mmand him
to do so, he who gives up, falls from his dignity; and he who takes it,
shows a want of feeling. If the giver feels naturally more moral pleasure
in ceding it, is it not better to wait the moment in which the gentleman,
seeing the lady standing by him, will immediately offer her his seat? Not
long ago, a lady stepping with her daughter into a car, touched on the
shoulder a gentleman before me, telling him to leave the two places he
occupied, and give them up for herself, and her daughter: and with the
imperial countenance of Elizabeth, queen of England, showed to him another
place before him, where another gentleman occupied two other places. The
gentleman did all she wanted, without saying one word, with such a
patience, though dejected generosity, which caused me to grieve for my own
sex. Few days after, two ladies stepping in the same car, where I occupied
two places, fearing of being commanded like the gentleman for whom I
grieved, I offered the vacant place next mine to the nearest lady,
standing by me. She answered that she would receive both places in order
to sit together with her friend. In asking the lady if she commanded me to
do so, or if she would be thankful for giving up my place, and she
answering that she would be thankful, I gave it up, and went to seat
myself with another gentleman.

That the american ladies would not be inferior in kindness to any italian
lady, I have no doubt, could they believe that we, of the fighting tribe,
are not dogs respecting them. Nevertheless, I have a high respect towards
the american ladies, as far as a good heart is concerned, though a bad
custom injures too much their sensible left side: and as it is the best
side of woman, I would not like to see the american ladies so badly
treated by their very bad teachers, who, like heedless fathers, complain
of their children, who would be good, had they not spoiled them. Yes: the
american ladies are naturally good children. And, were only one single
lady, who would thank me by having said such a truth in their defence, I
would call myself fully rewarded for my trouble in defending them. But,
were they all bad, and at the same time, were they all thanking me for
having said a falsehood, I would be very sorry for it. The american lady
to whom I gave up my place with the dignity of a man, and not with the
dejection of a commanded dog, showed me one of her most thankful, and
charming smiles, not for the place I ceded to her