-The educational system of
America explains the idiosyncrasies of the American woman.

The first time that I was in America, some twelve years ago, I one day
mentioned to a newspaper reporter that I could not find a cup of tea to
please me anywhere in America. The next day a paragraph about me
appeared in the paper, headed, 'Max is going to abuse everything in
America.'

A few days later I had an opportunity to mention to another reporter
that, however bad meals were in some hotels in the small cities, I
could everywhere get a cup of coffee quite as good as in France, if not
even better. The next day a paragraph appeared headed: 'Max wants our
dollars.'

I have many times lectured in the United States on women, including a
sketch on American women. After the lecture I have generally been
introduced to some ladies of the audience, who kindly expressed the
desire of shaking hands with me.

Almost every time one or two have taken me aside, and said: 'I have
read in your books and your magazine articles and heard in your
lectures all you have to say about American women; but now, tell me,
what do you really think of them?'

My dear ladies, there are some men who do occasionally speak the truth,
or what they believe to be the truth, and who do say what they mean,
and mean what they say.

The English, long ago, warned me that I would not be able to do in
America what I had successfully done in England, because the Americans,
they said to me, were much more susceptible and sensitive than the
English. They were mistaken.

No doubt the Americans had resented, and justly, too, the criticisms of
Trollope and Dickens (the latter had to write a permanent apology in
the preface of 'Martin Chuzzlewit'). Criticism that never offends, and
praises that never flatter, are, I believe, everywhere acceptable when
they are taken in the spirit of fairness and good-humour in which they
are expressed. I believe, and firmly believe, the American women to be
the most interesting and the most brilliant women in the world, and I
do not see why I could not proclaim it from the house-tops if I like,
even in America.

They are picturesque, vivacious, natural, stylish, smart, clever,
unconventional, and the best educated. They are typical, perfectly
labelled.

Take me to a drawing-room in Paris or in London, and, without being
introduced to anyone, I think I should be able to pick out all the
American women in the room.