THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE OTHERWISE
AND A FEW LACONICS
By L. A. L.
THE BAD MANNERS OF AMERI
CANS.
Several weeks ago the press all
over the country teemed with adverse
criticism, made by a well-known
writer, of the manners of a certain
Northern city’s people.
The people criticised waxed wroth,
and the writer-critic was berated on
all sides for his statements.
As a people we have long been
held up by Europeans (whom our
new-rich try so hard to ape) as the
most vulgar and most unmannered
people on earth.
And recent happenings would in
dicate that we deserve nearly all said
of us.
We are vulgar, and we are bad
mannered. Vulgar—as to the dis
play of wealth, and the exploitation
of those who have nothing—abso
lutely nothing but mere money to
recommend them.
Bad mannered —in that we are in
tolerant of the opinion of others
when it conflicts with our own.
Let a body of American men or
women be gathered—socially, infor
mally—in any of the cities and the
trend of conversation in each indi
vidual group will be towards money.
The worth of So and So; the price
of such a one’s new car, or house, or
yacht. The value of the jewels of
such another one; the amount of
money made on the last deal. The
value of the real estate, whose pos
session seems only to indicate more
money.
