Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-11-25
A TYPICAL AMERICAN
BY r. A. mitchell.

ciationl
Eben blackburn when he went to
Paris was recognized by every one
us typical American of that class
whose motto is, Every tub on its own
bottom" ne not only considered ev-
cry one beneath him, but every one
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 rs with
the other. The result was that he was
popular with all.
Blackburn had risen in his own
country from pedding farmers house
hold necessities in big red wagon to
managing director in a large manu-
featuring company. At thirty-fve he
had made money enough to enable him
to see the world. and he saw 1t. He
liked Paris and stayed there long
enough to learn to converse, after a
fashion, in the French language. and
| became interested in French society.
Not being afraid of appearing at
disadvantage among the better classes,
he walked in among them as If no one
had better right and remained there
because they rather liked him. what
charming effrontery!" they exclaimed.
What droll humor. No one but an
ventionaities and be tolerated among
us
But one morning Blackburn left
Paris, followed by the maledictions
of 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
polite satirical French smile. This is
the way 1t came about
Blackburn gave dinner to the set
who had discovered in him such pi-
quaint American traits. Some evil
minded persons hinted that the reason
| they fancied him was his dinners and
| thNttbCl Iui tlCo, Dul tulo ucNtI Culllt
to the ears Of any of the circle The
French are too polite to impugn 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 in process Of manufacture and
invited him to the dinner. The scien-
tist tried to beg off on the plea 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 1t be-
came unbearable. then excused him
self. For few minutes after his de.
parture there was an embarrassing
silence, when Blackburn said:
"ln passing your Hotel de Vile to-
day | noticed the inscription. Liberty.
Equality and Fraternity You talk of
equality in France. but you don't know
the words meaning. In America we
don't try to tackle any one of these
words except liberty. We never prate
about equality. but we don't Judge a
man by his clothes'
Having thus expressed himself. the
host turned the topic of conversation
and. instead of permitting them to fall
! into bad lumOr with him. kent them
well entertained and invited them to
another dinner to be given two weeks
hence. when he promised TO present n
friend whom he was sure they would
like. All accepted, and the party broke
up with much gayety.
When a fortnight had passed they re-
assembled to admire the Americans
originality, eat his viands and drinl,
his wines. He presented to them NJ
de Pierres, Frenchman like them
selves. who was fautlessly dressed
whose hair had been treated with curI.
ing tongs and whose mustache was
carefully waxed. NJ. de Pierres was
not communicative man-indeed. his
conversation was confined to ives" and
no" But since his dress indicated
that he was gentleman he was treat
ed by the other guests with scrupulous
politeness.
The only time during the dinner
that NJ. de Pierres used any words
excepting such as were monosyllables
was when the conversation turned m
on soldiers meeting death on the field
Of battle. THAT is not meeting death
at ALL" said he. at is being over
taken by death and cut down without
realizing its presence. 1t is another
matter when ones ending has been
appointed to take place at a certain
hour. of which he is cognizant. or when
he Is awakened at midnight from
sleep and led to meet the antagonist
whom he knows shall vanqulsh him."
! There was something In the appear
anee OF Tue speaker..no one could ex-