OURSELVES, AND OTHERS 207 



explicable. A lack of the sense of the fitness 

 of things may be more responsible for such 

 lapses than actual inconsistency. The 

 Presidential handshakings are among the 

 ludicrous incidents of American life, in which 

 the average American we are not dealing 

 here with the exceptions sees nothing but 

 what is solemn and impressive. His real 

 deficiency betrays itself in trifling occur- 

 rences, such as the following : A magnificent 

 washstand set of the finest cut-glass, worth 

 hundreds of dollars, was offered for sale in a 

 famous New York emporium. Many among 

 the envious went to view it. ' But one would 

 not dare to use anything so valuable,' was 

 the natural comment. * Use it ! No, indeed ! 

 It is not intended for use only for orna- 

 ment.' A washstand set for ornament ! 



The noisiest people on earth at once take 

 pride in and bewail their nerves. Yet they 

 slumber serenely they and their babies in 

 the midst of a pandemonium such as causes 

 the tortured, though supposedly thick-skinned 

 and phlegmatic Briton to yearn for the quiet 

 of the grave ; and, despite the taunts and 

 protests of the small minority, the large 



