Міжнародний епізод

           But,ofcourse,theyarealmostalwaysverynice.Ofcoursethisisn’tnearlysuchaninterestingcountryasEngland;therearenotnearlysomanythingstosee,andwehaven’tyourcountrylife.Ihaveneverseenanythingofyourcountrylife;whenIaminEuropeIamalwaysontheContinent.ButIhaveheardagreatdealaboutit;Iknowthatwhenyouareamongyourselvesinthecountryyouhavethemostbeautifultime.Ofcoursewehavenothingofthatsort,wehavenothingonthatscale.Idon’tapologize,LordLambeth;someAmericansarealwaysapologizing;youmusthavenoticedthat.WehavethereputationofalwaysboastingandbraggingandwavingtheAmericanflag;butImustsaythatwhatstrikesmeisthatweareperpetuallymakingexcusesandtryingtosmooththingsover.TheAmericanflaghasquitegoneoutoffashion;it’sverycarefullyfoldedup,likeanoldtablecloth.Whyshouldweapologize?TheEnglishneverapologize—dothey?No;ImustsayIneverapologize.Youmusttakeusaswecome—withallourimperfectionsonourheads.Ofcoursewehaven’tyourcountrylife,andyouroldruins,andyourgreatestates,andyourleisureclass,andallthat.Butifwehaven’t,Ishouldthinkyoumightfinditapleasantchange—Ithinkanycountryispleasantwheretheyhavepleasantmanners.CaptainLittledaletoldmehehadneverseensuchpleasantmannersasatNewport,andhehadbeenagreatdealinEuropeansociety.Hadn’thebeeninthediplomaticservice?HetoldmethedreamofhislifewastogetappointedtoadiplomaticpostinWashington.Buthedoesn’tseemtohavesucceeded.