THE SOUTH.
89
ing any little manly assistance, a readiness to
give information to strangers,—a hospitable,
thawing-out atmosphere everywhere—in shops
and waiting rooms, on cars and in the streets,
actually seemed to her chilled little soul to
transform the commonest boor in the service
of the public into one of nature's noblemen,
and when the old whipped-cur feeling was
taken up and analyzed she could hardly tell
whether it consisted mostly of self pity for
her own wounded sensibilities, or of shame for
her country and mortification that her coun¬
trymen offered such an unfavorable contrast.
Some American girls, I noticed recently, in
search of novelty and adventure, were taking
an extended trip through our country unat¬
tended by gentleman friends; their wish was
to write up for a periodical or lecture the ease
and facility, the comfort and safety of Ameri¬
can travel, even for the weak and unpro¬
tected, under our well-nigh perfect railroad
systems and our gentlemanly and efficient
corps of officials and public servants. I have
some material I could furnish these young
ladies, though possibly it might not be just on
the side they wish to have illuminated. The
Black Woman of the South has to do consid¬
erable travelling in this country, often unat-
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