"There are more men of that sort with you in Europe than with us. You need more amusement, and you will generally give more for it. You English, who are uncommonly fond of doing nothing, give yourselves vast trouble in the pursuit of pleasure. We Americans, who are ill when we are idle, are content to surround ourselves with the paraphernalia of pleasure when office hours are over; but we make very little use of our opportunities for amusement, being tired out at the end of the day with other things which we think more important. The result is that we have no such thing as what you denominate 'Society,' because we lack the prime element of aristocratic social intercourse, the ingrained determination to be idle." "You are very hard on us," remarked Joe. "Excuse me," returned John, "you are compensated by having what we have not. Europeans are the most agreeable people in the world, wherever mutual and daily conversation and intercourse are to be considered. The majority of you, of polite European society, are not troubled with any very large ideas, but you have an immense number of very charming and attractive small ones. In America there are only two ideas that practically affect society, but they are very big ones indeed." "What?" asked Joe laconically, growing interested in John's queer lecture. "Money and political influence," answered John Harrington. "They are the two great motors of our machine. All men who are respected among us are in pursuit of one or the other, or have attained to one or the other by their own efforts. The result is, that European society is amusing and agreeable; whereas Americans of the same class are more interesting, less polished, better acquainted with the general laws that govern the development of nations." "Really, Mr. Harrington," said Joe, "you are making us out to be very insignificant. And I think it would be very dull if we all had to understand ever so many general laws. Besides, I do not agree with you." "About what, Miss Thorn?" "About Americans. They talk better than Englishmen, as a rule." "But I am comparing Americans with the whole mass of Europeans," John objected. "The English are a rather silent race, I should say." "Cold, you think?" suggested Joe. "No, not cold. Perhaps less cold than we are; but less demonstrative." "I like that," answered Joe. "I like people to feel more than they show." "Why?" asked John. "Why should not people be perfectly natural, and show when they feel anything, or be cold when they do not?" "I think when you know some one feels a great deal and hides it, that gives one the idea of reserved strength."