I Have Often Suffered In
Patience, But Patience Is Not Specially The Badge Of My Tribe, And I
Have Sometimes Spoken Out Rather Freely.
If I may presume to give
advice to my traveling countrymen how to act under such
circumstances, I should recommend to them freedom of speech rather
than patience.
The great man, when freely addressed, generally
opens his eyes, and selects the key of your room without further
delay. I am inclined to think that the selection will not be made
in any way to your detriment by reason of that freedom of speech.
The lady in the ballad who spoke out her own mind to Lord Bateman,
was sent to her home honorably in a coach and three. Had she held
her tongue, we are justified in presuming that she would have been
returned on a pillion behind a servant.
I have been greatly annoyed by that want of speech. I have
repeatedly asked for room, and received no syllable in return. I
have persisted in my request, and the clerk has nodded his head at
me. Until a traveler is known, these gentlemen are singularly
sparing of speech, especially in the West. The same economy of
words runs down from the great man at the office all through the
servants of the establishment. It arises, I believe, entirely from
that want of courtesy which democratic institutions create. The man
whom you address has to make a battle against the state of
subservience presumed to be indicated by his position, and he does
so by declaring his indifference to the person on whose wants he is
paid to attend.
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