Americans In European Society

It is only in musical comedy that one can go into a strange city and be picked out of the crowd and invited to the tables of the high of the land, because one looks as though one might be agreeable! To see anything of society in the actual world it is necessary to have friends, either Americans living or " stationed" or married abroad; or to take letters of introduction. Taking letters of introduction should never be done carelessly, because of the obligation that they impose. But to go to a strange country and see nothing of its social life, is like a blind person's going to the theater, and the only way a stranger can know people is through the letters he brings.

Under ordinary circumstances no knowledge whatsoever beyond the social amenities the world over are necessary. A dinner abroad is exactly the same as one here. You enter a room, you bow, you shake hands, you say, " How do you do." You sit at table, you talk of impersonal things, say " Good-by" and " Thank you" to your hostess, and you leave.

The matter of addressing people of title correctly is of little importance. The beautiful Lady Oldworld (who was Alice Town) was asked one day by a fellow countryman, what she called this person of title and that one, and she replied:

" I'm not sure that I know! Why should I call them at all? " which was a perfectly sensible answer. One never says anything but " you" to the person spoken to; and it might be an excellent thing not to know how to speak about anyone with a title, as it would prevent one's mentioning them.

Having gone into the subject thus far, however, it may be added that if at a dinner you are put next to a Duke, if it is necessary to call him anything except " you, " you would say " Duke." Unless you are waiting on the table instead of sitting at it, you would not say, " Your Grace" and not even then " My Lord Duke." Neither, unless you are a valet or a chambermaid, would you say " Your Lordship" to an Earl! If you are a lady, you call him " Lord Arlington." If you know him really well, you call him " Arlington." To a knight you say, " Sir Arthur, " which sounds familiar, but there is nothing else you can call him.

In England a stranger is not supposed to introduce anyone, so that titles of address are not necessary then either; but if you happen to be the hostess and French or Americans are present, who like introductions, you introduce Sir Arthur Dryden to the Duke and Duchess of Overthere, or to Prince and Princess Capri. In talking to her, the latter would be called " Princess" and her husband " Prince Capri" or " Prince" or by those who know him well, " Capri."