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both a satisfaction and a hope for the future to know that these influences are being felt all over the capital and throughout the length and breadth of France。 There are at this moment in Paris alone three or four hundred poets； ballad writers； and RACONTEURS who recite their works in public。
It must be hard for the untravelled Anglo…Saxon to grasp the idea that a poet can； without loss of prestige； recite his lines in a public CAFE before a mixed audience。 If such doubting souls could； however； be present at one of these NOCTES AMBROSIANAE； they would acknowledge that the Latin temperament can throw a grace and child…like abandon around an act that would cause an Englishman or an American to appear supremely ridiculous。 One's taste and sense of fitness are never shocked。 It seems the most natural thing in the world to be sitting with your glass of beer before you； while some rising poet； whose name ten years later may figure among the 〃Immortal Forty；〃 tells to you his loves and his ambition； or brings tears into your eyes with a description of some humble hero or martyr。
From the days of Homer poetry has been the instructor of nations。 In the Orient to…day the poet story…teller holds his audience spellbound for hours； teaching the people their history and supplying their minds with food for thought； raising them above the dull level of the brutes by the charm of his verse and the elevation of his ideas。 The power of poetry is the same now as three thousand years ago。 Modern skeptical Paris； that scoffs at all creeds and chafes impatiently under any rule； will sit to…day docile and complaisant； charmed by the melody of a poet's voice； its passions lulled or quickened； like Alexander's of old； at the will of a modern Timotheus。
Chapter 17 … Etiquette At Home and Abroad
READING that a sentinel had been punished the other day at St。 Petersburg for having omitted to present arms； as her Imperial Highness； the Grand Duchess Olga； was leaving the winter palace … in her nurse's arms … I smiled at what appeared to be needless punctilio； then； as is my habit； began turning the subject over； and gradually came to the conclusion that while it could doubtless be well to suppress much of the ceremonial encumbering court life； it might not be amiss if we engrafted a little more etiquette into our intercourse with strangers and the home relations。 In our dear free and easy…going country there is a constant tendency to loosen the ties of fireside etiquette until any manners are thought good enough； as any toilet is considered sufficiently attractive for home use。 A singular impression has grown up that formal politeness and the saying of gracious and complimentary things betray the toady and the hypocrite； both if whom are abhorrent to Americans。
By the force of circumstances most people are civil enough in general society； while many fail to keep to their high standard in the intimacy of home life and in their intercourse with inferiors； which is a pity； as these are the two cases where self…restraint and amenity are most required。 Politeness is； after all； but the dictate of a kind heart； and supplies the oil necessary to make the social machinery run smoothly。 In home life； which is the association during many hours each day of people of varying dispositions； views； and occupations； friction is inevitable； and there is especial need of lubrication to lessen the wear and tear and eliminate jarring。
Americans are always much shocked to learn that we are not popular on the Continent。 Such a discovery comes to either a nation or an individual like a douche of cold water on nice； warm conceit； and brings with it a feeling of discouragement； of being unjustly treated； that is painful； for we are very 〃touchy〃 in America； and cry out when a foreigner expresses anything but admiration for our ways； yet we are the last to lend ourselves to foreign customs。
It has been a home thrust for many of us to find that our dear friends the French sympathized warmly with Spain in the recent struggle； and had little but sneers for us。 One of the reasons for this partiality is not hard to discover。
The Spanish who travel are mostly members of an aristocracy celebrated for its grave courtesy； which has gone a long way toward making them popular on the Continent； while we have for years been riding rough…shod over the feelings and prejudices of the European peoples； under the pleasing but fallacious illusion that the money we spent so lavishly in foreign lands would atone for all our sins。 The large majority of our travelling compatriots forget that an elaborate etiquette exists abroad regulating the intercourse between one class and another； the result of centuries of civilization； and as the Medic and Persian laws for durability。 In our ignorance we break many of these social laws and give offence where none was intended。
A single illustration will explain my meaning。 A young American girl once went to the mistress of a PENSION where she was staying and complained that the CONCIERGE of the house had been impertinent。 When the proprietress asked the CONCIERGE what this meant； the latter burst out with her wrongs。 〃Since Miss B。 has been in this house； she has never once bowed to me； or addressed a word to either my husband or myself that was not a question or an order； she walks in and out of my LOGE to look for letters or take her key as though my room were the street； I won't stand such treatment from any one； much less from a girl。 The duchess who lives AU QUATRIEME never passes without a kind word or an inquiry after the children or my health。〃
Now this American girl had erred through ignorance of the fact that in France servants are treated as humble friends。 The man who brings your matutinal coffee says 〃Good morning〃 on entering the room； and inquires if 〃Monsieur has slept well；〃 expecting to be treated with the same politeness he shows to you。
The lady who sits at the CAISSE of the restaurant you frequent is as sure of her position as her customers are of theirs； and exacts a courteous salutation from every one entering or leaving her presence； logically； for no gentleman would enter a ladies' drawing…room without removing his hat。 The fact that a woman is obliged to keep a shop in no way relieves him of this obligation。
People on the Continent know their friends' servants by name； and speak to them on arriving at a house； and thank them for an opened door or offered coat； if a tip is given it is accompanied by a gracious word。 So rare is this form of civility in America and England （for Britons err as gravely in this matter as ourselves） that our servants are surprised and inclined to resent politeness； as in the case of an English butler who recently came to his master and said he should be 〃obliged to leave。〃 On being questioned it came out that one of the guests was in the habit of chatting with him； 〃and；〃 added the Briton； 〃I won't stand being took liberties with by no one。〃
Some years ago I happened to be standing in the vestibule of the Hotel Bristol as the Princess