Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-11-25
What a SCotchman Saw in America.

David Macrae, Scottish writer, who re
Gently visited this country, and apparently
eBioyed unusual facilities for studying the
character and life of the people, has publish
ell some notes of travel, under the title Of
How thing are in America. The follow
ing excerpt embodies his impressions of the
choicest part of the nation-its beauty and
yourh. The American ladies, says he, agree
ably disappointed me- They are by no
means the dry hard, angular, disagreeahly
independent strong minded women they are
often described Here and there no doubt
you find few of this stamp. Travelling
over the country you occasionally encounter
lady who lectures, or breaches, or edits q
newspaper, or fills professional chair, or
has regular practise as a physician. But
the eases are few and far hetween-rGri
n9p'es IN gargite rdsto. And they are very
often as a Scotch doctor in Massachusetts
described them, ''ajckit women But A
merican females as afrule are just as gentle,
as kind, as lovely, as agreeable and as affec-
tonate as our own. Their lovelineSs is OF a
different type-paler and more ethereal. A
beautiful Canadian or Ameri an girl comes
nearer the popular idea Of angel than any
being ever beheld out of dreamland. Pale
features, Of exquisite symmetry, a deiicateiy
pure complexion, eyes radiant with intelii
gence, light, graceful, often fragile form
this is the vision of loveliness that meets
the eye in almost every American drawing
room. | never saw during all my life before
50 many fairy forms, which it would have
surprised me less to see shooting out wings
and float up into the empyrean.
American girls, however, are generally too
pale and thin. Every other face suggests
delcacy and dyspepsia, and one does not
Ike to think Of angels as dyspeptic. The
American girls, l think, are nervous about
iaeIr ,hinuess. and anxious TO get stouter, for
they are constantly having themselves
weighed. and every ounce of increase is hail
Ell with delight, and talked about with the
most dreadful plainness of speech | asked
one beautiful Connecticut girl whom | met
Ia Peunsy ..anja, how she liked the change
O immensely - she said Il have gain
elelshtecu pounds In flesh since last A pril.
His was not vulgar girl. On the con
tFaTy, she was educated and refined, and
Woad probably have been shocked at some
expressions that are not considered indelicate
here.
SEN.
Sti-t s1un1syery odd TO a stranger. Every
s1 knows her weight to within an ounce,
-ha is ready TO give it at a moments notice.
L s2ems to be a subject of universal interest.
Oae OF the first things done with baby
"usA It is born Is 10 hurry it into pair of
y'4'ss and have its weight duly registered.
4, continues TO 5e weighed at short intervals
d through It's childhood. and on to the time
wen the question becomes one of personal
interest, and 1t Is old enough to weigh itself
VOW Tor word about the children The
.-IIFen. As | write the word, how the
sunlight seems to burst around me-how
many sweet voices start from the silence of
ry, and fill the air with melody ard
.-.sIteF How many bright and beautiful
.---s' lar, far away, gather round me once
asl'n II could picture forth some OF
muse little ou,s with whom the happiest OF
:" my happy hours in America were spent
could reproduce the fun, the romping,
."7 games on the carpet, the hundred little
--lS2eut delights we shared in common, my
-7.le's would see that after all that has been
'"'eh about American precocity, the chill,
-'en there are children still-in most point.
!1s' Ike our Own-the JOY and the sunlight
Of every home.
Vhe thing that astonished me was the food
gwen to the children. 1t seems to lie the
'-'e 10 America to let the children have &
1''S'e OF everything on the table. | remem
sitting beside one little boy of four who
-1l soup, slice of fowl with dressing, ;
sweet potato, plate of pudding and a bunch
grapes. He was very small boy, and
A3a TO get the slice of fowl cut for him b,