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standard, but exaggerated, so as to become almost ludicrous. To be a “Royal Britain” here is to worship everything that bears the semblance of royalty—unicorns, lions griffins and crown. The effrontery and arrogance of John Bull is proverbial all over the world, but in the east the bovine animal roars and bellows in his loudest tone, paws the ground and tosses his head in the most defiant manner. This may be excusable in a nation on “whose dominions the sun never sets,” but what shall I say of Americans residing here for a few years, who adopt the tone and air of the cockney, cultivate side whiskers, sneer at everything American, and especially effect to despise Republican institutions. At dinner parties you will hear sentiments expressed by Americans anything but complimentary to their native land, sneers at American consuls and officials abroad, and that, too, in the presence of foreigners. I am almost ashamed to record an instance of snobbery that occurred here not long since. An American merchant, born in Boston, but for some years a resident of Hong Kong, who aspires to social position among the English nobs, said to the Governor of the colony that “he would willingly give ten years of his life if he had only been born an Englishman.” The bluff old Governor, disgusted at such flunkeyism, administered a stinging rebuke that brought the mantle of shame to the cheek of the renegade American. That line of Saxe, “Born in Boston needs no second birth,” does not apply to him.
This loss of national pride among Americans which the sir of China seems to produce, was illustrated last fourth of July by the captain of the Pacific Mail steamer China, on her way from Hong Kong to San Francisco. It was suggested by the Americans abroad that he ought to dress the ship with flags, and in some suitable manner celebrate our national holiday. But the captain declined to do so for fear that the English passengers might take offence. This, too, on an American built steamer, sailing under the American flag, and belonging to a ling that was receiving a subsidy of half a million dollars a year from: the American government.
I do not say that all Americans in China are like those I have noticed above—but the feeling which I condemn is so common as to give a tone to American society, especially in Hong Kong, and be noticeable to any one fresh from home, who cherishes
