LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ON HATING AMERICA
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—There is a great difference between hating a nation in itself and hating a nation viewed as individuals of, a community. Anyone who wishes- to view' the Americans from the latter standpoint must rely essentially Upon per- sonal experience and taste. Your cdrrespondent of March 20th deals with the prevalent hatred towards Americans in a most interesting letter on a basis' of polities rather than of - I should like to make a few remarks looking at the matter from a personal aspect. First it is important to note that there is a great difference between the group of States both in language and character. Frankly I prefer the southerners. They are a warm, sincere and sympathetic race, physically fine and comely, mentally vigorous and level-headed. The Englishman is too apt to judge the Americans by the type which is most frequently seen and heard in Britain and on the Continent, i.e., " the plutocratic sightseer of Europe." Such men and women have spoilt travelling on the Continent for people of moderate means by -the standard of excessive tipping which they have intro- duced- both of railway officials and hotel' staffs, &c:; they are pathetically materialistic in their outlook and for the most
part have little capacity for artistic or aesthetic enjoyment. The average Englishman is quite naturally piqued by the attitude and behaviour of such people. But is it fair to judge a country by such ? Emphatically no. To do so would be the same as if the Americans judged us by a typical business man from the Midland4.
The average Arnerican is more sympathetic and broad- minded than the average Englishman, due perhaps to the former's greater facilities for university education in pro- portion to the population. Politically the Americans may be almost offensive, but personally they are a chivalrous and humble-minded people.—I am, Sir, &c., A SCOTCIIMAN.
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