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that。 She is an inquisitive creature； that English girl。 She is
very fond of asking me questions；in fact； both of them are。 There
is one curious difference between them： the English girl settles down
into her answers and is quiet； the American girl is never satisfied
with yesterday's conclusions； she is always reopening old questions
in the light of some new fact or some novel idea。 I suppose that
people bred from childhood to lean their backs against the wall of
the Creed and the church catechism find it hard to sit up straight on
the republican stool； which obliges them to stiffen their own backs。
Which of these two girls would be the safest choice for a young man？
I should really like to hear what answer yon would make if I
consulted you seriously； with a view to my own choice；on the
supposition that there was a fair chance that either of them might be
won。〃
〃The one you are in love with；〃 answered Number Five。
〃But what if it were a case of 'How happy could I be with either'？
Which offers the best chance of happiness；a marriage between two
persons of the same country； or a marriage where one of the parties
is of foreign birth？ Everything else being equal； which is best for
an American to marry； an American or an English girl？ We need not
confine the question to those two young persons； but put it more
generally。〃
〃There are reasons on both sides；〃 answered Number Five。 〃I have
often talked this matter over with The Dictator。 This is the way he
speaks about it。 English blood is apt to tell well on the stock upon
which it is engrafted。 Over and over again he has noticed finely
grown specimens of human beings； and on inquiry has found that one or
both of the parents or grandparents were of British origin。 The
chances are that the descendants of the imported stock will be of a
richer organization； more florid； more muscular； with mellower
voices； than the native whose blood has been unmingled with that of
new emigrants since the earlier colonial times。 So talks The
Dictator。 I myself think the American will find his English wife
concentrates herself more readily and more exclusively on her
husband；for the obvious reason that she is obliged to live mainly
in him。 I remember hearing an old friend of my early days say；
'A woman does not bear transplanting。' It does not do to trust these
old sayings； and yet they almost always have some foundation in the
experience of mankind； which has repeated them from generation to
generation。 Happy is the married woman of foreign birth who can say
to her husband； as Andromache said to Hector； after enumerating all
the dear relatives she had lost；
'Yet while my hector still survives；
I see My father； mother； brethren； all in thee！'
How many a sorrowing wife； exiled from her native country； dreams of
the mother she shall see no more！ How many a widow； in a strange
land； wishes that her poor； worn…out body could be laid among her
kinsfolk； in the little churchyard where she used to gather daisies
in her childhood！ It takes a great deal of love to keep down the °
climbing sorrow' that swells up in a woman's throat when such
memories seize upon her； in her moments of desolation。 But if a
foreign…born woman does willingly give up all for a man； and never
looks backward； like Lot's wife； she is a prize that it is worth
running a risk to gain；that is； if she has the making of a good
woman in her； and a few years will go far towards naturalizing her。〃
The Tutor listened to Number Five with much apparent interest。 〃And
now；〃 he said； 〃what do you think of her companion？〃
〃A charming girl for a man of a quiet； easy temperament。 The great
trouble is with her voice。 It is pitched a full note too high。 It
is aggressive； disturbing； and would wear out a nervous man without
his ever knowing what was the matter with him。 A good many crazy
Northern people would recover their reason if they could live for a
year or two among the blacks of the Southern States。 But the
penetrating； perturbing quality of the voices of many of our Northern
women has a great deal to answer for in the way of determining love
and friendship。 You remember that dear friend of ours who left us
not long since？ If there were more voices like hers； the world would
be a different place to live in。 I do not believe any man or woman
ever came within the range of those sweet； tranquil tones without
being hushed； captivated； entranced I might almost say； by their
calming； soothing influence。 Can you not imagine the tones in which
those words； 'Peace； be still；' were spoken？ Such was the effect of
the voice to which but a few weeks ago we were listening。 It is hard
to believe that it has died out of human consciousness。 Can such a
voice be spared from that world of happiness to which we fondly look
forward； where we love to dream； if we do not believe with assured
conviction； that whatever is loveliest in this our mortal condition
shall be with us again as an undying possession？ Your English friend
has a very agreeable voice； round； mellow； cheery； and her
articulation is charming。 Other things being equal； I think you； who
are； perhaps； oversensitive； would live from two to three years
longer with her than with the other。 I suppose a man who lived
within hearing of a murmuring brook would find his life shortened if
a sawmill were set up within earshot of his dwelling。〃
〃And so you advise me to make love to the English girl； do you？〃
asked the Tutor。
Number Five laughed。 It was not a loud laugh； she never laughed
noisily； it was not a very hearty laugh； the idea did not seem to
amuse her much。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃I won't take the responsibility。 Perhaps this is a
case in which the true reading of Gay's line would be
How happy could I be with neither。
There are several young women in the world besides our two Annexes。〃
I question whether the Tutor had asked those questions very
seriously； and I doubt if Number Five thought he was very much in
earnest。
One of The Teacups reminded me that I had promised to say something
of my answers to certain questions。 So I began at once：
I have given the name of brain…tappers to the literary operatives who
address persons whose names are well known to the public； asking
their opinions or their experiences on subjects which are at the time
of general interest。 They expect a literary man or a scientific
expert to furnish them materials for symposia and similar articles；
to be used by them for their own special purposes。 Sometimes they
expect to pay for the information furnished them； at other times； the
honor of being included in a list of noted personages who have
received similar requests is thought sufficient compensation。 The
object with which the brain…tapper puts his questions may be a purely
benevolent and entirely disinterested one。 Such was the object of
some of tho