like a dog, by all and sundry. And this, by the way, is true only of America. Other peoples have more self-respect and would respond to such vulgarity with adult anger.
My husband, who blissfully believes he is a swimmer, was taking a dip on a British beach two years ago. Coming to shore, in about a foot of water, he tripped and fell on his knees. At once the well-bred people on the beach politely averted their faces and talked to each other animatedly, thus sparing Leander humiliation and embarrassment. But I saw the same thing happen on an American beach, to a lady who was a remarkable swimmer. Instantly, with cries like mother birds, men and women surged into the knee-deep water, “rescued” the red-faced lady, and carried her in their arms to “safety.” She tried to appear grateful, but I saw her eyes and grinned. It was so evident that she was indulging thoughts of violent mayhem on her rescuers.
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