himself would think her as a lady without dignity. Still, the ladies of
New York are pearls when compared with the ladies in the interior of this
Union, where foreigners are very rarely seen.

Step into a car, into a steamboat; and the very gentleman who complains of
the indifference, and coldness with which american ladies receive the
kindness of gentlemen, is the first to spoil them. Once, being in a car,
and not thinking that the back department of it, and always more
comfortable, was exclusively for the ladies, seeing almost all the places
vacant, I went there, and seated myself; when the agent of that train,
with a loud voice, and manners to make the ladies understand he had no
difficulty of being rude with his own sex to please the ladies, said to me
with a voice of command, that the place was only for the ladies. 'It is
not my intention,' I answered him, 'to intrude myself among your ladies:
but, you should be more polite to an inoffensive stranger, when you find
him innocently breaking your rules, by telling him in a whisper, that he
is mistaken.'

I wonder to find the american ladies good as they are with like gentlemen,
spoiling them continually. The american lady must have an uncommon mind,
not to think herself a being far superior to all gentlemen in bones,
flesh, and blood. And how can she think otherwise, while the ladies have a
reciprocal regard between themselves, the gentleman thinks it derogatory
to himself to be polite with another gentleman? However, as my wish is to
be just with the american gentlemen also, and the acquaintances who honor
me in America, I must say that: although there are some of my sex, who
think that a gentleman is not obliged to be polite to the politeness of
those whom he thinks his inferiors, the generality of american gentlemen
are now as civil as any civilized nation in the world; and during the time
excepted, when they are before ladies, in which time they think it unmanly
to have any regard between themselves, the aristocrat of money, who does
not answer politeness for politeness, may be suffered by them; but he is
not imitated by republicans: and the republicans in America form the
greater number.

I saw gentlemen with ladies touching the shoulder of other gentlemen,
telling the latter to give up their seats for the ladies, and them,
without acknowledging the least thank. In a public place every gentleman
would always be pleased to give up his seat to a lady; but, to co