Excerpt from Americans: And the Americans

Objects to the cooking at Chamouni the sixth threatens to inform the editor of the Times that the landlord at the Hospice where he remained to dine, kept no tole rable port. Occasionally a man of this kind is led by some unexplained fatality, to wander out of the well worn paths, and then like a swimmer beyond his depth, he betrays excessive agitation, and bawls lustily for assistance.

To travel profitably, it has always appeared to me that a person, in addition to habits Of Observation, a candid spirit and an amiable temper, must have some previous acquaintance by means Of books with the corm tries whose scenery, manners and institutions he desires to see. He then knows what to look for, and does not fail to notice peculiarities which might otherwise escape him. He can thus more easily make comparisons, form true estimates, and hit upon the points of most general interest. As the Spanish proverb says, He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies, must carry the wealth of the Indies with him. Afriend Of mine told me that last autumn he met in the highlands of Scot land two men from the English midland counties, Of gentlemanly aspect and demeanour, who were SO ignorant of our social state, that they had brought with them immense box containing bread, meat, cheese, and beer for their sustenance in a country where they expected to find only kilted Celts fed on cakes and porridge. Even Dr. Johnson, wise as he was, before setting out on his tour to the Hebrides, provided himself with a pair Of pistols, some gunpowder and a quantity of bullets: and nothing is more common than to find educated people about to visit parts Of the world, of whose history, geo graphy and resources they know absolutely nothing. N O wonder they commit most egregious mistakes, and after all return very little wiser than they were at starting.

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