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fabulous prices。 The same artifice was used with paintings； said to be by
great masters； and with imitations of old stuffs and bric… a…brac； which the
ignorant and arrogant invaders pretended to appreciate and collect。
Previous to our arrival there had been an invasion of the Continent by
the English about the year 1812。 One of their historians； called Thackeray；
gives an amusing account of this in the opening chapters of his 〃Shabby
Genteel Story。〃 That event； however； was unimportant in comparison with
the great American movement； although both were characterized by the
same total disregard of the feelings and prejudices of indigenous
populations。 The English then walked about the continental churches
during divine service； gazing at the pictures and consulting their guide…
books as unconcernedly as our compatriots do to…day。 They also crowded
into theatres and concert halls； and afterwards wrote to the newspapers
complaining of the bad atmosphere of those primitive establishments and
of the long ENTR'ACTES。
As long as the invaders confined themselves to such trifles； the patient
foreigners submitted to their overbearing and uncouth ways because of the
supposed benefit to trade。 The natives even went so far as to build hotels
for the accommodation and delight of the invaders； abandoning whole
quarters to their guests。
There was； however； a point at which complacency stopped。 The older
civilizations had formed among themselves restricted and exclusive
societies； to which access was almost impossible to strangers。 These
sanctuaries tempted the immigrants； who offered their fairest virgins and
much treasure for the privilege of admission。 The indigenous aristocrats；
who were mostly poor； yielded to these offers and a few Americans
succeeded in forcing an entrance。 But the old nobility soon became
frightened at the number and vulgarity of the invaders； and withdrew
severely into their shells； refusing to accept any further bribes either in the
form of females or finance。
From this moment dates the humiliation of the discoverers。 All their
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booty and plunder seemed worthless in comparison with the Elysian
delights they imagined were concealed behind the closed doors of those
holy places； visions of which tortured the women from the western
hemisphere and prevented their taking any pleasure in other victories。 To
be received into those inner circles became their chief ambition。 With this
end in view they dressed themselves in expensive costumes； took the
trouble to learn the 〃lingo〃 spoken in the country； went to the extremity of
copying the ways of the native women by painting their faces； and in one
or two cases imitated the laxity of their morals。
In spite of these concessions； our women were not received with
enthusiasm。 On the contrary； the very name of an American became a
byword and an abomination in every continental city。 This prejudice
against us abroad is hardly to be wondered at on reflecting what we have
done to acquire it。 The agents chosen by our government to treat
diplomatically with the conquered nations； owe their selection to political
motives rather than to their tact or fitness。 In the large majority of cases
men are sent over who know little either of the habits or languages
prevailing in Europe。
The worst elements always follow in the wake of discovery。 Our
settlements abroad gradually became the abode of the compromised； the
divorced； the socially and financially bankrupt。
Within the last decade we have found a way to revenge the slights put
upon us； especially those offered to Americans in the capital of Gaul。
Having for the moment no playwrights of our own； the men who concoct
dramas； comedies； and burlesques for our stage find； instead of wearying
themselves in trying to produce original matter； that it is much simpler to
adapt from French writers。 This has been carried to such a length that
entire French plays are now produced in New York signed by American
names。
The great French playwrights can protect themselves by taking out
American copyright； but if one of them omits this formality； the
〃conquerors〃 immediately seize upon his work and translate it； omitting
intentionally all mention of the real author on their programmes。 This
season a play was produced of which the first act was taken from Guy de
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Maupassant； the second and third 〃adapted〃 from Sardou； with episodes
introduced from other authors to brighten the mixture。 The piece thus
patched together is signed by a well…known Anglo…Saxon name； and
accepted by our moral public； although the original of the first act was
stopped by the Parisian police as too immoral for that gay capital。
Of what use would it be to 〃discover〃 a new continent unless the
explorers were to reap some such benefits？ Let us take every advantage
that our proud position gives us； plundering the foreign authors； making
penal settlements of their capitals； and ignoring their foolish customs and
prejudices when we travel among them！ In this way shall we effectually
impress on the inferior races across the Atlantic the greatness of the
American nation。
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CHAPTER 39 … A Race of Slaves
IT is all very well for us to have invaded Europe； and awakened that
somnolent continent to the lights and delights of American ways； to have
beautified the cities of the old world with graceful trolleys and illuminated
the catacombs at Rome with electricity。 Every true American must thrill
with satisfaction at these achievements； and the knowledge that he belongs
to a dominating race； before which the waning civilization of Europe must
fade away and disappear。
To have discovered Europe and to rule as conquerors ab