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America Through the Spectacles of an Oriental Diplomat-Part11_TingFang Wu(1842-1922)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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their due share of high-sounding titles and epithets;

and, be it whispered, these same distinguished" target="_blank" title="a.卓越的，著名的">distinguished people,



however broad-minded and magnanimous they may be in other respects,

are sometimes extremelysensitive in this respect.



And even after one has mastered all the rules and forms,

and can appreciate and distinguish the various nice shades which exist



between "His Serene Highness", "His Highness", "His Royal Highness",

and "His Imperial Highness", or between "Rt. Rev." and "Most Rev.",



one has yet to learn what titles a particular person has,

and with what particular form of address he should be approached,



an impossible task even for a Master of Ceremonies,

unless he always has in his pocket a Burke's Peerage to tell him who's who.



What a waste of time, what an inconvenience, and what an unnecessary amount

of irritation and annoyance all this causes. How much better



to be able to address any person you meet simply as Mr. So-and-So,

without unwittingly treading on somebody's sensitive corns!



Americans have shown their common sense in doing away with titles altogether,

an example which the sister Republic of China is following.



An illustrious name loses nothing for having to stand by itself

without prefixes and suffixes, handles and tails. Mr. Gladstone



was no less himself for not prefixing his name with Earl,

and the other titles to which it would have entitled him,



as he could have done had he not declined the so-called honor.

Indeed, like the "Great Commoner", he, if that were possible,



endeared himself the more to his countrymen because of his refusal. A name,

which is great without resorting to the borrowed light of titles and honors,



is greater than any possible suffix or affix which could be appended to it.

In conclusion, American manners are but an instance or result of



the two predominant American characteristics to which I have already referred,

and which reappear in so many other things American.



A love of independence and of equality, early inculcated,

and a keen abhorrence of waste of time, engendered by the conditions



and circumstances of a new country, serve to explain practically all

the manners and mannerisms of Americans. Even the familiar spectacle



of men walking with their hands deep in their trousers' pockets,

or sitting with their legs crossed needs no other explanation,



and to suggest that, because Americans have some habits

which are peculiarly their own, they are either inferior or unmanly,



would be to do them a grave injustice.

Few people are more warm-hearted, genial, and sociable than the Americans.



I do not dwell on this, because it is quite unnecessary. The fact

is perfectly familiar to all who have the slightest knowledge of them.



Their kindness and warmth to strangers are particularly pleasant,

and are much appreciated by their visitors. In some other countries,



the people, though not unsociable, surround themselves with so much reserve

that strangers are at first chilled and repulsed, although there are



no pleasanter or more hospitable persons anywhere to be found

when once you have broken the ice, and learned to know them;



but it is the stranger who must make the first advances,

for they themselves will make no effort to become acquainted,



and their manner is such as to discourage any efforts on the part

of the visitor. You may travel with them for hours in the same car,



sit opposite to them, and all the while they will shelter themselves

behind a newspaper, the broad sheets of which effectively prohibit



any attempts at closer acquaintance. The following instance,

culled from a personal experience, is an illustration. I was a law student



at Lincoln's Inn, London, where there is a splendid law library for the use

of the students and members of the Inn. I used to go there almost every day



to pursue my legal studies, and generally sat in the same quiet corner.

The seat on the opposite side of the table was usually occupied






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