AN AMERICAN IN ENGLAND.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1875, 6 January 1875, Page 3

AN AMERICAN IN ENGLAND.

WHAT HE SEES AND WHAT HE

THINKS.

The Dansbury News lias a correspondent m this country who is not only much amused at somo of our customs, hut is also tickled at our views on some American customs. Here are a few extracts from a recent letter: — %t women's dress. [I am told here that the average English v*man is superior in dress to her AmeriAl sister in that she dresses plainly; WBile the American arrays herself in flashy colors, and sports a swelliar. Does she? The swell American ifoman dresses richly, as her husband or father well knows, but not flashy. And, really, is a man in broad-cloth and kids inferiorly dressed to the mac in blue jean and dogskin gloves ? Blue jean and dog-skin are the plainer of the two suits. It is not the quality of the goods, but their style of making-up and wearing them. lam proud to think tliafc while^ our American woman dresses in high-priced goods, she shows admirable taste in selecting and combining the colors, an J there is no class of women (unless it is the English and Esquimaux) less open, to the offence of tawdry apparel. '

PISTOLS AND BOWIE KNIVES. It is the misfortune of the English not to understand an American joke. _The fatal consequence can be imagined. I hey believe of all America just as the people of the eastern State*• believe of the territories and California, when, it tne truth was known, there is less cutting and slashing in the far west than in the far •ast. An able school teacher in Norfolk asked me the other day if all American gentlemen did not have either a pistol or knife concealed about their person. In : the estimation of those who have not seen him, a full-blooded American is a sort of perambulating arsenal, constantly shedding bullets, bowies, and torpedoes.

:.- ::"-,-..', IS '■■ THIS TBUE? : ;' in English woman on making a call dons her best, which is considered as a compliment to the person called upon. On receiving calls she takes equal care not to don her best for fear she may excel her caller, which would be a discourtesy. There is a genuine delicacy of feeling in this custom. ENGLISH BUBAL BEAUTIES. - By conversation with all classes I learn that there is not that universal hungering to get out of England, which Mr Arch represents. And when Igo through the lanes, and look over the broad, bright green fields, and the blossoming hedges, and the wonderfully trim homes smothered in ivy and climbing roses, I am glad of it. Ah, indeed, it is a beautiful country—so beautiful that even a poet might work in it. And such a tasty people they are about their homes. I shall not be at any time surprised to find garlands crowning the dust heaps of the streets. I have yet to see the yard that is not a bower of ivy and roses, while many of the humble places have a variety and abundance of Sowers and shrubs that would delight the most exacting horticulturist. And the ivy and holly grow spontaneously in every garden, and along every wall, while the broad sweep of lawn and park, and perspectivo of wooded avenues on the estates of the wealthy squire or nobleman, are charming to a degree that is exhilarating. Why our American people who come to Europe can slight this rural beauty to get to Paris is something I cannot understand. Put I have made the same observation before, I believe. Why, even in that range of precipitous hills which lie between Derby and Manchester, where the sides are so steep that you can almost see any one come in at the gate by looking up the chimney, stone walls laid up in masonry surround the humble homes, and roses fairly slop over their tops.

our cotrsiNSniP. Aside from its historical associations, England is worth coming a thousand miles to see. Almost every family has some relative in America, and lain frequently asked about them. Ho is a poor Englishman, indeed, who hasn't a cousin in the States. Wherever Igol am recognised as being an American. In the cars, on the stage-coach or omnibus, iv the hotels, or on the road, I daily hear, " You are from, America sir ? ''. And then , follows questioning about the people,, their customs, and tho chances for money making. Our mixed liquors and slang are never-failing, subjects to them. They have seen pictures of American bar-ten-der* mixing liquors by pouring them from on^44as3 to the other, w th the vessels as far apart as the hands can be extended, and they don't understand it. They ask mo if there are such drinks as brandy smashes, claret punches, gin slings, and the like, and when I tell them I am not sure, but think I have heard those thiugs incutionrd by worldly people in the States, they say, " Ah, how wonderful! "

PANTS WITH i. POCKET BEHIND. I was conducted over Christ Hospital by a young, Englishman, who saw that I ttus «n American, and being acquainted with the place, kindly offered to give me all necessary information. Ho said no had a brother in America who was here on a vi-it last summer, and from whom ha learned much tjiat was yaluabje and itrengthening in tho way of slang. -Ho felt quite proud of the advantages ha enjoyed. I could see that plainly enougb. He frequently turned from an elaborate painting, an ancient wall, or a fine monument, to show off his accomplishments from America. He told me, in a confidential 1 whisper, that he had a pair of pants made with a pocket in behind, " ju>t a 8 they do in America," and was very anxious that I should go round to his house, about four miles; distant., and I was fairly consuming will*

anxiety to see the gorgeous breeches, but an engagement prevented, and I reluctantly declined the invitation. A TAX-BIDDi:S COUNTRY. This is a tax ridden and down-trodden country, but the people who live here and bend to the yoko have an unpleasaut habit of looking healthy ■' and happy. It isn't right. And then clothes can be bought here for one-half the price asked in America, and daily there is presented the astonishing spectacle of the citizens of a free and prosperous country coming to this oppressed land to buy their clothes. It is awful. But we have some advantages. We have plenty of ice and oysters —two very rare luxuries here. As high as twelve cents a pound is paid for ice in some parts of England. And a3 for oysters, they are nowhere. Their oysters' are small, and less palatable than ou-s. but they pay from thirty-six to eightyfive cents a dozen for them. I NO PEANUTS —AND YET WE LIVE. ■■ But what can be said of a country that is without peanuts? In the whole length and breadth of this fair land there is not a f single peanut. Think, if you can ftrasp the thought, of a country, hoary with history, and glorified with romance, passing over the cycles of centures with- ' out peanuts. I shouldn't have thought it could do it. They are very fond of strawberries, and I sympathise with them in that attachment;. I have seen tho English leave between the acts of a play to step out to the fruifc stands, which crowd all the great thoroughfares until midnight, to buy a half-pound of strawberries, to cat out of hand just as cherries are eaten. lam a conspicuous destroyer of strawberries myself, but I rarely coins down on them as sudden as'that. so boots.

I have not seen a pair of boots since I have been in England. Shoes are the universal article of foot wear, and those pulled around-by the laborers are thickly studded w.'th staring; nail heads. Eight ounces of these nails are frequently used in a piir of shoes ; and some pairs, used by miners, have from a pound and a half to two pounds of these iron nails in them. The iron enters their soles by the wholesale. I shouldn't like to-have an English miner for, a father-in-law. One movement of such a shoe would permanently unfit a man for the duties of chairman. A favorite fashion with the ladies is wearing black or lead-colored stockings —I am told. And yefc there seems to be ab©ut as much marrying here as in America. \ . •