The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1896-07-07
HENRY WATTERSON AN AMERICAN.

4
Englishman three to one.
The English aristocracy are rich
and strong. Their titles are tangible
and mean something. Their estates
back their Legislative power. The lit
J tie Princelings of Germany, Italy and
France are as men of straw. But an
English Duke is living grandee. he
has fine house in the country and a
fine house in town. Beneath him
well mortised in firmly fixed ladder
is round upon round of titulan dis
tinction to do him honor. Why
should he concern himself about the
poor devil of an American whose
grandmother may have been a wash
er woman and whose sole claim to
recognition may be few paltry stocks
and bonds. He does not concern HIM
self in the least, and, as he, led by the
Prince of Wales, sets the pace, the
rest of the nobility and gentry fall in
line, and wherever the American is
accepted it is with condescension. He
must pay for this by unceasing adula-
ton of all things English.
The London press is not quite as
oblivious to all things American as it
used to be, but underlying its treat
ment of things American, trickle of
the supercilious spirit that permeates
English society may he discerned. If
there be an affair, or controversy, or
what not, the American invariably
gets the butt end of it. Where the
animadversion is not ill.tempered, it
is satiric.
In a word, the only kind words one
sees in the London newspapers about
the United States come from few
actors, who, having found the leading
American cities very fruitful and in
tending to go back for another crop of
dollars, have an obvious interest tell
ing little laudatory truth about it,.
THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF ENGLAND.
neither wonder at nor complain of
the self-sufficiency of the English
character and the airs of condescen-
sion which John Bull gives himself.
simply Edecline to join the herd of
tlunkeys who make it the business of
their lives to put incense under his
nose. When was very young man
had dose of English society and |
know perfectly what it is. But for
five and twenty years, have carefully
avoided it, refusing all opportunities
and invitations to go into it.
have no desire to assail il. Ihave
no prejudice against it. 1t merely
does not suit me. If l possessed a
title and an estate, and were English
born, have no doubt l should like it
very well, and be Tory, for the warp
and wool of the English fabric is laid
in its peculiar social structure. The
court is splendid but do not want
to 60 to court. The great houses are
magnificent; but have no wish to
enter them. would not be willing
to come here in representative
character if the salary should be eX-
pressed in pounds sterling instead of
dollars and the tenure should be made
perpetual.
AS much as the next man do / glory
in the glorious achievements of the
Anglo Saxon race. They are nobly
visible here on every hand. Tho Opu-
lenCe of England is prodigious. If !
be asked why, entering such scnti-
ments, | come here again and again,
| answer, because ii is a great historic
city, the metropolis of the universe,
full of interest to me apart from the
social and political aspects that offend
my RepubliCauism. Like the cat in
the fable, l may look at the King;
nor yet be of him, or his kidney. In
dividual Englishmen may like or
dislike, as they may be engaging or
otherwise. Your true gentleman is
of no race, or country creed or caste.
Some of the most agreeable and dis
agreeable persons have ever known
have been of the British peerage.
Wnen Lord Rosebery and the Duke of
Devonshire and the Marquis of Sails
bury glow about America am 1 will
ling to have Mr.. Bayard glow abont
England and not till then. Mean
while, would buy muzzle for him
and for the like Of him who may come
after.