A Chinese, prominent in local affairs, who had received an invitation, discovered that though he would sit among the honored guests he would be placed below one or two whom he thought he ought to be above, and who, he therefore considered, would be usurping his rightful position.

In disgust he refused to attend the dinner, which, excepting for what he imagined was a breach of manners, he would have been very pleased to have attended.

Americans are much more sensible.

They are not a bit sensitive, especially in small matters.
Either they are broad-minded enough to rise above unworthy trifles, or else their good Americanism prevents their squabbling over questions of precedence, at the dinner table or elsewhere.
Americans act up to their Declaration of Independence, especially the principle it enunciates concerning the equality of man.

They lay so much importance on this that they do not confine its application to legal rights, but extend it even to social intercourse.