u consider the institutions of this great country,
when you see how like a clock the machinery works, &c.?" Or, more
shortly, "And how do you like our glorious country?" This last is a
very favourite form. It was asked me many times in exactly the above
words. My general reply (a safe and true one) was, "Well, I don't
like it as well as England, though I see much we might copy with
advantage, &c." The American, perhaps, then adds, "Ah, that's
natural, but I'm glad you can discriminate, which few Britishers can,
for believe me" (here he gives you a painful dig in the side), "they
are prejudiced right away in favour of that little insignificant
island." I cannot say the words are exact, but their drift is. The
expression, "How do you like our glorious country?" I'll swear to.

Let it not be supposed that the above is characteristic of the
Americans. It is so of the Yankee class alone. It is a significant
word that "Yankee," I do not like it altogether, for it has more or
less of depreciation in it. Still no one writing of America can help
using it occasionally. What does it mean? In Latham's Dictionary it
is defined, "Term applied in England to the Americans of the United
States generally." This may have been so, it is certainly not the
case now. Why, I know not, but the term has acquired a low meaning.
In speaking to a subject of the United States, you might ask him,
"Are you an American?" You could certainly not, without transgressing
good taste and most certainly offending him, ask if he is a Yankee.
In what sense, then, may the word rightly be used? Sometimes it is
employed to designate the inhabitants of the Northern States, but
this again is wrong, simply, if for no other reason, that they do not
relish it. By "Yankee" _I_ understand, and shall use it to mean, a
denizen of the Northern States, but one of a low type. The North
American gentleman or lady can vie in that way with any nationality
(in intelligence they are perhaps ahead of their compeers), but the
Yankee, "the cute Yankee," is a very _prononce_ type, peculiar to
America, and there are, alas, many of them. They hail principally
from the North, but I have seen some in the South, and when met with
there they grate against you more in proportion because civility and
courtesy are generally the rule in the latter States.

We have all heard that servants in America are named "helps." This
alone signifies a great deal. They object to serve you, they do not
min