The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-05
ENGLISH WAYS OF HOSPITALITY.
Not Like American In Some Re-
spects.

spects.
George w. Smalley in Harper's Magazine.
Complaints used 90 be heard in times
past that Englishmen-some few of them
who had been well received in America
had treated their American hosts coldly
in England. There may have been such
cases. The best society is not perfect.
nor always entirely free from black sheep.
But my conjecture would be that in most
cases there had been a misunderstanding
or apprehension, and that this misap
prehension was on the part of the Ameri-
can. one of these complaints was made
TO me, the maker an American of such
position that it seemed most unlikely he
should incur slight. when A was in
America he staid with me on the Hudson.
l gave him dinners in New York and let
terS to friends who did everything for him
| called on him here by his request He
mas not offered me so much as a cup of tea
nor sent me an invitation of any kind"
l suggested that it was already the end
OF the London season, that knew that A
was leaving town and his town house clos
ed, and l asked my irate friend whether
he had not been asked to visit A. in Scot
land.
Asked? No not asked He Just said,
casually, he hoped l would let him know
when L. was coming to Scotland. You
don't call that an invitation"
Nevertheless, that is precisely what it
was meant to be. and was. 1t is the Eng
fish way The nglshman, I explained as
delicateiy as l knew how, never says a
thing he does not mean, never emphasizes,
often says less than he means, is never
elaborate, but often ceremonious. HE
said to you exactly what he would have
said to an intimate friend. He does not
make allowances for your unacquaintance
nit 1. I'LL
come, and If you do not, he will not under
stand why Country house life in Scot
land is on easier terms than in England.
You do not shoot, and therefore you are
not asked to make one of a shooting
party for fixed date. You are treated
not as gun, but as a friend. Propose
yourself whenever 1t Is convenient, and
you will be welcomed" had used an I'M
lucky phrase. Propose myself? Do you
think I am going to ask A. to receive me
as a guest7" Again ! had to explain.
"The phrase though not perhaps very
elegant, Us conventional 1t is the equiv
alent of the one which my high-spirited
countryman, whom ii was possible not to
like the better for his high spirit, had
resented 1t is perhaps rather more COM
mon, or is used to supplement the other.
If you say you are going to Scotland, the
rejoinder is, "Win you propose yourself
to us?" For the convenience of both par
ties a fixed date Is avoided, and for the
convenience of both a date is named by
the arriving guest a little later, and not
long before his visit. If It prove conven-
lent the answer IS, I'VE are full on that
date. Can you come week later?" In
this way visits are dovetailed into each
other; the host keeps his house full, and
the guests arranges mis- route, or, as the
phrase Is, his round of visits to suit him
self All this is perfectly understood in
England and Scotland. The American on
his first trip abroad did not understand
Il. He did not seem to like Il even after
it had been explained to him. He made
his visit, nevertheless, proposed himself
got cordial letter, delighted to see
you" went, stayed ten days, and wrote
me that nothing could be more charming
than his reception, and that A. and all
OF his family had treated him as an old
friend.
This English reserve of manner and
speech may or may not be the best thing
in the world but II is English, and you
must take the English as you find them.
No missionary effort 10 make them over
into the similitude of Americans or others
will be of the least avail. They are gem
ulne, simple, convinced and entirely sim
cere We are quite entitled 10 think that
the American way Is the best, and that
an invitation ought 10 be expressed with
enthusiasm, that ceremonies ought 20 be
observed, or that a hosts manner ought
to be demonstrative and pressing. Blu tyou
will not convert the English 10 that view,
and the plain alternative before you is
TO take them as they are or leave them
alone.