The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-11-17
A TYPICAL AMERICAN
BY r. a. mitchell.

Copyright, 1908. by American Press Asso.
ciation.i
Eben Blackburn when he went Il
Paris was recognized by every one
as a typical American Of that class
whose motto Is. Every tub on its own
bottom" He not only considered ey
cry one beneath him, but every ono
above him, his equal. No spirit Of ar
rogance prompted him to set himself
up above the former, nor did any false
modesty lead him to shun the latter
He was as free with the one as with
the other. The result was that he was
popular with an.
Blackburn had risen IN his own
country from peddling farmers house
bold necessities in Dig red wagon to
managing director In large manu-.
featuring company At thirtyHve he
had made money enough 10 enable him
to see the world, and he saw it. He
liked Paris and stayed there long
enough 10 learn to converse after a
fashion. 10 the French language. and
became interested 10 French society.
Not being afraid Of appearing at a
disadvantage among the better classes
be walked Ia among them as II no one
had better right and remained there
because they rather liked him. What
charming effrontery!" they exclaimed.
what droIi humor NO one but an
American could thus disregard our con
ventionalities aud be tolerated among
u.s."
But one morning Blackburn left
Paris, followed By the maledictious
Of d select circle Of French men and
women who had taken him up-that
Is. he would have been thus followed
had they known where he had gone
There were others. who knew the cause
OF the reversal Of feeling toward him.
the corners Of whose lips curved in a
polite satirical French smile. This Is
the way it came about:
Blackburn gave dinner TO the set
who had discovered in him such pi-
quaint American traits Some evil
minded persons limited that the reason
they fancied him was his dinners and
his theater parties. but this never came
to the ears Of any Of the circle, The
French are too polite 10 iulpugn any
ones motives to ones face Blackburn
had discovered In Paris an American
scientist whom he had long before
hired to make some investigations for
him 10 a process Of manufacture and
invited him to the dinner The scien-
list tried to beg of on the pIea that
he had no evening dress. Blackburn
insisted. and the guest appeared in A
pepper and salt suit.
Not even French politeness could
keep the company from turning q cold
shoulder to the scientist The poor
man endured the treatment till II be-
came nnbcarabIe then excused him,
self. For few minutes after his de-
parture there was an embarrassing
silence. when blackburn shid.
I'm passing your Hotel de Vile to-
day noticed the inscription Liberty.
Equality ana FRATERNITY, f0u talk 81
equality in France but you don't know
the words meaning In America we
don't try ia tackle any one Of these
words except liberty. We never pirate
about equality. hut we don't Judge
man by his clothes"
Having thus expressed himself the
host turned the topic Of conversation
and. instead Of permitting them to fall
into a bad humor with him. kent them
we'll entertained and invited them TO
another dinner to be given two weeks
hence. when he promised ia present
friend whom he was sure they would
Ike. All accepted. and the party broke
up With much gayety.
When fortnight had passed they re-
assembled 70 admire the Americans
originality. eat his viands and drink
his wines. He presented to them n
de Pierres. a Frenchmnn like them
selves who was faultlessly dressed.
whose hair had been treated with curl