The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-04
THE ENGLISH AT HOME.
THEY ARE VERY POLITE AND
OBLIGIyG TO AMERICANS.
Some Passing Observations Upon tho
People Who Are Met In Irs'ei
I'm and Around London.


world"
Many OF us who have not Travelled wide
~ think OF the Englishmen as Drus4ue,
selfish and uncommunicauve, Dut no one
gets the benefit of travel unless ne asks
questions, for all the guide-Dooks ana
Libraries in the world cannot give the
Information obtainable from contact and
conversation with people. IL Is with some
trepidation that you speak OF strangers
i'm England, but your first experiences
are SO gratifying that IL becomes easy
and pleasant Perhaps the Englishmen
are especially polite 10 Americans; at any
rate. we have found them peculiarly ac-
commodating, and In no instance has a
request met with a curt response, while
on many occasions elaborate pains have
been taken to give the fullest possible
facts and directions.
An American who has Travelled all over
the United States, and who Is well-known
in public life, is visiting London for the
first time. He has been elected TO five
OF the important clubs OF the city during
his stay here, and he has not enough en-
thusiasm for the kindly manner In which
he has been treated. "My first expert
ence," he said, was most delightful.
had come to the club alone and found
that, excepting one jolly party In the cor
ner, l was the only person in the room.
l sat down and tried 10 read, but presently
a gentleman arose from the group. came
over and introduced himself. presented
me TO his friends, who insisted than 1
should make one OF the party. and who
would take no denial. and after most
charming evening / went away under the
promise that my wife and | should drive
next day TO the races with my new-found
friend In New York and other American
cities which | could name | might have
set around I'm the club until dOomsday.
This was the beginning of the pleasant
est experience l have ever known, and
shall return home with a new and enthu-
siastic idea of the English people"
one valuable thing about the English
mans willingness 10 oblge is the intelli-
gent manner in which he does II. and the
thoroughness also. We went on a river
trip with a party to whom we were stran-
gers. but their kindness In telling us the
facts of interest, I'm pointing OUT things
which we might have missed, and IN am
the pleasant little attentions. were as un-
expe cted as they were instructive.
on railway Journey / was In a COM
partment with three workng>en of The
better class, and there has B. ~ no more
pleasant experience than ia listening 10
ahelr bright conversation ana the infOrma-
ton which they freely and inteligently
volunteered. They had "A keen apprecia-
ton of the political situation, and one OF
them knew exactly the majOrities for
years back of all the leaders In their dis
tricts. They We're glad TO know some
thing about America, and asked many
questions concerning the Industrial con-
dition OF our country.
on another occasion the question on
top OF an omnibus started conversation
that was full of pith, interest and fact
about the things we saw as we rode along.
In many respects the Englishman seems
great contradiction. Sir Charles Dixie
has called Americans hopeless individ-
ualisfs," because we believe 80 thoroughly
I'm free opportunity and In TIE liberty OF
the individual. Here there are all sorts
of soclalistic schemes. The people are
penned off I'm classes. and are politically
regarded as herds, over which the govern
ment must exercise its parental care.
For instance, there are plans TO help
workingmen buy their own homes, the
government supplying the cash. and plans
by which accidents TO workingmen are 10
have cash equivalents. The people ac-
cept all these divisions and distinctions,
and seem content TO be merged into legis-
lative generalities.
At the same time. the Englishman IS the
greatest stickler for his individual rights
i'm the world In this respect he far sur
masses the American. lie demands ev-
erything he is entitled to- and he isn't
satisfied until he gets H. The consequence
is that he usually gets IL.
PERHAPS fair distinction between the
American and the Englishman would be;
The Englishman has fewer rights ana
gets more of them, while the American
has more rights and gets fewer OF them.
1t is a very rare case when an English
policeman will use harsh measures. Even
the right 10 get drunk is treated with con-
sideration. and the clubbing, which m
some cities, is the fayorlte pastlme or the
| guardians of the peace, Is not heard OF
| here. At tho same time the police eNer-
| else their power with wonderful success.
| The manner in which they command the
ceaseless traffic of the streets IS marvel
GUS They recognize perfectly the rights
| OF the vehicle, but the slightest lnfraetion
of the rule, or the least llptrtlhrhce'
brings the offender to book.
There Is no finer specimen Of manhood
| I'm the world over than the model En-
| lishman. lie is lrrcprOach9hly EfDoHtd.
/ lie carries himself solldly and gracefully.
His equipoise is admirable. lie rs always
| impressive, and yet responsive. Ills mind
may not be nmble, but IL Is clear. accu-
rate and direct. There is 10 strength
about him which explains TO you why
this small island is the center OF the
every continent tribute to It's wealth.
This model Englishman does not get up
with the dawn and hurry through a
seven o'clock breakfast and remain at
his place OF business from nine until six.
he is no victim OF the early-bird fallacy.
He takes his time In the morning, refuses
to hurry, and gets 10 his office in perfect
condition Tor the affairs before him.
While he is there he knows nothing but
his business or his profession. and for
three hours he gets through an immense
amount Of work, and gets through II
well Then he goes to luncheon and eats
heartily. taking all the time he wants for
the meal lie returns TO his office for the
later mail, spends a short time there, and
by four or possibly five o'clock he Is of
TO his home for a drive or for a sail, or
for some form Of outdoor receation.
In his home the Englishman carries his
indlvidualism 20 a point Of eXclusivencss.
which Is very rare with as. Men with
families getting no more than i've hun
dred or a thousand dollars year have
their homes cut of from the public view
by glorious hedges or high stonewalis.
The idea that a mans residence is his
castle is realized almost universally.
Even In the cheaper houses each dwell
ing is as individual as possible while In
he better homes there Is very little that
can be seen from the public street on
course, It IS different In the hearts OF the
cities. This references Is 10 the outlying
districts. especially in London.
Every part of the enclosed yard ana
garden is used, and surely there never
was a more universal love for flowers and
for treenness than can no found in Eng