New-York tribune., 1896-05-03
AMERICANS ABROAD.
THE NUTMEG MAN AND THE WOMAN
WITH SILK-LINED GOWNS

Berlin, April la
We were slipping and sliding over the highly
polished floors Of a certain palace, our rect shod
in the huge felt slippers provided for the common
herd when a tail. thin individual approached u.s.
Bpdeker In hand His physique and his dress had
already betrayed his nationality and when ne WINS
pered: II say, do you understand wnat that ishe'
talking about?" we were almost ready to fall on MS
neck and embrace him, that nasal twang Oh MS
sounded SO homeke end natural.
''I knew that he American the momeht
nv eve rested upon him." muttered +. HE
| looks like a comic edition of Uncle Sam. from MS
shoes to the of his hat
We explained what the guide was saying. He
nodded and smiled. ".-' 49,.
II get along pretty wei II don't understand the
| language, for l go without gudebook' put
| 7 knew YOU people were Americans. and I've seen
| so few lately that I'm right glad OF an excuse 70
speak to one There goes one OF those Things. can
keep em on my feet minute. Don't see the sense
OF wearing EN- anyway"
But you forget that these polished boards are
| sacred to royalty and not to be profaned py the
| scratches from common shoes
| Royalty? Humph I'd like to see anything In the
| shape of a king queen to beat our iolks.
lust landed in Berlin last night, he continued a'er
consulting the guidebook a moment to see where
we were. Am my way around the "oriu'
] lust started?' asked.
| .Oh no. I'm pretty nearly through; went the
| other way sailed from San Francisco been 10
| Japan and I'D the Nile and to Jerusalem He
| screwed up one eye and gave US Wink. haven
been cheated a single time. either Made up my
mind that no foreigner heather could get ahead
| o. me- I say. can you tell me OF NICE quiet cneap
| MACE where can get a good dinner? l haven't had
| time to look about much yet and you don't seem
| N get much breakfast over here A little butter
| and bread ard coffee doesn't satisfy me, put had
| 70 nut I'D with IL this morning, for didnt know
what they might charge me II asked for anything
| else
| tIe was delighted when we tod him of place on
| Friedrich Strasse where he could get very good
| dinner for % cents. He was more entertaining 10
| rs than the palace. for he told us various little
| stories OF his adventures with TIE hea'hens' ana
| how he outwittei them in their schemes TO cheat
| him.
"Irs all nonsense for people to come over here
| and throw ;heir money away. I've seen everything
| T set out to see and | haven't wasted any money
Whore did YOU say I'd find that place? And you are
sure It's worth % cents-the dinner | mean
.r know he must belong to the wooden nutmeg
| family" said f.. when we had shaken hands with
him We stood for a moment watching him, as he
! strobe away Inter den Linden, lank ana loose
| iointed his coat tails Tapping against his legs the
guidebook tucked under his arm.
| In direct contrast to the nutmeg man Is the SILK
| lined woman Her name Is legion. and she swarms
all over Europe. rustling her gowns as loudly as
posslble and II they fail 10 make the impression she
to expatiate on the she squanders yearly IN
huving silk Innings and telling how often those
| Innings are changed
We have met some very amusing specimens or TINS
type They divided into two classes. those who
| have plenty of money and come over here to make
a display. and those who have only little and
scrimp and to go home and make display
We have had the pleasure of meeting both. There
was the widow with one daughter. They occupied
| a small room in the same house with us at sum-
| mer resort All those long, lovely days. when
| and sky and air beckoned to the outer world,
| they shut into that little room. We knew
| that they intended to return to America in the
| autumn and wondered that they were so Indifferent
| It was explained before their departure. when
were invited TO look at the beautiful new gowns they
were folding away to take home with them
| Il felt that mustn't go back without them.
| What would friends think? So had a dress
maker do the cutting and fitting In Berlin and I've
been sewing all the summer" said the tired, pale
| little widow her face lighting up with pleasure as
| she patted and smoothed the crisp. gitstening
| lavender silk lining of a black crepon dress.
| And you feel repaid, do you for losing all the
| summer
| OF anybody In town. and just think they're all
| lined with silk. And I'll not tell any one that
| made them myself; no indeed" ..
| This woman not nearly intolerable as tho
| newly rich had to meet daily, at one time
| Most unfortunately she considered herself well in
| formed upon every question of the day
| "Oh, yes keep up with everything everything
I'm considered the best-read, best-dressed woman In
| my town" -t-' -r
Aren't you afraid that you will get the reputation
| of q bue-stocking?"
| 'Oh, no; blue is not my color. I'm too dark" she
| replied readily II blue stockings never