I speak now, of course, in the supposition that the gentle reader has not been abroad, and therefore is not already a consummate ass.

If the case be otherwise, I beg his pardon and extend to him the cordial hand of fellowship and call him brother.

I shall always delight to meet an ass after my own heart when I shall have finished my travels.
On this subject let me remark that there are Americans abroad in Italy who have actually forgotten their mother tongue in three months--forgot it in France.

They can not even write their address in English in a hotel register.

I append these evidences, which I copied verbatim from the register of a hotel in a certain Italian city: "John P.Whitcomb, Etats Unis.