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。