e I write fairly, and do not hesitate
to point out the many things in which the Americans are ahead of the
"Britisher." Do you, if English, mind the word? I do not, but it is
very American.

It has always struck me that nationalities, judging of each other, do
not act fairly. Each individual, be he or she English, American or of
any Continental country, is apt to regard the question at issue
solely from the nationalistic point of view, and does not attempt to
place himself or herself on the other side, and try to realize how it
would look there. There are no people on earth more apt to do this
than the English, though the Americans do it likewise to quite as
great an extent. There is nothing, I think, to choose between them in
this respect, and for national egotism these two nations head the
list. There are not many more disagreeable beings than the
egotistical, untravelled young Englishman (age generally modifies his
views), who reviles everything foreign, and thinks nothing really
good is found out of Great Britain! The class are well known on the
Continent, and naturally avoided, for they exhibit little or no
delicacy in propounding their views. The young Englishman in
question, often of the upper classes, and also often rich, is
disagreeable in other ways also. He adores wealth and despises
poverty. He is a very slave to what is most foolish in our social
customs, ignoring entirely those that are commendable. He would not
carry a parcel through the street if any amount of money would induce
some one else to do it for him. He scoffs at religion of every kind.
He scarcely believes in the existence of right and wrong. He is
shallow to an extent, and fast it goes without saying. Yet is he not
all bad. He _has_ a code, loose as it is, and acts up to it. It is
real pain to him to be backward with a debt of honour (though I write
it, how foolish the expression: as if all debts were not equally
incumbent), but any tradesman may wait for years. He does not lie,
except to save a woman's reputation (query--Is it then justifiable? I
really don't know), but he exaggerates fearfully. Animal courage he
has, but nothing of the moral attribute. Except as regards his
egotism, personal and national, he is not offensive in manner or
language. To ladies he is courteous, but his opinion of woman is of
the lowest. I have said enough to show such a one does not commend
himself to foreigners.

There is an American of the same type, but h