," perhaps they can explain wherein their
pilfering of another's property differs from petty thieving--a distinction
which the owner can scarcely be expected to understand. Those who write
their names, defacing objects of beauty with their vainglorious smudges
and scribblings, are scarcely less culpable.

In France, in Spain, in Italy, grace and politeness of manner is as
essential to merest decency as being clothed. In the hotels that are "used
to us" (something of a commentary!) our lack of politeness is tolerated;
but don't think for a moment it is not paid for! The officer referred to
above, who had had the advantage of summer after summer spent in Europe as
a boy, was charged just about half what another must pay who has "the
rudeness of a savage."

But good manners are good manners everywhere, except that in Latin and
Asiatic countries we must, as it seems to us, exaggerate politeness. We
must, in France and Italy, bow smilingly; we must, in Spain and the East,
bow gravely; but in any event, it is necessary everywhere, except under
the American and British flags, to _bow_--though your bow is often little
more than a slight inclination of the head, and a smile--and to show some
ceremony in addressing people.

When you go into a shop in France or Italy, you must smile and bow and
say, "Good morning, madam," or "Good evening, monsieur," and "Until we
meet again," when you leave. If you can't say "Au revoir," say "Good
afternoon" in English, but at all events say _something_ in a polite tone
of voice, which is much more important than the words themselves. To be
civilly polite is not difficult--it is merely a matter of remembering. To
fail to say "good morning" to a _concierge_, a chambermaid, or a small
tradesman in France, treating him (or her) as though he did not exist, is
not evidence of your grandeur but of your ignorance. A French duchess
would not _think_ of entering the littlest store without saying, "Good
morning, madame," to its proprietress, and if she is known to her at all,
without making enquiries concerning the health of the various members of
her family. Nor would she fail to say, "Good morning, Auguste," or
"Marie," to her own servants.

=EUROPE'S UNFLATTERING OPINION OF US=

For years we Americans have swarmed over the face of the world, taking it
for granted that the earth's surface belongs to us because we can pay for
it, and it is rather worse than ever since the war, when the advantages of