Throughout CDM, Sr.’s letters home, from Oxford and from his travel between terms, are opinions about the character of people in England and Europe. He shows not so much a dislike of “Englishers” as a taste preference for others—all others, it would seem: Dutch, Germans, Italian, and Swiss. The English just didn’t suit his fancy. In fact, he almost never mentions one by name, only saying, “an Englisher” or “the Englisher”.
Below are some of his impressions of the English people and their ways.
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Another thing that looks rather wild is the fact that most of the girls smoke cigarettes. Not on the street of course, but in private. You understand I’m only quoting. Haven’t seen many yet. The women here are very light colored. Cheeks are exceedingly red. Said to be climate. Don’t know yet.[10/19/05]
There was an intercol[legiate] football game just across the river from the boats this P.M. and after the hardest kind of a game (for Eng.) with almost no noise the victorious team got together at the close and have three faint “Hurrahs”. These people are models for quietness when sober. In a barbershop even they always talk in whispers. [10/30/05]
I’ve always heard a great deal about how clean people are in Eng. and am commencing to realize it, students at least. You take a cold bath when you get up in the morning and then after athletics-and everybody does athletics–a hot one. [11/05/05]
This is absolutely the worst country for profanity I ever saw. These Englishmen really don’t know how to swear good. In fact I’ve only heard one or two Englishmen cuss yet and they seemed quite surprised and confused when they did it. There are two or three Americans here whom I like to be with because of their accomplishments in that line. Wouldn’t be considered much good at home but here, with competition practically eliminated, are very fine. Nothing cheers one up more on a rainy, dark day than a letter from home or a good like of American “cussing” at something he doesn’t like. [11/19/05]
Mohler is getting McClure’s too since Xmas. When we get a mag. over here about the first thing we read is the ad. part. They are 1000 miles ahead of British ads. [12/31/05]
The average Englishman has an even less intelligent idea of politics than the average American. In fact I think the majority of the English are about as little qualified for the suffrage as the upper class think them. A good many of the “Gentlemen” don’t know much more, and the law of inheritance seems to apply fully as strongly in politics as land. [01/21/06]
The freshmen among the English are as clean a set of fellows as I ever saw together. Of course of upper classmen I don’t know so much but even they in some cases, at least, seem woefully innocent of what are called the “ways of the world.” Don’t think that there is not all kinds of rottenness here but it is not of the conspicuous variety except of course in the very low quarters which are extremely well defined, but they say. The life of the upper and lower classes is quite as different as you could well imagine and of course of that of the lower I know but little. [01/28/06]
These boys in the Uni. have been brought up as gentlemen and anything that is considered ungentlemanly is abhorred. One rather appreciates it too, especially their unfailing courtesy, at least when in a normal state of mind. [01/28/06]
An English bore went to church with Mohler and me and coming back I did a dirty trick. Talked a lot about how many letters I had to write and so sent him down to “gas” with M. An awfully dirty trick but he bothered me two solid hours last night when I wanted to work and as a consequence I didn’t get to bed until after one. [02/25/06]
Since I started this an Englisher came around and I went with him for a two hours walk. It means work to walk with an Englisher too. They certainly reach out.[03/04/06]
