第5章

Whenhetakesupanewspaperandreadsstatementsaboutdifferentpersonsinhighpositionswhicharenotatallcreditabletothem，andlearnsthatnoseriousconsequenceshappentothewriters，heislostinwonderment。Afteralittletimehebeginstounderstandthatthisisthe\"landofthefreeandthehomeofthebrave\"，andthatinAmericaeverybodyisonanequality。ThePresident，thehighestofficialintheUnitedStates，isneithermorenorlessthanacitizen；andshouldhe，whichisveryunlikely，commitanoffense，ordoanythingincontraventionofthelaw，hewouldbetriedinaCourtofJusticeinthesamemannerasthelowestandthepoorestcitizen。 Naturallythenewvisitorthinksthisthehappiestpeopleonearth，andwishesthathisowncountrycouldbegovernedashappily。 UntilthatluckydayarriveshefeelsthathewouldratherstayinfreeAmericathanreturntohisnativeland。 OneofthefirstlessonswhichislearnedbytheAmericanchildinschool，andwhichisdeeplyimpressedonitsmindbyitsteacher，isthataccordingtotheConstitutionallpersonsarebornequal，andthatnodistinctionismadebetweensections，classes，orsects。 Noslaves，orpersonsunderbonds，havebeenallowedintheUnitedStatessincetheabolitionofslaverybyPresidentLincoln。Themomentaslave，oranyoneinbonds，stepsontheshoresoftheUnitedStatesheisfree，andnoone，notevenhisformermaster，candeprivehimofhisliberty。 Americaalsoaffordsanasylumforoppressedpeopleandforpoliticaloffenders；peoplewhohavebeenpersecutedintheirownland，onaccountoftheirreligion，orforpoliticaloffenses，findasaferefugeinthiscountry。EveryyearlargenumbersofJews，andotherforeigners，emigratetoAmericaforthesakeofenjoyingreligiousfreedom。 PerfectreligiouslibertyisguaranteedtoeveryoneintheUnitedStates。 ThereisequalreligiouslibertyinEngland，buttheKingiscompelledtobelongtoaparticularsectionoftheChristianChurch，whereasintheUnitedStatesnorestrictionisplacedonthereligiousbeliefofthePresident；thusonePresidentwasaBaptist，anotheraUnitarian，andathirdaCongregationalist；and，ifelected，aJew，aMohammedan，oraConfucianistcouldbecomethePresident。 SeveralJewshaveheldhighFederaloffices；theyhaveevenbeenCabinetMinisters。ArticleVIoftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatessays: \"NoreligioustestshalleverberequiredasaqualificationtoanyofficeorpublictrustundertheUnitedStates。\" SoingrainedinthemindsoftheAmericanpeopleisthisprincipleoflibertyandfreedomofactionthatIdonotbelievetheywouldresignitforanyconsiderationwhatsoever。OnceanEnglishDukewasaskedwhetherhewouldacceptthethroneofChinaonthesoleconditionthathemustresideinthePalaceofPeking，andactastheChineseEmperorshavealwaysbeenaccustomedtoact。Herepliedthatsuchanexaltedpositionofpowerandresponsibilitywouldbeverygreatandtempting，butthathewouldonnoaccountacceptsuchanhonoronsuchterms，asitwouldpracticallymakehimaprisoner。Thoughasubjectunderamonarchialformofgovernment，hewouldnotforfeithisrightoffreedomofaction；andmuchlesswouldademocraticAmericangiveuphisbirthrightforanyprice。IknewaneminentandlearnedJudgeoftheSupremeCourtinWashington，whousedtosaythathewouldneverbendhiskneestoanyhumanbeing，andthattotheAlmightyGodalonewouldheeverdohomage。 Henodoubtacteduptohisprinciples，butImuchdoubtifallAmericansobservesoloftyanideal。Ayoungloverinproposingtohissweetheartwouldnotmindkneelingdowntosupporthisprayer。 Ihaveseenpenitenthusbandsbendingtheirkneestoasktheforgivenessoftheiroffendedwives。This，however，canbeexplainedbythefactthattheactofkneelingisnot，insuchcases，asignofinferiority，buttheactofoneequalaskingafavorfromanother； stillitisthebendingofthekneewhichwassosolemnlyabjuredbythelearnedJudge。 ThedislikeofdistinctionofclasseswhicharisesfromtheprincipleofequalityisapparentwhereveryougointheStates。 Therailroadcarsarenotmarkedfirst，second，orthird，astheyareinEurope。ItistruethattherearePullmancars，andpalacecars，withsuperiorandsuperbaccommodation，andforwhichtheoccupanthastopayanextrafare； buttheoutsideofthecarsimplybearsthename\"Pullman\" withoutindicatingitsclass，andanyonewhoiswillingtopaythefaremayshareitsluxuries。IshouldmentionthatinsomeoftheSouthernstatesnegroesarecompelledtorideonseparatecars。Ononeoccasion，arrivingattherailroadstationinoneofthosestates，Inoticedthereweretwowaiting-rooms，onelabelled\"FortheWhite\"，andtheother\"FortheColored\"。Therailwayportertookmyportmanteautotheroomforthewhite，butmyconsciencesoonwhisperedIhadcometothewrongplace，asneitherofthetworoomswasintendedforpeopleofmycomplexion。Thestreet-carsaremoredemocratic； thereisnodivisionofclasses；allpeople，highorlow，sitinthesamecarwithoutdistinctionofrace，colororsex。 Itisacommonthingtoseeaworkman，dressedinshabbyclothesfullofdirt，sittingnexttoamillionaireorafashionableladygorgeouslyclothed。 Cabinetofficersandtheirwivesdonotthinkitbeneaththeirdignitytositbesidealaborer，oracoolie，asheiscalledinChina。 ForeignMinistersandAmbassadorscomingtoWashingtonsoonlearntofollowtheselocalcustoms。InaEuropeancountrytheyrideincoronatedcarriages，withtwoliverymen；butinWashingtontheyusuallygoaboutonfoot，ortravelbythestreet-cars。IfrequentlysawthelateLordPauncefote，thecelebratedBritishAmbassadortoWashington，ridetotheStateDepartmentinthestreet-car。MyadoptionofthisdemocraticwayoftravellingduringthetimeIwasinAmericawasthecauseofacomplaintbeingmadeagainstmeatPeking。ThecomplainantswerecertainChinesehighofficialswhohadhadoccasiontovisittheStates； oneofthemhadhadaforeigneducation，andoughttohaveknownbetterthantohavejoinedintheaccusationthatmyunpretentiousmanneroflivingwasnotbecomingthedignityofarepresentativeofChina。 TheyforgotthatwheninRomeyoumustdoastheRomansdo，andthattorideinasumptuouscarriage，withuniformedfootmen，isinAmericanotonlyanunnecessaryexpense，butahabitwhich，amongsuchademocraticpeopleastheAmericans，woulddetractfrom，ratherthanaddto，one\'sdignity。Anenvoyresidinginaforeigncountryshouldbeintouchwiththepeopleamongwhomheissojourning。 Ifheputonunnecessaryairs，therewillbeacoldnessandlackofcordialitybetweenhimandthecommunity；hissphereofusefulnesswillbecurtailed，andhisknowledgeofthepeopleandtheircountrylimited。 Ofcourse，inaEuropeanCapital，whereeverydiplomatdrivesinacarriage，Ishouldfollowtheexampleofmycolleagues。ButeveninEngland，Ifrequentlymethighstatesmen，such，forexample，asLordSalisbury，walkinginthestreets。ThisunrestrainedlibertyandequalityisremarkablyconspicuousintheUnitedStates；forinstance，attheWhiteHouseofficialreceptionsorballsinWashington，Ihaveseenladiesinordinarydress，whileononeoccasionawomanappearedinthedressofaman。ThiswasDoctorMaryWalker。 Inademocraticcountry，suchastheUnitedStates，onewouldnaturallysupposethatthepeopleenjoyedagreaterdegreeoffreedomthanispossibleinmonarchialcountries。But，sofarfromthisbeingso，insomerespects，theyappeartobeinaworseposition。 OnmyreturnjourneyfromSouthAmerica，someyearsago，oursteamerhadtostayforfourhoursoutsideofNewYorkharbor。 Wehadfirsttowaitforthedoctortocomeonboardtomakehisinspectionofallthepassengers，thentheCustomsofficialsappearedandexaminedtheluggageandboxesofallthepassengers，andthen，lastbutnottheleast，wehadtowaitfortheimmigrationofficers。 Allthisnecessarilytooktime，anditwasnotuntilalltheseinspectionswerecompletedthatthesteamerwasallowedtoentertheharbor，andtotieupalongsidethedock。Andthisoccurredinthelandoffreedomandliberty!IspoketosomeofmyAmericanfellowpassengersabouttheinconvenienceanddelay，andthoughtheyallmurmuredtheyquietlysubmitted。Customsandsanitaryinspectionshouldbesoconductedastocauseaslittledelayaspossible。 IhavevisitedmanycountriesinEurope，inSouthAmerica，andinAsia，butIhaveneverknownofashiphavingtostayoutsidetheharboroftheportofherdestinationforsolongatime。 Takeanothercase；somemonthssince，Iwished，incompliancewiththerequestofaladyinAmerica，tosendherachow-dog。Amutualfriendwaswillingtotakeittoher，but，uponmakinginquiriesattheAmericanConsulateastotheCustomsregulations，hewasinformedthatitwouldbeimpossibleforhimtoundertakethecommission，astheCustomsofficersatSanFrancisco，besidesimposingaheavydutyonthedog，wouldkeeptheshipinquarantinebecausethedogwasonboard。Icouldscarcelybelievethis，butinquiriesconfirmedthetruthofmyfriend\'sstatement。 Customsandimmigrationlawsandsanitaryregulationsmust，ofcourse，beobserved，buttheyshouldbeenforcedinsuchawayasnottoworkhardshiponthepeople。Officersentrustedwiththeperformanceofsuchduties，whilefaithfullyandconscientiouslyperformingtheirwork，shouldyetexercisetheirpowerwithdiscretionandtact。 Theyaretheservantsofthepeople，andoughttolookaftertheirinterestsandconvenienceaswellasaftertheinterestsoftheState。 Iwouldbethelastonetoencouragesmuggling，butwouldthenationalinterestsreallysufferiftheCustomHouseofficersweretobealittlemorereadytoacceptatraveller\'sword，andiftheywerelessreadytosuspecteveryoneofmakingfalsedeclarationswhenenteringthecountry？Smugglingmustberepressed，butatthesametimeisitnottruethatthemoreimportsenterthecountrythebetteritisfortheStateandforthepeople？ TherearenopeersintheUnitedStates，astheGovernmenthasnopowertocreatethem；andalthoughAmericaisnominallyafreecountry，yetifaforeigngovernmentshouldconferadecorationonanAmericancitizenforservicesrendered，hecannotacceptitwithouttheconsentofCongress，justasunderamonarchyasubjectmustobtainhissovereign\'spermissiontowearaforeigndecoration。ItistruethattherearesomesuchtitledpersonsinAmerica，buttheyarenottreatedwithanygreaterrespectordistinctionthanothercitizens； yetyoufrequentlyfindpeopleinAmericawhonotonlywouldnotdisdain，butareactuallyanxious，toreceivedecorationsfromforeigngovernments。 Once，atleast，anAmericanhighofficial，justbeforeleavingthecountrytowhichhehadbeenaccredited，accepted，withoutpermission，adecoration，knowing，thatifhehadaskedfortheconsentofCongress，hewouldnothavebeenallowedtoreceiveit。 Itishumannaturetolovechangeandvariety，andforeverypersontobedesignated\"Mister\"istootameandflatforthego-aheadAmericans。 Hencemanyofthepeoplewhomyoumeetdailyhavesomeprefixtotheirnames，suchasGeneral，Colonel，Major，President，Judge，etc。 Youwillnotbefarwrongtocallaman\"Judge\"whenheisalawyer； or\"General\"or\"Colonel\"ifhehasservedinthearmy； or\"Admiral\"or\"Captain\"ifhehasbeeninthenavy。ThoughneithertheFederalnortheStateGovernmenthaspowertoconfertitles，themagnatesdoso。TheyseethatdukesandotherpeersarecreatedinEurope，andthatthepartnersinthebig，wealthyfirmsoverthere，arecalled\"merchantprinces\"，andsotooutdothem，theyarrogatetothemselvesastillhighertitle。Hencetherearerailroadkings，copperkings，tobaccokings，etc。Itis，however，manifestlyimproperandincongruousthatthepeopleshouldpossessahighertitlethantheirPresident，whoistheheadofthenation。 Tomakeiteven，Iwouldsuggestthatthetitle\"President\" bechangedto\"Emperor\"，forthefollowingreasons:First，itwouldnotonlydoawaywiththeimproprietyofthechiefmagistrateofthenationassuminganamebelowthatofsomeofhispeople，butitwouldplacehimonalevelwiththehighestrulerofanynationonthefaceoftheearth。IhaveoftenheardtheremarkthatthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesisnomorethanacommoncitizen，electedforfouryears，andthatontheexpirationofhistermherevertstohisformerhumblestatusofaprivatecitizen； thathehasnothingincommonwiththedignifiedmajestyofanEmperor； butwerethehighestofficialoftheUnitedStatestobeinfutureofficiallyknownasEmperor，allthesedepreciatoryremarkswouldfalltotheground。Thereisnoreasonwhateverwhyheshouldnotbesostyled，as，byvirtueofhishighoffice，hepossessesalmostasmuchpowerasthemostaristocraticrulerofanynation。Secondly，itwouldclearlydemonstratethesovereignpowerofthepeople； apeoplewhocouldmakeandunmakeanEmperor，wouldcertainlybehighlyrespected。Thirdly，theUnitedStatessendsambassadorstoGermany，Austria，Russia，etc。Accordingtointernationallaw，ambassadorshavewhatiscalledtherepresentativecharacter，thatis，theyrepresenttheirsovereignbywhomtheyaredelegated，andareentitledtothesamehonorstowhichtheirconstituentwouldbeentitledwerehepersonallypresent。InaRepublicwheretheheadoftheStateisonlyacitizenandthesovereignisthepeople，itisonlybyastretchofimaginationthatitsambassadorcanbesaidtorepresentthepersonofhissovereign。NowitwouldbemuchmoreinconsonancewiththedignifiedcharacterofanAmericanambassadortobetherepresentativeofanEmperorthanofasimplePresident。 ThenameofEmperormaybedistastefultosome，butmaynotanewmeaningbegiventoit？Awordusuallyhasseveraldefinitions。 Now，ifCongressweretopassalawauthorizingthechiefmagistrateoftheUnitedStatesofAmericatobestyledEmperor，suchdesignationtomeannothingmorethantheword\"President\"，thetitlewouldsoonbeunderstoodinthatsense。Thereisnoreasoninhistoryorphilologywhytheword\"Emperor\"shouldnevermeananythingotherthanahereditaryruler。 Imakethissuggestionseriously，andhopeitwillbeadopted。 MarriagelawsintheUnitedStates，asIunderstandthem，aremoreelasticthanthoseinEurope。InEngland，untilafewyearsago，amancouldnotcontractalegalmarriagewithhisdeceasedwife\'ssister，althoughhecouldmarrythebetrothedwifeofhisdeceasedbrother。 ItiscurioustocomparetheChineseviewofthesetwocases。 Marriagewithadeceasedwife\'ssisteris，inChina，notonlylawful，butquitecommon，whiletomarryadeadbrother\'sbetrothedisstrictlyprohibited。DoubtlessintheUnitedStatesbotharerecognizedaslegal。Iwasnot，however，preparedtohear，andwhenIdidhearit，Icouldnotatfirstbelievethatamanispermittedtomarryhisdeceasedson\'swife。 Letmequotefromthe\"ChinaPress\"whichhasspecialfacilitiesforobtainingnewsfromAmerica。\"Boston，March24。 TheengagementofMrs。KatherineM。B。，widowofCharlesA。B。，anddaughterofGeorgeC。F。，chairmanofthe……，Boardof……，toherfather-in-law，FrankA。B。，of……，becameknownto-day。 CharlesA。B。waskilledatthe……Roadcrossingin…… onMarch29，1910，byalocomotivewhichstruckacarriageinwhichhewasdrivingtotheFirstCongregationalChurch，toserveasbestmanattheweddingofMissH。R。F。，anotherdaughterofS。F。，toL。G。B。of……Hiswife，whowasinthecarriagewithhimandwastohavebeenmatronatthewedding，wasseverelyinjured。Hermother-in-law，Mrs。FrankA。B。，diedsomemonthslater。\"*Isupposethemarriagehassincebeenconsummated。 Ifafatherispermittedtomarryhisdeceasedson\'swife，infairnessasonshouldbeallowedtomarryhisdeceasedfather\'swife。 IpresumethatthereisalawintheUnitedStatesorinsomeofthestatesagainstmarriageswithintheprohibiteddegreesofconsanguinityandaffinity，butIconfessthatthemoreIstudythesubjectthemoreIamconfusedastowhatisorwhatisnotwithintheprohibiteddegrees—— *Thenamesofthepartiesandplacesweregiveninfullinthe\"ChinaPress\"—— InChinathelawonthissubjectisextremelyrigid，andconsequentlyitsinfractionisexceedinglyrare；Ihave，asamatteroffact，neverheardofthemarriagelawsinChinabeingbroken。 In\"LiaoChai\"，afamouscollectionofChinesetales，itisrecordedthatayoungwidowmarriedhersonandmovedtoanotherpartofthecountry，sothattheiridentityandrelationshipshouldbeconcealed。 Theyseemedtohavelivedveryhappilytogether。Aftermanyyears，whentheyhadhadchildrenandgrandchildren，theirtruerelationshipwasaccidentallydiscovered。Acomplaintwaslaidbeforethelocalauthorities。 Afteralongdeliberationandcarefulreviewofthecase，andtoeradicatesuch\"unnaturaloffspring\"，astheyweretermed，itwasdecidedthatthetwooffenders，andalltheirchildrenandgrandchildrenshouldbeburnedtodeath，whichsentencewasdulycarriedout。 Idoubtifthestoryisauthentic。Itwasprobablyfabricatedbytheauthorthatitmightserveasawarning。Thesentence，iftrue，wastoosevere； theoffspringwhowereinnocentcontributoriestothecrimedeservedpityratherthanpunishment；thejudgmentpassedontherealoffenderswasalsoundulyharsh。MyobjectincitingthisunsavorytaleistoshowthedifferentviewsheldinregardtoincestuousmarriageinChinawithitsseriousconsequences。 Itiscommonlysupposedthatallmenarebornequal，andthattheUnitedStatesisthelandofperfectequality。Nowletusseeifthisisreallyso。Therearemenbornintohighstationsoflife，orintowealthyfamilies，with\"silverspoons\"intheirmouths； whilethereareothersusheredintothisworldbyparentswhoarepaupersandwhocannotsupportthem。Thentherearepeoplebornwithwitandwisdom，whileothersareperfectfools。Againtherearesomewhoarebroughttothislifewithstrongandhealthyconstitutions，whileothersareweakandsickly。Thusitisplainthatmenarenotbornequal，eitherphysically，intellectually，orsocially。 IdonotknowhowmyAmericanfriendsaccountforthisundoubtedfact，buttheChinesedoctrineofpreviouslives，ofwhichthepresentarebutthecontinuation，seemstoaffordasatisfactoryexplanation。 However，thisdoctrineofequalityandindependencehasdoneimmensegood。 Ithas，asarule，causedmentothinkindependently，andnottoservilelyfollowthethoughtsandideasofothers，whomaybequitewrong。 Ithasencouragedinvention，andnewdiscoveriesinscienceandart。 Ithasenabledmentodevelopindustriesandtoexpandtrade。 NewYorkandChicago，forexample，couldnothavebecomesuchhugeandprosperouscitieswithincomparativelyshortperiods，butfortheirfreeandwiseinstitutions。Incountrieswherepersonallibertyisunknown，andtherightsofpersonandpropertyarecurtailed，peopledonotexertthemselvestoimprovetheirenvironments，butarecontenttoremainquietandinactive。 BytheconstitutionoftheStateofCaliforniaitisdeclaredthat\"allmenarefreeandindependent\"。ItmustbeconcededthattheAmericanpeopleenjoyagreateramountoffreedomandindependencethanotherpeople。Butaretheyperfectlyfree，andaretheyreallyindependent？Aretheynotswayedinpoliticsbytheir\"bosses\"，anddonotmanyofthemactandvoteastheirbossesdictate？ Insocietyaretheynotboundbyconventionalitiesand，daretheyinfringethestrictruleslaiddownbythesocietyleaders？ Inthematterofdressalsoaretheynotslaves，abjectlyfollowingnew-fangledfashionsimportedfromParis？Indomesticcirclesarenotmanyhusbandshen-peckedbytheirwives，becausethey，andnotthemen，ruletheroost？Arenotmanywomenpracticallygovernedbytheirhusbands，whosewordistheirlaw？Theeagerhungerfor\"thealmightydollar\" leadsmostAmericanstosacrificetheirtime，health，andlibertyintheacquisitionofwealth，and，alas，whentheyhaveacquiredit，theyfindthattheirhealthisbroken，andthattheythemselvesarealmostreadyforthegrave。Oughtafreeandindependentpeopletoliveafterthisfashion？ Ineverywellorganizedcommunityitisessentialthatpeopleshouldobeyalllawsandregulationswhichareenactedforthegreatestgoodofthegreatestnumber。Indomesticcirclestheyshouldwillinglysubordinatetheirownwishestothewishesofothers，forthesakeofpeace，concordandhappiness。Happythatpeoplewhoselawsandconditionsaresuchthattheycanenjoythegreatestamountoffreedominregardtopersonandproperty，compatiblewiththegeneralpeaceandgoodorderofthecommunity，andifIshouldbeaskedmyopinion，notwithstandingallthatIhaveabovesaidconcerningtheUnitedStates，IshouldhavetoacknowledgethatIbelievethatAmericaisoneofthefewnationswhichhavefairlywellapproximatedthehighidealofawell-governedcountry。 Chapter8。AmericanMannersMuchhasbeenwrittenandmoresaidaboutAmericanmanners，orrathertheAmericanlackofmanners。Americanshavefrequentlybeencriticizedfortheirbadbreeding，andmanysarcasticreferencestoAmericandeportmenthavebeenmadeinmypresence。Ihaveevenbeentold，Idonotknowhowtrueitis，thatEuropeandiplomatsdislikebeingstationedinAmerica，becauseoftheiraversiontotheAmericanwayofdoingthings。 MuchtoohasbeenwrittenandsaidaboutChinesemanners，notonlybyforeignersbutalsobyChinese。Oneoftheclassics，whichouryouthhavetoknowbyheart，ispracticallydevotedentirelytomanners。Therehasalsobeenmuchadversecriticismofourmannersorourexcessofmanners，thoughIhaveneverheardthatanydiplomatshave，onthisaccount，objectedtobeingsenttoChina。 WeChinesearethereforeinthesameboatastheAmericans。 Inregardtomannersneitherofusfindmuchfavorwithforeigners，thoughfordiametricallyoppositereasons:theAmericansareaccusedofobservingtoofewformalities，andweofbeingtooformal。 TheAmericansaredirectandstraight-forward。Theywilltellyoutoyourfacethattheylikeyou，andoccasionallytheyalsohaveverylittlehesitationintellingyouthattheydonotlikeyou。 Theysayfranklyjustwhattheythink。Itisimmaterialtothemthattheirremarksarepersonal，complimentaryorotherwise。 Ihavehadmembersofmyownfamilycomplimentedontheirgoodlooksasiftheywerechildren。InthisrespectAmericansdiffergreatlyfromtheEnglish。TheEnglishadherewithmeticulouscaretotheruleofavoidingeverythingpersonal。Theyareverymuchafraidofrudenessontheonehand，andofinsincerityorflatteryontheother。 EveninthematterofsuchaharmlessaffairasacomplimenttoaforeigneronhisknowledgeofEnglish，theywillprecedeitwitharequestforpardon，andspeakinahalf-apologeticmanner，asifcomplimentingweresomethingpersonal。TheEnglishandtheAmericansarecloselyrelated，theyhavemuchincommon，buttheyalsodifferwidely，andinnothingisthedifferencemoreconspicuousthanintheirconduct。 IhavenoticedcuriouslyenoughthatEnglishColonials，especiallyinsuchparticularsasspeechandmanners，followtheirquondamsistercolony，ratherthanthemothercountry。 Andthis，notonlyinCanada，wherethephenomenonmightbeexplainedbyclimatic，geographic，andhistoricreasons，butalsoinsuchantipodeanplacesasAustraliaandSouthAfrica，whicharesofarawayastoapparentlyhaveverylittleincommoneitherwithAmericaorwitheachother。Nevertheless，whateverthereason，thetransplantedEnglishman，whetherinthearcticsorthetropics，whetherintheNorthernortheSouthernHemisphere，seemstodevelopatypequitedifferentfromtheoriginalstock，yetalwaysresemblinghisfellowemigrants。 ThedirectnessofAmericansisseennotonlyinwhattheysaybutinthewaytheysayit。Theycomedirectlytothepoint，withoutmuchprefaceorintroduction，muchlessisthereanycircumlocutionor\"beatingaboutthebush\"。Whentheycometoseeyoutheysaytheirsayandthentaketheirdeparture，moreovertheysayitinthemostterse，conciseandunambiguousmanner。Inthisrespectwhatacontrasttheyaretous!Wealwaysapproacheachotherwithpreliminarygreetings。 Thenwetalkoftheweather，ofpoliticsorfriends，ofanything，infact，whichisasfaraspossiblefromtheobjectofthevisit。 Onlyafterthisintroductiondowebroachthesubjectuppermostinourminds，andthroughouttheconversationpolitecourtesiesareexchangedwhenevertheopportunityarises。Theseelaboratepreludesandinterludesmay，tothestrenuousever-in-a-hurryAmerican，seemuselessandsuperfluous，buttheyserveagoodpurpose。Likethecommoncourtesiesandcivilitiesoflifetheypavethewayforthespeakers，especiallyiftheyarestrangers；theyimprovetheirtempers，andplacethemgenerallyontermsofmutualunderstanding。 ItissaidthatsomeyearsagoaForeignConsulinChina，havingaseriouscomplainttomakeonbehalfofhisnational，calledontheTaotai，thehighestlocalauthorityintheport。 HefoundtheChineseofficialsogenialandpolitethatafterhalfanhour\'sconversation，headvisedthecomplainanttosettlethematteramicablywithouttroublingtheChineseofficialsaboutthematter。Agooddealmaybesaidinbehalfofbothsystems。 TheAmericanpracticehasatleastthemeritofsavingtime，anallimportantobjectwiththeAmericanpeople。Whenwerecallthatthisremarkablenationwillspendmillionsofdollarstobuildatunnelunderariver，ortoshortenacurveinarailroad，merelythattheymaysavetwoorthreeminutes，wearenotsurprisedattheabruptnessoftheirspeech。I，asamatteroffact，whenthinkingoftheirtime-savingandabruptmannerofaddress，havebeensomewhatpuzzledtoaccountforthatpeculiardrawloftheirs。 Veryslowlyanddeliberatelytheyenunciateeachwordandsyllablewithlong-drawnemphasis，punctuatingtheirsentenceswithpauses，someshortandsomelong。Itisalmostanefforttofollowastoryofanylength——thebeginningoftenbecomescoldbeforetheendisreached。 ItseemstomethatifAmericanswouldspeeduptheirspeechafterthefashionoftheirEnglishcousins，whospeaktwoorthreetimesasquickly，theywouldsavemanyminuteseveryday，andwouldfindthehabitnotonlymoreefficacious，butmuchmoreeconomicalthanmanyoftheirtime-savingmachinesandtunnels。IofferthissuggestiontothegreatAmericannationforwhatitisworth，andIknowtheywillreceiveitinthespiritinwhichitismade，fortheyhavethesavingsenseofhumor。 Somepeopleareridiculouslysensitive。Someyearsago，atacertainplace，abigdinnerwasgiveninhonorofanotablewhowaspassingthroughthedistrict。AChinese，prominentinlocalaffairs，whohadreceivedaninvitation，discoveredthatthoughhewouldsitamongthehonoredguestshewouldbeplacedbelowoneortwowhomhethoughtheoughttobeabove，andwho，hethereforeconsidered，wouldbeusurpinghisrightfulposition。 Indisgustherefusedtoattendthedinner，which，exceptingforwhatheimaginedwasabreachofmanners，hewouldhavebeenverypleasedtohaveattended。Americansaremuchmoresensible。 Theyarenotabitsensitive，especiallyinsmallmatters。 Eithertheyarebroad-mindedenoughtoriseaboveunworthytrifles，orelsetheirgoodAmericanismpreventstheirsquabblingoverquestionsofprecedence，atthedinnertableorelsewhere。 AmericansactuptotheirDeclarationofIndependence，especiallytheprincipleitenunciatesconcerningtheequalityofman。 Theylaysomuchimportanceonthisthattheydonotconfineitsapplicationtolegalrights，butextenditeventosocialintercourse。Infact，Ithinkthisdoctrineisthebasisoftheso-calledAmericanmanners。 Allmenaredeemedsociallyequal，whetherasfriendandfriend，asPresidentandcitizen，asemployerandemployee，asmasterandservant，orasparentandchild。Theirrelationshipmaybesuchthatoneisentitledtodemand，andtheothertorender，certainactsofobedience，andacertainamountofrespect，butoutsidethattheyareonthesamelevel。Thisisdoubtlessarebellionagainstallthesocialideasandprejudicesoftheoldworld，butitisperhapsonlywhatmightbelookedforinanewcountry，fullofrobustandambitiousmanhood，disdainfulofalltraditionswhichintheleastsavorofmonarchyorhierarchy，andeagertoblazeasnewapathforitselfinthesocialasithassucceededinaccomplishinginthepoliticalworld。CombinedwiththisistheAmericancharacteristicofsavingtime。Timeisprecioustoallofus，buttoAmericansitisparticularlyso。Weallwishtosavetime，buttheAmericanscaremuchmoreaboutitthantherestofus。 Thentherearedifferentnotionsaboutthisquestionofsavingtime，differentnotionsofwhatwastestimeandwhatdoesnot，andmuchwhichtheoldworldregardsaspolitenessandgoodmannersAmericansconsiderassheerwasteoftime。Timeis，theythink，fartooprecioustobeoccupiedwithceremonieswhichappearemptyandmeaningless。Itcan，theysay，bemuchmoreprofitablyfilledwithotherandmoreusefuloccupations。InanydiscussionofAmericanmannersitwouldbeunfairtoleaveoutofconsiderationtheirindifferencetoceremonyandtheirhighlydevelopedsenseofthevalueoftime，butinsayingthisIdonotforgetthatmanyAmericansaredevoutritualists，andthatthesefindbothcomfortandpleasureinceremony，whichsuggeststhatafterallthereissomethingtobesaidfortheChinesewhohaveraisedcorrectdeportmentalmosttotherankofareligion。 TheyouthofAmericahavenotunnaturallycaughtthespiritoftheirelders，sothatevenchildrenconsiderthemselvesasalmostonaparwiththeirparents，asalmostonthesameplaneofequality； buttheparents，ontheotherhand，alsotreatthemasiftheywereequals，andallowthemtheutmostfreedom。WhileaChinesechildrendersunquestioningobediencetohisparents\'orders，suchobedienceasasoldieryieldstohissuperiorofficer，theAmericanchildmusthavethewhysandthewhereforesdulyexplainedtohim，andthereasonforhisobediencemadeclear。 Itisnothisparentthatheobeys，butexpediencyandthedictatesofreason。 Hereweseetheclear-headed，sound，common-sensebusinessmaninthemaking。 Theearlytrainingoftheboyhaslaidthefoundationforthefutureman。