Brits Copy American Customs, Wares

An 1892 American patented tea pot — “ American practices and precedents are freely quoted and adopted in English society. American ideas are copied without stint, and American wares, novelties, and inventions are generally advertised by London tradesmen.” 

Anglo-American Imitation

It is time that the truth should be understood in this matter of Anglo-American imitation. The opinion prevails that it is wholly one-sided, which most emphatically is not the case. The American leaven works in England about as strongly as the English notions obtain this side the water.

It is not a concession to American good sense and example that the English young woman of the best families now often walk the streets unattended by footmen! Such a thing a few years ago would have been impossible. American practices and precedents are freely quoted and adopted in English society. American ideas are copied without stint, and American wares, novelties, and inventions are generally advertised by London tradesmen. 

The most conservative of the London society and women's periodicals constantly set forth the “fads” of American women, and they long ago ceased the tone of half apology in which such items used to be couched. There seems, in fact, quite as great and admiration and respect for things American over there, as there is here for things English. — The New York Times, 1892

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette and a Sincere Form of Flattery

“Bock, hund! Bock, I soy!”

Anglophile noun

An·​glo·​phile | \ ˈaŋ-glə-ˌfī(-ə)l \
variants: or less commonly Anglophil \ ˈaŋ-​glə-​ˌfil

Definition of Anglophile
: a person who greatly admires or favors England and things English
First Known Use of Anglophile

1883, in the meaning defined above

New York Girls... One Wicked Correspondent Thinks They Make Blooming English Idiots

The girls of New York grow more and more English every day. Where the inspiration comes from is a mystery. But they all seem moved by the overwhelming desire to look and act like English girls. Their gowns are made of cloth and cut and fitted by English tailors, whose shops are gaudy with coats of arms of foreign notables and who employ only British assistants. Even the masculine walk, which has caused so much ridicule to be cast upon the English women is mimicked by New York girls, and they stalk about the streets with majestic and grenadier-like aspect. 

Everywhere you go, stalwart young women, with their shoulders thrown back and their chins high in the air, stare at you boldly, calmly, or indifferently, and heavy, tan-colored gloves, tall collars, and heavy hats predominate. Despite the rather bold appearance of all this, the girls have a fine, dashing manner and an easy carriage that is captivating. They are all right as to clothes, but they are still off on the accent. This must of course be so, because the accent is in so many cases copied from grooms, waitresses, butlers and shop girls. It is rather curious that they should adopt the most unpleasant characteristics of the English. 

I was caught in a short shower a day or two ago, and dived under the awning at the ladies’ entrance to the Hotel Brunswick to wait until the shower passed. Two dashing Anglomaniacs sought the same protection from the elements. The elder of them was tall and distinguished in appearance, and very well dressed in a tailor’s suit of dark green cloth. Her companion was a chubby little girl of perhaps seventeen years, who wore a standing collar, a pepper-and-salt waistcoat, a bright red scarf with a diamond horseshoe and a little bob-tailed plaid English jacket and yellow leather boots. In one gloved fist was a whip. 

As she dashed under the awning, somewhat out of breath, two. little bull-terriers scurried after her. She struck them half savagely with the whip, and said with the most absurd accent possible: “Bock, hunds ! Bock, I soy!” Then she stamped her little boot and snapped her whip at the dogs. She seemed ao much pleased at the expression that she repeated it several times, and each time the little bull terriers shrank further out of the way. I presume she had heard some English groom tell the hounds to keep back at one of the Rockaway hunts, and hence the English of it all.— The New York Correspondent, Providence Journal, 1885

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia