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interesting as showing what an ingenious race； deprived of the
secrets of modern science； could accomplish。
The more aesthetic of the newcomers even affected to admire the
antiquated places of worship and residences they visited abroad；
pointing out to their compatriots that in many cases marble； bronze
and other old…fashioned materials had been so cleverly treated as
to look almost like the superior cast…iron employed at home； and
that some of the old paintings； preserved with veneration in the
museums； had nearly the brilliancy of modern chromos。 As their
authors had； however； neglected to use a process lending itself to
rapid reproduction； they were of no practical value。 In other
ways； the continental races； when discovered； were sadly behind the
times。 In business； they ignored the use of 〃corners；〃 that
backbone of American trade； and their ideas of advertising were but
little in advance of those known among the ancient Greeks。
The discovery of Europe by the Americans was made about 1850； at
which date the first bands of adventurers crossed the seas in
search of amusement。 The reports these pioneers brought back of
the NAIVETE； politeness； and gullibility of the natives； and the
cheapness of existence in their cities； caused a general exodus
from the western to the eastern hemisphere。 Most of the Americans
who had used up their credit at home and those whose incomes were
insufficient for their wants； immediately migrated to these happy
hunting grounds； where life was inexpensive and credit unlimited。
The first arrivals enjoyed for some twenty years unique
opportunities。 They were able to live in splendor for a pittance
that would barely have kept them in necessaries on their own side
of the Atlantic； and to pick up valuable specimens of native
handiwork for nominal sums。 In those happy days； to belong to the
invading race was a sufficient passport to the good graces of the
Europeans； who asked no other guarantees before trading with the
newcomers； but flocked around them； offering their services and
their primitive manufactures； convinced that Americans were all
wealthy。
Alas！ History ever repeats itself。 As Mexicans and Peruvians；
after receiving their conquerors with confidence and enthusiasm；
came to rue the day they had opened their arms to strangers； so the
European peoples； before a quarter of a century was over； realized
that the hordes from across the sea who were over…running their
lands； raising prices； crowding the native students out of the
schools； and finally attempting to force an entrance into society；
had little to recommend them or justify their presence except
money。 Even in this some of the intruders were unsatisfactory。
Those who had been received into the 〃bosom〃 of hotels often forgot
to settle before departing。 The continental women who had provided
the wives of discoverers with the raiment of the country （a luxury
greatly affected by those ladies） found； to their disgust； that
their new customers were often unable or unwilling to offer any
remuneration。
In consequence of these and many other disillusions； Americans
began to be called the 〃Destroyers；〃 especially when it became
known that nothing was too heavy or too bulky to be carried away by
the invaders； who tore the insides from the native houses； the
paintings from the walls； the statues from the temples； and
transported this booty across the seas； much in the same way as the
Romans had plundered Greece。 Elaborate furniture seemed especially
to attract the new arrivals； who acquired vast quantities of it。
Here； however； the wily natives （who were beginning to appreciate
their own belongings） had revenge。 Immense quantities of worthless
imitations were secretly manufactured and sold to the travellers at
fabulous prices。 The same artifice was used with paintings； said
to be by great masters； and with imitations of old stuffs and bric…
a…brac； which the ignorant and arrogant invaders pretended to
appreciate and collect。
Previous to our arrival there had been an invasion of the Continent
by the English about the year 1812。 One of their historians；
called Thackeray； gives an amusing account of this in the opening
chapters of his 〃Shabby Genteel Story。〃 That event； however； was
unimportant in comparison with the great American movement；
although both were characterized by the same total disregard of the
feelings and prejudices of indigenous populations。 The English
then walked about the continental churches during divine service；
gazing at the pictures and consulting their guide…books as
unconcernedly as our compatriots do to…day。 They also crowded into
theatres and concert halls； and afterwards wrote to the newspapers
complaining of the bad atmosphere of those primitive establishments
and of the long ENTR'ACTES。
As long as the invaders confined themselves to such trifles； the
patient foreigners submitted to their overbearing and uncouth ways
because of the supposed benefit to trade。 The natives even went so
far as to build hotels for the accommodation and delight of the
invaders； abandoning whole quarters to their guests。
There was； however； a point at which complacency stopped。 The
older civilizations had formed among themselves restricted and
exclusive societies； to which access was almost impossible to
strangers。 These sanctuaries tempted the immigrants； who offered
their fairest virgins and much treasure for the privilege of
admission。 The indigenous aristocrats； who were mostly poor；
yielded to these offers and a few Americans succeeded in forcing an
entrance。 But the old nobility soon became frightened at the
number and vulgarity of the invaders； and withdrew severely into
their shells； refusing to accept any further bribes either in the
form of females or finance。
From this moment dates the humiliation of the discoverers。 All
their booty and plunder seemed worthless in comparison with the
Elysian delights they imagined were concealed behind the closed
doors of those holy places； visions of which tortured the women
from the western hemisphere and prevented their taking any pleasure
in other victories。 To be received into those inner circles became
their chief ambition。 With this end in view they dressed
themselves in expensive costumes； took the trouble to learn the
〃lingo〃 spoken in the country； went to the extremity of copying the
ways of the native women by painting their faces； and in one or two
cases imitated the laxity of their morals。
In spite of these concessions； our women were not received with
enthusiasm。 On the contrary； the very name of an American became a
byword and an abomination in every continental city。 This
prejudice against us abroad is hardly to be wondered at on
reflecting what we have done to acquire it。 The agents chosen by
our g