The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-06
American Women Abroad,
BY ALFR ED CECIL.

A decided difference exists between the American women who visit England as tourists and those who have married En- glishmen. They must be considered sep arately.
 It is sometimes said that the gooi feel ing said to exist on both sides of the Att lantic is due to international marriakyes". and by this 1t is meant the influence the American wife has on her husband. As so many American women have married the hereditary law-makers of the king dom it Is to be inferred from those, who bring forward this as an argument that Uncle Sam has established lobby of beauty and grace in the house of lords. This pleasing fiction Is genera.-y be- leved.
 The American girl, seen as atourist, at tracts the attention of Englishmen. but seldom does more. Her smartness of at tire, her innate knowledge of how to dress herself as most becoming her indi- vidual style, Is appreciated, her freedom of action, her assertiveness, her confi- dence in herself, her ability to rise to any situation are all admitted. But the Eng lishman who does not belong to the social world feels in his bones that the less showy English girl will make him the better wife. Outside of the aristocracy few Englshmen residing in England marry American girls. Comparatively few American girls have married English men in England, and English girls have not married Americans in England to go with them to America to live. Interna- tional marriages, therefore, are confined to a set.
 Those dominant characteristics of the English people and of the American peo- pie which make them distine.lve national types, become very much less marked in what might be called the aristocratic cir cles of both countries. Little difference exists between the exclusive fashionable circle of Mayfair and Fifth avenue. Life Is viewed pretty much from the same point of view. The only difference being that in England society is a recognized institution, the aristocratic principle being rooted in government, while fir America 1t Is based on pretensions supported by assertiveness and wealth. There Is then no fixed gulf to divide the members of either set. They-the men and women View life from the same standards and possess common ambiton-to live well. But this is not true In the servants hall. where the national characteristics are more crude and rough.
 In England, aristocratic society is sup ported by it's governmental function, by its intimate connection with the national life. It's men are in parliament, in the service of the nation. either in diplomacy, the army, the navy or the church. Its women perform the social functions. yet the men greatly participate
 In the United States aristdcratic society has no connection with government in any way. It's men are active in the finan- cial and industrial worlds. Their success need not necessarily improve the aristo- cratic status of their families. Its wom- en perform the social functions and its men are scarcely an adjunct to 1t.
 The English woman of noble birth and the social position by marrying an Amer ican loses her place in English society: and he has none to give her in the United States that is not dependent upon his purse and her energy. But this is not the case in England. An Englishman of posi- tion-it need not mean title-giyes his wife recognized place in his family con-