The sun., 1895-01-06
HOW TO BE DECENT-THOU ENG
LISH.
A Halt Called tho Rudeness of Numerous
English Visitors.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Is It not
about time that some word of protest should be
made against the critical attacks INDUCED in by
English gentlemen and English ladies who are
constantly visiting our shores disguised either
as guests or reformers?
Cannot some simple formula Of good man ners
be handed each one OF these distinguished tour
lists as soon as the Custom House officers have
finished with them, to guide them IN their
intercourse with the rude natives Of our land
We are a crude and illiterate people. lacking all
of tho finer requirements of civilized life. Some
of us wear low-cut collars and splay- footed
trousers instead OF the present correct thing in
Bond street: some prefer pie with their break
fast instead of orange marmalade and cold muf-
fins. Many of us are absorbed IN making money,
and all OF US are occupied in building up our own
country-at least since 1875. We have neither
the glories of England's past nor the grandeur
of her present meaning her aristocracy. but I
have yet to hear of one of our native vulgarans
rising at a banquet of English ladies and gentle:
men-a banquet given in his or her honor and
offending every rlght. minded guest at the table
and every other Englishman. as did Lady Som
suming to speak for her own countrymen. that
the English would not send any more paupers
send any more miiiionaires like William " Wal, l.
dorf Astor to England"
fasbionsa sehg oniy Gomm1ner; err With my old
Of heart. and consideration for another's feel
ings. could presume to adviss so distinguished
representative of English thought and manner,
rs Lady Somerset. Il would be bold enough to say
even at the risk Of being considered outspok on
cumbent upon her to be lady as to be reformer,
and that. knowing, as she must, that the object
of her attack was at that very moment on the
the Of s Of
Mr.. Astor as mark of her ridicule and con-
or her assumed title.
It is matter q no moment whether Mr.. Astor
somerset's Son friends or not. If he has he O. Is ths
first American with money who has ever dis.
pleased them II he has kept his pockets bni
friends II is because he has perhaps discovered
that. being an American, he is valued by them
has refused I" to help make it possible for all to
i've, to quote Lady Somersets own words, will
not not be believed by those here and abroad who
know the almost limitless charities of his own
and his fathers household.
But the disease is spreading. Lady Somerset
good cd manners. nan Within Week dist distineuished
member of the British Parliament after lin
only such knowledge Of ' the people as could come @
from way stations and labor meetings, and with
less than one weeks experience in the greatest
and good women, with libraries, art museums.
colleges. churches; with charities so great, SO
milionaires fed and housed for four winter
months over two hundred thousand OF the very
honorable member Of Parliament is so deeply in,
terested in-I say that within II week this same
Englishman, the Hon. Mr.. Burns, Member Of
Parliament was honorable and courteous
enough to state, after enjoying their hounteous
hospitality, that Chicago was Il pocket edition
OF hell" and when asked to qualify his remark
only amended the statement By altering the
phrase to hell is a pocket edition of Chicago"
Again, IL is but a year or two ago that another
subject OF the Queen, justly renowned for his
genius. whose name Il will omit In Difference and
respect to his craft absorbed To the fullest ex-
tent every courtesy and kindness which our peo-
pie generously offered him, and then requlted
The attentions that artists, authors and every
him men and women who loved his books and
already half loved him--by indulging In q run
ming tire OF criticism In a London journal, much
moe coarse and brutal Than any line he had
ever penned ana SO far the facts were sus-
tanned, equally good fiction.
repeat IL; Is there not somo one who will
compile short, concise formula 10 be handed
with plain. simple rules that may be Of service
TO ladies' OF renown, members of Parliament,
and even authors, beginning with the reminder
that they ara landing in a country whose pro-
verbal hospitality amounts almost To religion
q hospitality that has led our people, without
of race or rank, 10 entertain
every lady and gentleman who steps on these
eral notable instances mistakes have been made
by them in the selection of their guests, never
lheless We Americans are still willing to believe
thnl these guests were not representatives of the
great English nation and that, therefore In
iuture only close adherence to the simple
formula OF good sensr, good taste. and good
heart will entitlc all newcomers 10 the benefits
~ iber'y' equality, aud fraternity. Otherwise
JAN l. 1900 -