The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-03
TOURISTSMANNERSABROAD
Innocent Travellers May Suffer for the Acts and Tragre
SionS of the ThoughtIess and Boorish

pressianable to the character of their
surroundings
True, the bump of veneration plays a
less important role in American phren-
ology than in that OF any other nation.
The spirit of reverence is conspicuous
by its absence, this being largely due
to the doctrines of democracy, which
teach that each man is as good as
another. The old French army saying,
'rien nest sacre pour I'm sapeur' moth
ing is sacred to a sapper), has been
parodied abroad into nothing is sacred
to an American that is to say. nothing
is supposed to ever faze either the sons
or the daughters Of Uncle Sam
What is, however, merely general lack
Of reverence in the American tourist is
in his German, and more especially in his
English fellow travellers. an ill-bred and
openly confessed contempt for everything
that does not accord with their ideas in
matters of creed. custom. and prejudice
II the American gives offense 10 native
.susceptibilities. II is unintentional, and
al 4oES AtUIl Il NDifkGDAidl ldlk VI N0AiiDAN
hension OF the meaning Of the word re-
speet; whereas the British tourist Of the
nl-bred grade Intentionally ofrends,
through a determination TO emphasize his
superiority. by publicly expressing his
contempt for everything foreign, especial
~ where religious practices and preju-
dices are concerned
Thus Americans will through thought
lessness take snapshots in the Mosque Of
Omar. possibly ignoring the fact that the
portraying of human beings. and more
especially of dignitaries of the Moham-
medan Church. is strictly forbidden by
Koraniz precept. But the English tourist
Of the type which I have in mind-and
alasl IL is a numerous type-will abso-
lutely refuse TO remove his boots COR even
TO don the carpet slippers. which in some
places is permitted as an alternative)
before entering the mosque; will tramp
about In muddy. hobnailed foOtgear over
the exquisitely plated mats and superbly
lacquered floors Of temples in Japan.
China, and Siam, on the ground that it
would be lowering his dignity as a Briton
10 make any concession to the feelings OF
the "niggers;'' for to hin ali the dusky-
hued races. no matter whether Chinese
statesmen, such as Ii Hung Chang. Japa-
nese naval commanders. such as Admiral
Togo. or Indian ruler. such as the Nizam
of Hyderabad, or the King of Gwalior,
are ''niggers."
1t is the English tourist. Of the kind
such as the woman who insisted on lead
ing her pet dog about with her in the
great Cathedral at Messina, just before
its destruction by the earthquake; the
Englishman who. In Spain, dehantIy re-
fuses TO doff his hat In token Of respect
when some religious procession is taking
place. or when the last sacraments are
being carried through the streets 10 the
dying; the English people who, as re-
lated by Mrs. Trollope In her description
Of hoIy-week service in St. Peters at
Rome. broke in upon the solemn hush Of
the assembled thousands. during the ele-
walton Of the Host. by popping on the
cork Of the champagne which they had
brought, along with a basket Of sand
wiehes, in order to refresh themselves
during the ceremony.
American tourists viii, through sheer
thoughtIessness and lack Of reverence.
stand on the graves of the cemetery on
the north side of Jerusalem, while min