Excerpt from The Book of Good Manners: Etiquette for All Occasions

An American traveller, when once rallied upon the fact that there was no aristocracy in his country, replied: "Pardon me, you forget our women!"

It was gallantly said, and characteristic of the chivalry that has always been so marked a trait of American manhood.

It is the stock reproach among Europeans towards us - this lack of aristocracy - which politely but thinly veils their conviction that we are a nation of rich and prosperous parvenus. We resent the reflection because it seems to imply the lack of qualities which, to our minds, the word stands for. Now we believe the outward and visible signs of aristocracy are shown in perfect breeding, charm of manner, and unfailing courtesy, of which the inward grace is an instinctive refinement that is not merely a decorative attribute.

True aristocracy derives nothing from the possession of money - wealth but makes ill-breeding more conspicuous.

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