Excerpt from Descriptive Portraiture of Europe in Storm and Calm: Twenty Years' Experiences and Reminiscences of an American Journalist; Sketches and Records of Noted Events, Celebrated Persons and Places, National and International Affairs in France, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Hungary

Whereas it was merely jogging along as before: only now the events which had been but vaguely heard of, or told of long after they had transpired, were at once recited for the benefit. Of Americans with a minuteness and attention to detail which were not accord-cd them even in the countries where they took place. The cable made the appetite for Oltl news so keen that the American public presently found itself better informed as to what was occur ring ia Paris even as to the tittle-tattle of social circles than about the same class of affairs or gossip in New York or Philadelphia. Thole colonies of newly enriched Americans settled in London, in Paris, in Vienna, and in all the cities which, by their historic prestige or by their local charm, exercised powerful attraction upon those who had large m ians at their command. The American, with his open purse and genial manners, took the place in the respect of the foreign landltwd and shopkeeper which was so long held by the English nobleman, with his post-chaise and his passion for St. J ulich. Europe was pleased with its new visitors, flattered at their undisguised delight, and, while it now and then laughed at their easy atti tude and their extreme frankness, it welcomed them as one always wel comcs those who bring profit in their train.

At this same period, when the American had awakened or renewed his interest in the parent lands from which his composite nationality had sprung, the Old ll'orld was entering upon a season of terrible storm, interspersed, it is true, with fitful calm, but storm quickly recurrent, violent, and sweeping in its results. Had apparently settled down, after the wars of 1854 55, and of 1859, to uninterrupted enjoyment of the rest which the party of order, in all the Continental countries, had endeavored to inaugurate after 1848.

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