Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 11, No. 23, February, 1873Various
Science
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 11, No. 23, February, 1873
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
you remember that archery-party we went to there two years ago?" "To
be sure," was the rejoinder. "I'm not likely to forget it, there were
some such queer people. Who were those vulgarians whom we thought so
particularly objectionable? I can't remember." "Oh, H----: H----
of P----! That was the name." Upon this the other young lady in the
carriage bounced to her feet with the words, "Allow me to tell you,
madam, that I am Miss H---- of P----!" Neither of those she addressed
deigned to utter a word in reply to this announcement, nor did it
appear in the least to disconcert them. One slowly drew out a gold
double eye-glass, leisurely surveyed Miss H---- of P---- from head to
foot, and then proceeded to talk to her companion in French. Perhaps
the best part of the joke was that Miss H---- made a round of visits
in the course of the week, and detailed the disgusting treatment to
which she had been subjected to a numerous acquaintance, who, it
is needless to say, appeared during the narration as indignant and
sympathetic as she could have wished, but who are declared by some
ill-natured persons to have been precisely those who in secret
chuckled over the insult with the greatest glee.
English gentlemen experience an almost painful sensation as they
journey through our land and observe the utter indifference of its
wealthier classes to the charms of such a magnificent country. "Pearls
before swine," they say in their hearts. "God made the country and man
made the town." "Yes, and how obviously the American prefers the work
of man to the work of the Almighty!" These and similar reflections
no doubt fill the minds of many a thoughtful English traveler as the
train speeds over hill and dale, field and forest. What sites are
here! he thinks. What a perfect park might be made out of that wild
ground! what cover-shooting there ought to be in that woodland! what
fishing and boating on that lake! And then he groans in spirit as the
cars enter a forest where tree leans against tree, and neglect reigns
on all sides, and he thinks of the glorious oaks and beeches so
carefully cared for in his own country, where trees and flowery are
loved and petted as much as dogs and horses. And if anything can
increase the contempt he feels for those who "don't care a rap" for
country and country life, it is a visit to such resorts as Newport and
Saratoga. There he finds men whose only notion of country life is what
he would hold to be utterly destitute of all its ingredients. They
build palaces in paddocks, take actually no exercise, play at cards
for three hours in the forenoon, dine, and then drive out "just like
ladies," we heard a young Oxonian exclaim--"got up" in the style that
an Englishman adopts only in Hyde Park or Piccadilly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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