AN AMBASSADOR ON MADNESS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14017, 25 June 1913, Page 2

AN AMBASSADOR ON MADNESS.

Mr Maurice Francis Egau, the American Minister to Denmark, says some interesting things about Europeans in the “Cenmry Magazine.”

“Tlie other night at the Royal Opera in Copenhagen, during the performance of The Daughter of the Regiment,’ whicli included a theme and a variation from Anders’ ‘Diamonds of the Crown,’ I was very much amused by laughter excited in the audience at the exaggerated curtscyng of the high, well-born baroneseess in the drawing-room scene. To most Americans all obeisances seem unnecessary and affected; it is probable that a cry of imperialism would at once bo raised if an American woman should curtsey to the wife of the President at a White House reception.

__ “But in Europe, especially Teutonic Europe, the curtsey of a younger wotAan to an older woman, or of an unmarried woman to a married one, is an ordinary convention. To omit it would, be almost as bad as to deprive tho ranking person in a saloon of his or her prerogative to (he right-hand corner of the sofa! It has sometimes seemed strange to my republican eyes to observe that American ladies who oven made graceful ‘cheeecs' to a visiting royal duke should hesitate to do honour to the representative character of the President by curtseying to his wife. “In writing this paper I am not making an appeal for more ceremony in American life, as more ceremony in our life would probably grow from the surface and not from tho inner consciousness of the people; this would simply mean more artificiality. Ceremony in European life is not in any way against simplicity. Tt is rather the flower of simplicity, in Denmark, in Sweeden, even in Norway, where ceremonies are not held in special favour, it requires a great deal of simplicity for young people to kiss their oarents on both cheeks after dinner and to thank them for ‘a good meal.’ The careful bow of the young Frenchman or (he voting German to the members of his family on special occasions in as much a vart of his training as what are called by ns his ‘table manners.’ “The more one sees of home life among Continental people the more on'e is impressed by its frankness, simplicity, and naturalness, especially among tho people who are accounted rich. There is no ostentation and very litle luxury, and tho tone of morality in tho European family is very high.”