第5章

Whenhetakesupanewspaperandreadsstatementsaboutdifferentpersonsinhighpositionswhicharenotatallcreditabletothem，andlearnsthatnoseriousconsequenceshappentothewriters，heislostinwonderment。Afteralittletimehebeginstounderstandthatthisisthe"landofthefreeandthehomeofthebrave"，andthatinAmericaeverybodyisonanequality。ThePresident，thehighestofficialintheUnitedStates，isneithermorenorlessthanacitizen；andshouldhe，whichisveryunlikely，commitanoffense，ordoanythingincontraventionofthelaw，hewouldbetriedinaCourtofJusticeinthesamemannerasthelowestandthepoorestcitizen。

Naturallythenewvisitorthinksthisthehappiestpeopleonearth，andwishesthathisowncountrycouldbegovernedashappily。

UntilthatluckydayarriveshefeelsthathewouldratherstayinfreeAmericathanreturntohisnativeland。

OneofthefirstlessonswhichislearnedbytheAmericanchildinschool，andwhichisdeeplyimpressedonitsmindbyitsteacher，isthataccordingtotheConstitutionallpersonsarebornequal，andthatnodistinctionismadebetweensections，classes，orsects。

Noslaves，orpersonsunderbonds，havebeenallowedintheUnitedStatessincetheabolitionofslaverybyPresidentLincoln。Themomentaslave，oranyoneinbonds，stepsontheshoresoftheUnitedStatesheisfree，andnoone，notevenhisformermaster，candeprivehimofhisliberty。

Americaalsoaffordsanasylumforoppressedpeopleandforpoliticaloffenders；peoplewhohavebeenpersecutedintheirownland，onaccountoftheirreligion，orforpoliticaloffenses，findasaferefugeinthiscountry。EveryyearlargenumbersofJews，andotherforeigners，emigratetoAmericaforthesakeofenjoyingreligiousfreedom。

PerfectreligiouslibertyisguaranteedtoeveryoneintheUnitedStates。

ThereisequalreligiouslibertyinEngland，buttheKingiscompelledtobelongtoaparticularsectionoftheChristianChurch，whereasintheUnitedStatesnorestrictionisplacedonthereligiousbeliefofthePresident；thusonePresidentwasaBaptist，anotheraUnitarian，andathirdaCongregationalist；and，ifelected，aJew，aMohammedan，oraConfucianistcouldbecomethePresident。

SeveralJewshaveheldhighFederaloffices；theyhaveevenbeenCabinetMinisters。ArticleVIoftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatessays:

"NoreligioustestshalleverberequiredasaqualificationtoanyofficeorpublictrustundertheUnitedStates。"

SoingrainedinthemindsoftheAmericanpeopleisthisprincipleoflibertyandfreedomofactionthatIdonotbelievetheywouldresignitforanyconsiderationwhatsoever。OnceanEnglishDukewasaskedwhetherhewouldacceptthethroneofChinaonthesoleconditionthathemustresideinthePalaceofPeking，andactastheChineseEmperorshavealwaysbeenaccustomedtoact。Herepliedthatsuchanexaltedpositionofpowerandresponsibilitywouldbeverygreatandtempting，butthathewouldonnoaccountacceptsuchanhonoronsuchterms，asitwouldpracticallymakehimaprisoner。Thoughasubjectunderamonarchialformofgovernment，hewouldnotforfeithisrightoffreedomofaction；andmuchlesswouldademocraticAmericangiveuphisbirthrightforanyprice。IknewaneminentandlearnedJudgeoftheSupremeCourtinWashington，whousedtosaythathewouldneverbendhiskneestoanyhumanbeing，andthattotheAlmightyGodalonewouldheeverdohomage。

Henodoubtacteduptohisprinciples，butImuchdoubtifallAmericansobservesoloftyanideal。Ayoungloverinproposingtohissweetheartwouldnotmindkneelingdowntosupporthisprayer。

Ihaveseenpenitenthusbandsbendingtheirkneestoasktheforgivenessoftheiroffendedwives。This，however，canbeexplainedbythefactthattheactofkneelingisnot，insuchcases，asignofinferiority，buttheactofoneequalaskingafavorfromanother；

stillitisthebendingofthekneewhichwassosolemnlyabjuredbythelearnedJudge。

ThedislikeofdistinctionofclasseswhicharisesfromtheprincipleofequalityisapparentwhereveryougointheStates。

Therailroadcarsarenotmarkedfirst，second，orthird，astheyareinEurope。ItistruethattherearePullmancars，andpalacecars，withsuperiorandsuperbaccommodation，andforwhichtheoccupanthastopayanextrafare；

buttheoutsideofthecarsimplybearsthename"Pullman"

withoutindicatingitsclass，andanyonewhoiswillingtopaythefaremayshareitsluxuries。IshouldmentionthatinsomeoftheSouthernstatesnegroesarecompelledtorideonseparatecars。Ononeoccasion，arrivingattherailroadstationinoneofthosestates，Inoticedthereweretwowaiting-rooms，onelabelled"FortheWhite"，andtheother"FortheColored"。Therailwayportertookmyportmanteautotheroomforthewhite，butmyconsciencesoonwhisperedIhadcometothewrongplace，asneitherofthetworoomswasintendedforpeopleofmycomplexion。Thestreet-carsaremoredemocratic；

thereisnodivisionofclasses；allpeople，highorlow，sitinthesamecarwithoutdistinctionofrace，colororsex。

Itisacommonthingtoseeaworkman，dressedinshabbyclothesfullofdirt，sittingnexttoamillionaireorafashionableladygorgeouslyclothed。

Cabinetofficersandtheirwivesdonotthinkitbeneaththeirdignitytositbesidealaborer，oracoolie，asheiscalledinChina。

ForeignMinistersandAmbassadorscomingtoWashingtonsoonlearntofollowtheselocalcustoms。InaEuropeancountrytheyrideincoronatedcarriages，withtwoliverymen；butinWashingtontheyusuallygoaboutonfoot，ortravelbythestreet-cars。IfrequentlysawthelateLordPauncefote，thecelebratedBritishAmbassadortoWashington，ridetotheStateDepartmentinthestreet-car。MyadoptionofthisdemocraticwayoftravellingduringthetimeIwasinAmericawasthecauseofacomplaintbeingmadeagainstmeatPeking。ThecomplainantswerecertainChinesehighofficialswhohadhadoccasiontovisittheStates；

oneofthemhadhadaforeigneducation，andoughttohaveknownbetterthantohavejoinedintheaccusationthatmyunpretentiousmanneroflivingwasnotbecomingthedignityofarepresentativeofChina。

TheyforgotthatwheninRomeyoumustdoastheRomansdo，andthattorideinasumptuouscarriage，withuniformedfootmen，isinAmericanotonlyanunnecessaryexpense，butahabitwhich，amongsuchademocraticpeopleastheAmericans，woulddetractfrom，ratherthanaddto，one"sdignity。Anenvoyresidinginaforeigncountryshouldbeintouchwiththepeopleamongwhomheissojourning。

Ifheputonunnecessaryairs，therewillbeacoldnessandlackofcordialitybetweenhimandthecommunity；hissphereofusefulnesswillbecurtailed，andhisknowledgeofthepeopleandtheircountrylimited。

Ofcourse，inaEuropeanCapital，whereeverydiplomatdrivesinacarriage，Ishouldfollowtheexampleofmycolleagues。ButeveninEngland，Ifrequentlymethighstatesmen，such，forexample，asLordSalisbury，walkinginthestreets。ThisunrestrainedlibertyandequalityisremarkablyconspicuousintheUnitedStates；forinstance，attheWhiteHouseofficialreceptionsorballsinWashington，Ihaveseenladiesinordinarydress，whileononeoccasionawomanappearedinthedressofaman。ThiswasDoctorMaryWalker。

Inademocraticcountry，suchastheUnitedStates，onewouldnaturallysupposethatthepeopleenjoyedagreaterdegreeoffreedomthanispossibleinmonarchialcountries。But，sofarfromthisbeingso，insomerespects，theyappeartobeinaworseposition。

OnmyreturnjourneyfromSouthAmerica，someyearsago，oursteamerhadtostayforfourhoursoutsideofNewYorkharbor。

Wehadfirsttowaitforthedoctortocomeonboardtomakehisinspectionofallthepassengers，thentheCustomsofficialsappearedandexaminedtheluggageandboxesofallthepassengers，andthen，lastbutnottheleast，wehadtowaitfortheimmigrationofficers。

Allthisnecessarilytooktime，anditwasnotuntilalltheseinspectionswerecompletedthatthesteamerwasallowedtoentertheharbor，andtotieupalongsidethedock。Andthisoccurredinthelandoffreedomandliberty!IspoketosomeofmyAmericanfellowpassengersabouttheinconvenienceanddelay，andthoughtheyallmurmuredtheyquietlysubmitted。Customsandsanitaryinspectionshouldbesoconductedastocauseaslittledelayaspossible。

IhavevisitedmanycountriesinEurope，inSouthAmerica，andinAsia，butIhaveneverknownofashiphavingtostayoutsidetheharboroftheportofherdestinationforsolongatime。

Takeanothercase；somemonthssince，Iwished，incompliancewiththerequestofaladyinAmerica，tosendherachow-dog。Amutualfriendwaswillingtotakeittoher，but，uponmakinginquiriesattheAmericanConsulateastotheCustomsregulations，hewasinformedthatitwouldbeimpossibleforhimtoundertakethecommission，astheCustomsofficersatSanFrancisco，besidesimposingaheavydutyonthedog，wouldkeeptheshipinquarantinebecausethedogwasonboard。Icouldscarcelybelievethis，butinquiriesconfirmedthetruthofmyfriend"sstatement。

Customsandimmigrationlawsandsanitaryregulationsmust，ofcourse，beobserved，buttheyshouldbeenforcedinsuchawayasnottoworkhardshiponthepeople。Officersentrustedwiththeperformanceofsuchduties，whilefaithfullyandconscientiouslyperformingtheirwork，shouldyetexercisetheirpowerwithdiscretionandtact。

Theyaretheservantsofthepeople，andoughttolookaftertheirinterestsandconvenienceaswellasaftertheinterestsoftheState。

Iwouldbethelastonetoencouragesmuggling，butwouldthenationalinterestsreallysufferiftheCustomHouseofficersweretobealittlemorereadytoacceptatraveller"sword，andiftheywerelessreadytosuspecteveryoneofmakingfalsedeclarationswhenenteringthecountry？Smugglingmustberepressed，butatthesametimeisitnottruethatthemoreimportsenterthecountrythebetteritisfortheStateandforthepeople？

TherearenopeersintheUnitedStates，astheGovernmenthasnopowertocreatethem；andalthoughAmericaisnominallyafreecountry，yetifaforeigngovernmentshouldconferadecorationonanAmericancitizenforservicesrendered，hecannotacceptitwithouttheconsentofCongress，justasunderamonarchyasubjectmustobtainhissovereign"spermissiontowearaforeigndecoration。ItistruethattherearesomesuchtitledpersonsinAmerica，buttheyarenottreatedwithanygreaterrespectordistinctionthanothercitizens；

yetyoufrequentlyfindpeopleinAmericawhonotonlywouldnotdisdain，butareactuallyanxious，toreceivedecorationsfromforeigngovernments。

Once，atleast，anAmericanhighofficial，justbeforeleavingthecountrytowhichhehadbeenaccredited，accepted，withoutpermission，adecoration，knowing，thatifhehadaskedfortheconsentofCongress，hewouldnothavebeenallowedtoreceiveit。

Itishumannaturetolovechangeandvariety，andforeverypersontobedesignated"Mister"istootameandflatforthego-aheadAmericans。

Hencemanyofthepeoplewhomyoumeetdailyhavesomeprefixtotheirnames，suchasGeneral，Colonel，Major，President，Judge，etc。

Youwillnotbefarwrongtocallaman"Judge"whenheisalawyer；

or"General"or"Colonel"ifhehasservedinthearmy；

or"Admiral"or"Captain"ifhehasbeeninthenavy。ThoughneithertheFederalnortheStateGovernmenthaspowertoconfertitles，themagnatesdoso。TheyseethatdukesandotherpeersarecreatedinEurope，andthatthepartnersinthebig，wealthyfirmsoverthere，arecalled"merchantprinces"，andsotooutdothem，theyarrogatetothemselvesastillhighertitle。Hencetherearerailroadkings，copperkings，tobaccokings，etc。Itis，however，manifestlyimproperandincongruousthatthepeopleshouldpossessahighertitlethantheirPresident，whoistheheadofthenation。

Tomakeiteven，Iwouldsuggestthatthetitle"President"

bechangedto"Emperor"，forthefollowingreasons:First，itwouldnotonlydoawaywiththeimproprietyofthechiefmagistrateofthenationassuminganamebelowthatofsomeofhispeople，butitwouldplacehimonalevelwiththehighestrulerofanynationonthefaceoftheearth。IhaveoftenheardtheremarkthatthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesisnomorethanacommoncitizen，electedforfouryears，andthatontheexpirationofhistermherevertstohisformerhumblestatusofaprivatecitizen；

thathehasnothingincommonwiththedignifiedmajestyofanEmperor；

butwerethehighestofficialoftheUnitedStatestobeinfutureofficiallyknownasEmperor，allthesedepreciatoryremarkswouldfalltotheground。Thereisnoreasonwhateverwhyheshouldnotbesostyled，as，byvirtueofhishighoffice，hepossessesalmostasmuchpowerasthemostaristocraticrulerofanynation。Secondly，itwouldclearlydemonstratethesovereignpowerofthepeople；

apeoplewhocouldmakeandunmakeanEmperor，wouldcertainlybehighlyrespected。Thirdly，theUnitedStatessendsambassadorstoGermany，Austria，Russia，etc。Accordingtointernationallaw，ambassadorshavewhatiscalledtherepresentativecharacter，thatis，theyrepresenttheirsovereignbywhomtheyaredelegated，andareentitledtothesamehonorstowhichtheirconstituentwouldbeentitledwerehepersonallypresent。InaRepublicwheretheheadoftheStateisonlyacitizenandthesovereignisthepeople，itisonlybyastretchofimaginationthatitsambassadorcanbesaidtorepresentthepersonofhissovereign。NowitwouldbemuchmoreinconsonancewiththedignifiedcharacterofanAmericanambassadortobetherepresentativeofanEmperorthanofasimplePresident。

ThenameofEmperormaybedistastefultosome，butmaynotanewmeaningbegiventoit？Awordusuallyhasseveraldefinitions。

Now，ifCongressweretopassalawauthorizingthechiefmagistrateoftheUnitedStatesofAmericatobestyledEmperor，suchdesignationtomeannothingmorethantheword"President"，thetitlewouldsoonbeunderstoodinthatsense。Thereisnoreasoninhistoryorphilologywhytheword"Emperor"shouldnevermeananythingotherthanahereditaryruler。

Imakethissuggestionseriously，andhopeitwillbeadopted。

MarriagelawsintheUnitedStates，asIunderstandthem，aremoreelasticthanthoseinEurope。InEngland，untilafewyearsago，amancouldnotcontractalegalmarriagewithhisdeceasedwife"ssister，althoughhecouldmarrythebetrothedwifeofhisdeceasedbrother。

ItiscurioustocomparetheChineseviewofthesetwocases。

Marriagewithadeceasedwife"ssisteris，inChina，notonlylawful，butquitecommon，whiletomarryadeadbrother"sbetrothedisstrictlyprohibited。DoubtlessintheUnitedStatesbotharerecognizedaslegal。Iwasnot，however，preparedtohear，andwhenIdidhearit，Icouldnotatfirstbelievethatamanispermittedtomarryhisdeceasedson"swife。

Letmequotefromthe"ChinaPress"whichhasspecialfacilitiesforobtainingnewsfromAmerica。"Boston，March24。

TheengagementofMrs。KatherineM。B。，widowofCharlesA。B。，anddaughterofGeorgeC。F。，chairmanofthe……，Boardof……，toherfather-in-law，FrankA。B。，of……，becameknownto-day。

CharlesA。B。waskilledatthe……Roadcrossingin……

onMarch29，1910，byalocomotivewhichstruckacarriageinwhichhewasdrivingtotheFirstCongregationalChurch，toserveasbestmanattheweddingofMissH。R。F。，anotherdaughterofS。F。，toL。G。B。of……Hiswife，whowasinthecarriagewithhimandwastohavebeenmatronatthewedding，wasseverelyinjured。Hermother-in-law，Mrs。FrankA。B。，diedsomemonthslater。"*Isupposethemarriagehassincebeenconsummated。

Ifafatherispermittedtomarryhisdeceasedson"swife，infairnessasonshouldbeallowedtomarryhisdeceasedfather"swife。

IpresumethatthereisalawintheUnitedStatesorinsomeofthestatesagainstmarriageswithintheprohibiteddegreesofconsanguinityandaffinity，butIconfessthatthemoreIstudythesubjectthemoreIamconfusedastowhatisorwhatisnotwithintheprohibiteddegrees——

*Thenamesofthepartiesandplacesweregiveninfullinthe"ChinaPress"——

InChinathelawonthissubjectisextremelyrigid，andconsequentlyitsinfractionisexceedinglyrare；Ihave，asamatteroffact，neverheardofthemarriagelawsinChinabeingbroken。

In"LiaoChai"，afamouscollectionofChinesetales，itisrecordedthatayoungwidowmarriedhersonandmovedtoanotherpartofthecountry，sothattheiridentityandrelationshipshouldbeconcealed。

Theyseemedtohavelivedveryhappilytogether。Aftermanyyears，whentheyhadhadchildrenandgrandchildren，theirtruerelationshipwasaccidentallydiscovered。Acomplaintwaslaidbeforethelocalauthorities。

Afteralongdeliberationandcarefulreviewofthecase，andtoeradicatesuch"unnaturaloffspring"，astheyweretermed，itwasdecidedthatthetwooffenders，andalltheirchildrenandgrandchildrenshouldbeburnedtodeath，whichsentencewasdulycarriedout。

Idoubtifthestoryisauthentic。Itwasprobablyfabricatedbytheauthorthatitmightserveasawarning。Thesentence，iftrue，wastoosevere；

theoffspringwhowereinnocentcontributoriestothecrimedeservedpityratherthanpunishment；thejudgmentpassedontherealoffenderswasalsoundulyharsh。MyobjectincitingthisunsavorytaleistoshowthedifferentviewsheldinregardtoincestuousmarriageinChinawithitsseriousconsequences。

Itiscommonlysupposedthatallmenarebornequal，andthattheUnitedStatesisthelandofperfectequality。Nowletusseeifthisisreallyso。Therearemenbornintohighstationsoflife，orintowealthyfamilies，with"silverspoons"intheirmouths；

whilethereareothersusheredintothisworldbyparentswhoarepaupersandwhocannotsupportthem。Thentherearepeoplebornwithwitandwisdom，whileothersareperfectfools。Againtherearesomewhoarebroughttothislifewithstrongandhealthyconstitutions，whileothersareweakandsickly。Thusitisplainthatmenarenotbornequal，eitherphysically，intellectually，orsocially。

IdonotknowhowmyAmericanfriendsaccountforthisundoubtedfact，buttheChinesedoctrineofpreviouslives，ofwhichthepresentarebutthecontinuation，seemstoaffordasatisfactoryexplanation。

However，thisdoctrineofequalityandindependencehasdoneimmensegood。

Ithas，asarule，causedmentothinkindependently，andnottoservilelyfollowthethoughtsandideasofothers，whomaybequitewrong。

Ithasencouragedinvention，andnewdiscoveriesinscienceandart。

Ithasenabledmentodevelopindustriesandtoexpandtrade。

NewYorkandChicago，forexample，couldnothavebecomesuchhugeandprosperouscitieswithincomparativelyshortperiods，butfortheirfreeandwiseinstitutions。Incountrieswherepersonallibertyisunknown，andtherightsofpersonandpropertyarecurtailed，peopledonotexertthemselvestoimprovetheirenvironments，butarecontenttoremainquietandinactive。

BytheconstitutionoftheStateofCaliforniaitisdeclaredthat"allmenarefreeandindependent"。ItmustbeconcededthattheAmericanpeopleenjoyagreateramountoffreedomandindependencethanotherpeople。Butaretheyperfectlyfree，andaretheyreallyindependent？Aretheynotswayedinpoliticsbytheir"bosses"，anddonotmanyofthemactandvoteastheirbossesdictate？

Insocietyaretheynotboundbyconventionalitiesand，daretheyinfringethestrictruleslaiddownbythesocietyleaders？

Inthematterofdressalsoaretheynotslaves，abjectlyfollowingnew-fangledfashionsimportedfromParis？Indomesticcirclesarenotmanyhusbandshen-peckedbytheirwives，becausethey，andnotthemen，ruletheroost？Arenotmanywomenpracticallygovernedbytheirhusbands，whosewordistheirlaw？Theeagerhungerfor"thealmightydollar"

leadsmostAmericanstosacrificetheirtime，health，andlibertyintheacquisitionofwealth，and，alas，whentheyhaveacquiredit，theyfindthattheirhealthisbroken，andthattheythemselvesarealmostreadyforthegrave。Oughtafreeandindependentpeopletoliveafterthisfashion？

Ineverywellorganizedcommunityitisessentialthatpeopleshouldobeyalllawsandregulationswhichareenactedforthegreatestgoodofthegreatestnumber。Indomesticcirclestheyshouldwillinglysubordinatetheirownwishestothewishesofothers，forthesakeofpeace，concordandhappiness。Happythatpeoplewhoselawsandconditionsaresuchthattheycanenjoythegreatestamountoffreedominregardtopersonandproperty，compatiblewiththegeneralpeaceandgoodorderofthecommunity，andifIshouldbeaskedmyopinion，notwithstandingallthatIhaveabovesaidconcerningtheUnitedStates，IshouldhavetoacknowledgethatIbelievethatAmericaisoneofthefewnationswhichhavefairlywellapproximatedthehighidealofawell-governedcountry。

Chapter8。AmericanMannersMuchhasbeenwrittenandmoresaidaboutAmericanmanners，orrathertheAmericanlackofmanners。Americanshavefrequentlybeencriticizedfortheirbadbreeding，andmanysarcasticreferencestoAmericandeportmenthavebeenmadeinmypresence。Ihaveevenbeentold，Idonotknowhowtrueitis，thatEuropeandiplomatsdislikebeingstationedinAmerica，becauseoftheiraversiontotheAmericanwayofdoingthings。

MuchtoohasbeenwrittenandsaidaboutChinesemanners，notonlybyforeignersbutalsobyChinese。Oneoftheclassics，whichouryouthhavetoknowbyheart，ispracticallydevotedentirelytomanners。Therehasalsobeenmuchadversecriticismofourmannersorourexcessofmanners，thoughIhaveneverheardthatanydiplomatshave，onthisaccount，objectedtobeingsenttoChina。

WeChinesearethereforeinthesameboatastheAmericans。

Inregardtomannersneitherofusfindmuchfavorwithforeigners，thoughfordiametricallyoppositereasons:theAmericansareaccusedofobservingtoofewformalities，andweofbeingtooformal。

TheAmericansaredirectandstraight-forward。Theywilltellyoutoyourfacethattheylikeyou，andoccasionallytheyalsohaveverylittlehesitationintellingyouthattheydonotlikeyou。

Theysayfranklyjustwhattheythink。Itisimmaterialtothemthattheirremarksarepersonal，complimentaryorotherwise。

Ihavehadmembersofmyownfamilycomplimentedontheirgoodlooksasiftheywerechildren。InthisrespectAmericansdiffergreatlyfromtheEnglish。TheEnglishadherewithmeticulouscaretotheruleofavoidingeverythingpersonal。Theyareverymuchafraidofrudenessontheonehand，andofinsincerityorflatteryontheother。

EveninthematterofsuchaharmlessaffairasacomplimenttoaforeigneronhisknowledgeofEnglish，theywillprecedeitwitharequestforpardon，andspeakinahalf-apologeticmanner，asifcomplimentingweresomethingpersonal。TheEnglishandtheAmericansarecloselyrelated，theyhavemuchincommon，buttheyalsodifferwidely，andinnothingisthedifferencemoreconspicuousthanintheirconduct。

IhavenoticedcuriouslyenoughthatEnglishColonials，especiallyinsuchparticularsasspeechandmanners，followtheirquondamsistercolony，ratherthanthemothercountry。

Andthis，notonlyinCanada，wherethephenomenonmightbeexplainedbyclimatic，geographic，andhistoricreasons，butalsoinsuchantipodeanplacesasAustraliaandSouthAfrica，whicharesofarawayastoapparentlyhaveverylittleincommoneitherwithAmericaorwitheachother。Nevertheless，whateverthereason，thetransplantedEnglishman，whetherinthearcticsorthetropics，whetherintheNorthernortheSouthernHemisphere，seemstodevelopatypequitedifferentfromtheoriginalstock，yetalwaysresemblinghisfellowemigrants。

ThedirectnessofAmericansisseennotonlyinwhattheysaybutinthewaytheysayit。Theycomedirectlytothepoint，withoutmuchprefaceorintroduction，muchlessisthereanycircumlocutionor"beatingaboutthebush"。Whentheycometoseeyoutheysaytheirsayandthentaketheirdeparture，moreovertheysayitinthemostterse，conciseandunambiguousmanner。Inthisrespectwhatacontrasttheyaretous!Wealwaysapproacheachotherwithpreliminarygreetings。

Thenwetalkoftheweather，ofpoliticsorfriends，ofanything，infact，whichisasfaraspossiblefromtheobjectofthevisit。

Onlyafterthisintroductiondowebroachthesubjectuppermostinourminds，andthroughouttheconversationpolitecourtesiesareexchangedwhenevertheopportunityarises。Theseelaboratepreludesandinterludesmay，tothestrenuousever-in-a-hurryAmerican，seemuselessandsuperfluous，buttheyserveagoodpurpose。Likethecommoncourtesiesandcivilitiesoflifetheypavethewayforthespeakers，especiallyiftheyarestrangers；theyimprovetheirtempers，andplacethemgenerallyontermsofmutualunderstanding。

ItissaidthatsomeyearsagoaForeignConsulinChina，havingaseriouscomplainttomakeonbehalfofhisnational，calledontheTaotai，thehighestlocalauthorityintheport。

HefoundtheChineseofficialsogenialandpolitethatafterhalfanhour"sconversation，headvisedthecomplainanttosettlethematteramicablywithouttroublingtheChineseofficialsaboutthematter。Agooddealmaybesaidinbehalfofbothsystems。

TheAmericanpracticehasatleastthemeritofsavingtime，anallimportantobjectwiththeAmericanpeople。Whenwerecallthatthisremarkablenationwillspendmillionsofdollarstobuildatunnelunderariver，ortoshortenacurveinarailroad，merelythattheymaysavetwoorthreeminutes，wearenotsurprisedattheabruptnessoftheirspeech。I，asamatteroffact，whenthinkingoftheirtime-savingandabruptmannerofaddress，havebeensomewhatpuzzledtoaccountforthatpeculiardrawloftheirs。

Veryslowlyanddeliberatelytheyenunciateeachwordandsyllablewithlong-drawnemphasis，punctuatingtheirsentenceswithpauses，someshortandsomelong。Itisalmostanefforttofollowastoryofanylength——thebeginningoftenbecomescoldbeforetheendisreached。

ItseemstomethatifAmericanswouldspeeduptheirspeechafterthefashionoftheirEnglishcousins，whospeaktwoorthreetimesasquickly，theywouldsavemanyminuteseveryday，andwouldfindthehabitnotonlymoreefficacious，butmuchmoreeconomicalthanmanyoftheirtime-savingmachinesandtunnels。IofferthissuggestiontothegreatAmericannationforwhatitisworth，andIknowtheywillreceiveitinthespiritinwhichitismade，fortheyhavethesavingsenseofhumor。

Somepeopleareridiculouslysensitive。Someyearsago，atacertainplace，abigdinnerwasgiveninhonorofanotablewhowaspassingthroughthedistrict。AChinese，prominentinlocalaffairs，whohadreceivedaninvitation，discoveredthatthoughhewouldsitamongthehonoredguestshewouldbeplacedbelowoneortwowhomhethoughtheoughttobeabove，andwho，hethereforeconsidered，wouldbeusurpinghisrightfulposition。

Indisgustherefusedtoattendthedinner，which，exceptingforwhatheimaginedwasabreachofmanners，hewouldhavebeenverypleasedtohaveattended。Americansaremuchmoresensible。

Theyarenotabitsensitive，especiallyinsmallmatters。

Eithertheyarebroad-mindedenoughtoriseaboveunworthytrifles，orelsetheirgoodAmericanismpreventstheirsquabblingoverquestionsofprecedence，atthedinnertableorelsewhere。

AmericansactuptotheirDeclarationofIndependence，especiallytheprincipleitenunciatesconcerningtheequalityofman。

Theylaysomuchimportanceonthisthattheydonotconfineitsapplicationtolegalrights，butextenditeventosocialintercourse。Infact，Ithinkthisdoctrineisthebasisoftheso-calledAmericanmanners。

Allmenaredeemedsociallyequal，whetherasfriendandfriend，asPresidentandcitizen，asemployerandemployee，asmasterandservant，orasparentandchild。Theirrelationshipmaybesuchthatoneisentitledtodemand，andtheothertorender，certainactsofobedience，andacertainamountofrespect，butoutsidethattheyareonthesamelevel。Thisisdoubtlessarebellionagainstallthesocialideasandprejudicesoftheoldworld，butitisperhapsonlywhatmightbelookedforinanewcountry，fullofrobustandambitiousmanhood，disdainfulofalltraditionswhichintheleastsavorofmonarchyorhierarchy，andeagertoblazeasnewapathforitselfinthesocialasithassucceededinaccomplishinginthepoliticalworld。CombinedwiththisistheAmericancharacteristicofsavingtime。Timeisprecioustoallofus，buttoAmericansitisparticularlyso。Weallwishtosavetime，buttheAmericanscaremuchmoreaboutitthantherestofus。

Thentherearedifferentnotionsaboutthisquestionofsavingtime，differentnotionsofwhatwastestimeandwhatdoesnot，andmuchwhichtheoldworldregardsaspolitenessandgoodmannersAmericansconsiderassheerwasteoftime。Timeis，theythink，fartooprecioustobeoccupiedwithceremonieswhichappearemptyandmeaningless。Itcan，theysay，bemuchmoreprofitablyfilledwithotherandmoreusefuloccupations。InanydiscussionofAmericanmannersitwouldbeunfairtoleaveoutofconsiderationtheirindifferencetoceremonyandtheirhighlydevelopedsenseofthevalueoftime，butinsayingthisIdonotforgetthatmanyAmericansaredevoutritualists，andthatthesefindbothcomfortandpleasureinceremony，whichsuggeststhatafterallthereissomethingtobesaidfortheChinesewhohaveraisedcorrectdeportmentalmosttotherankofareligion。

TheyouthofAmericahavenotunnaturallycaughtthespiritoftheirelders，sothatevenchildrenconsiderthemselvesasalmostonaparwiththeirparents，asalmostonthesameplaneofequality；

buttheparents，ontheotherhand，alsotreatthemasiftheywereequals，andallowthemtheutmostfreedom。WhileaChinesechildrendersunquestioningobediencetohisparents"orders，suchobedienceasasoldieryieldstohissuperiorofficer，theAmericanchildmusthavethewhysandthewhereforesdulyexplainedtohim，andthereasonforhisobediencemadeclear。

Itisnothisparentthatheobeys，butexpediencyandthedictatesofreason。

Hereweseetheclear-headed，sound，common-sensebusinessmaninthemaking。

Theearlytrainingoftheboyhaslaidthefoundationforthefutureman。