ON AMERICAN SOIL 195 



tionally and distinctly foreign to each other. Of all for- 

 eigners, the German seems to command the highest re- 

 spect in public opinion. The American respects him, and 

 — please do not laugh at the comparison — the Chinaman 

 seems to honor him above all foreigners. Both of these 

 nations have obtained the good will of the natives by 

 their soberness, honesty and industry, which qualities 

 the real Yankee the more admires, as he sees in them the 

 fundamental principles of a great nation. Englishmen 

 and Americans seem to get along fairly well, but a close 

 observer will be very much amused at times, and unin- 

 tentionally think of long forgotten mother goose stories 

 of cat and dog. When the Englishman goes with hands 

 in his wide trousers, whistling his "Rule Britannia" or 

 some other of his national songs, the genuine Yankee (if 

 one happens to be walking behind him) cannot refrain 

 from humming "Yankee Doodle," a by no means com- 

 plimentary song to the Briton. 



Frenchmen find no favor in the eye of the native Amer- 

 ican, who cares little for them. "All French humbug" 

 is a saying frequently heard in American circles. The 

 fact is that, though present in large numbers, they sel- 

 dom show visible means of support. Most of them are 

 waiters, restaurant keepers or professional gamblers, 

 though, here as everywhere else, one finds noble excep- 

 tions. 



Women are scarce in this part of the New World, 

 though I am told that they are much more numerous now 

 than a few years ago. 



Having mentioned before that the French population 

 in this city consists to a certain extent of professional 

 gamblers, I am led to say a few words about the gambling 

 houses, of which so many strange stories have been told 

 abroad. The fact is, they long ago outlived their noto- 

 riety. The magnificent, gorgeously decorated halls of 

 such places as the "Veranda," "Eldorado," "Union 

 Hotel," "Oregon House" and a few others, the pomp and 

 fascinating attractiveness of which are certainly not out- 

 done even by public resorts of Hamburg or Berlin, are 



