ter--and
there sat Frank, absolutely radiating off so much coolness, that he
imparted a portion of it to me, and we sat through the scene as quietly
as if they had only been laying the cloth for dinner. A rum pair they
must have thought us! The day before we had astonished the waiter by
lighting brandy over a pudding. I suppose we left them under the
impression that the Anglo-Saxons had a propensity to set fire to every
thing they came in contact with."

"It is very odd that so many of your people should be afraid of
resembling us, and take the French type for imitation in preference to
the English. The original feeling of gratitude to France for having
assisted you in the war of independence, does not seem sufficient to
account for it."

"Certainly not; for that feeling would naturally diminish in succeeding
generations, whereas the Gallicism of our people is on the increase,--in
fact its origin is of comparatively recent date. But we really _are_
more like the French in some senses. Politically the American is very
Anglo-Saxon. So he is morally; but socially, so far as you can separate
society from morals, he is very French. The Englishman's first idea of
his duty in society is non-interference; the Frenchman's and American's,
amusement. An Englishman does not think it his business to endeavor to
amuse the company in which he happens to be; an Englishwoman does not
think it her duty to make any attempt to entertain a man who is
introduced to her. A Frenchman will rather talk trash, _knowing that he
is talking trash_, than remain silent and let others remain silent. So
will an American. But an Englishman, unless he is sure of saying
something to the point, will hold his tongue. The imperturbable
self-possession of the English gentleman is generally understood by us,
any more than it is by the French. His minding his own business is
attributed to selfish indifference. The picture that half our people
form of an Englishman is, a heavy, awkward man, very badly dressed,
courageous, and full of learning; but devoid of all the arts and graces
of life, and caring for nobody but himself. It is a great pity that
there is not a better understanding; but, unfortunately, the best
Englishmen who come here seldom stay long enough to be appreciated, and
the best Americans who go to England seldom stay there long enough to
appreciate the country. Whenever an American chances to stay some years
among you, he ends by liking England ve