“I doubt if such an instance of ‘cheek’ has ever been equaled by any ‘green’ American in England. The English are never backward in showing up the forwardness of Americans, but they can go us two to one to their discredit. “One time, going from Liverpool to New York, there was an Englishman and his wife on board, both great burly, ruddy beef-eaters. They acted as if they thought the steamer was for their special accommodation. On reaching port, each passenger was presented with a printed form on which to declare all dutiable articles, according to law. He refused to do anything, declaring that he would not submit to such a bloody custom. In consequence, their luggage was sent to the Custom House, and while all the other passengers were off and away, this haughty Briton had to open every package and display every article for inspection, and besides had to strip himself of most of his clothes for a personal examination, and the female Britisher had to go through the same operation, in another apartment, before the Customs woman. Probably neither of them were much pleased with their American reception. “It is strange that there is such a difference between people, living under the same government, and so near to each other, but the Scotch, the Irish and the Welsh are another kind of people altogether. They are unselfish, courteous and agreeable. Have you noticed that Scotchman who is so ready to offer his chair to any one? Catch an Englishman doing that! You saw just now that seasick lady on deck for the first time, and was seated in a chair, when one of these English gentlemen came up to her with, ‘Madame, if you please, this is my chair,’ and waited till he got it, while an Irishman close by gave her his. “Here is a paragraph I cut from an English paper: ‘It is curious to watch on board a steamer how the men of different nationalities behave to a lady, no longer young, who is traveling alone. The Frenchman is absolutely rude, if he gets the chance; the German simply takes no notice; the Australian is frigidly polite; the Englishman takes the trouble to be kind if his aid is solicited; the American is kind from habit and without effort; the British colonist is attentive because women of any kind are scarce in his country.’