanent corps, with spe-
cial preparations and qualifications,
through which alone admission should be
made 10 the diplomatic and consular
il "a
partly wrong. Our consular service should
unquestionably have more stability and
permanence. 1t deals with commercial
intercourse and development Time Is re-
quired to learn its demands and capa
blities. When Consul has acquired that
knowledge IL IL folly to substitute an
process of learning. But these considera-
tons do not apply 10 the diplomatic SER
vice. The questions involved are of a
broader character. less special and tech
meal and dependent more upon general
principles. Mere special training is Of
less value thaa robust sense and intel
lectual force. The success Of the Ameri-
can Minister depends more upon his
general equipment accomplishments united
with practical ability than upon particular
knowledge of forms and usages. He is
ordinarily a man Of large experience in
affairs, and with his general training he
readily adapts himself TO the immediate
demands.
A QUESTION OF TASTE.
The same sort OF facle aptitude car
ries the American abroad through the
situation In which he finds himself Du-
ring two years at St Petersburg | knew
of only two acts on the part of American
visitors about which any question ever
Of taste or propriety could be raised, and
neither was at all serious. Cards to visit
the Winter palace are granted upon the
application of the various legations. Du-
ring one season OF several weeks while
the palace was undergoing repairs. the
legations were informed that 1t would be
closed and requested TO make no appli-
cations 1t happened that just at this
time resolute young lady appeared upon
the scene who. with rather more than
ordinary American freedom. was travel
ling alone. She was greatly disappointed
10 learn that she could not visit the
Winter palace. and was not disposed TO
abandon the effort. On her tour she had
made the acquaintance of an elderly Rus
sian officer, who had calamity proffered
any assistance within his power during
her stay at the capital. To him she APP
piled and finally succeeded. under his es-
cort. in going through the PAIGE under
the pretence of being connected with his
family She was not exactly an Official
wife" but a sort OF official niece or
cousin. She illustrated In an extreme
form the American determination TO tri-
49, ~ nvar .nhSfarips and aside from this