New-York tribune., 1873-02-22
AN ENGLIsHNIAN CRITIClSEs Our WAYS
AND MANNERS.

To tAe Edtt0r Of The Tribune.
SIR: I have lived long enough in this coun-
Try 70 have learned something about It, and yet have not
quite my early Impressions and can still note those
points which strike Englishmau very forc-bly and
which of a clear line Of distinction between the
mental characteristics of the two nations.
One point. the deficiency OF public conscience, Is well
illustrated by of recent experiences Travelled
recently OF your leading railroad Ines when we
managed TO break down a coz and run over man on
the way These taes brought the fact that thee OF
my fu0wpassel gers on the previous night nearly
burned alive OF frightened % DEATH which comes 10 the
same thing the end The roof 81 the sleeping ear took
fire in the middle Of the night, the conductors cord
would not work, and neither conductor nor brakeman
could be found. Ny informant had 10 run the whole
length of the car and into the next, before be got
sisance and though tho fire was happily put ont In
few minutes the alarm and tie danger were very great
Now. accidents must happen, and If you VIII live in
country having such violent fluctuations Oi tempera-
ture and f you viii have stoves in your cars what with
breaking OF rails ana aXes, ana what W.T. iIe ana dry
matcAwoOd YOU VIII certainly travel at greater FISK than
we do But there Is all the more necessity for greater
precaution and it be true that IN this case the man IN
charge was absent from his post, IT is very serious
thing AL three gentlemen assured tina; tins was so,
but all three declined 70 report the matter 20 the
proper authorities. somany circumstance of similar
point ont that while England every man recognizes
that he duty 20 perform 20 the pu'c, rs Well rs 70
W.
feeling is. Here nobody puts himself ONT Oh He way
except as a matter Of business or OF frendahlp II
mistake not public conscience, which Is the SAT- of ouI
nation N either dead in America, has never nved-l
don't know which. YOu call selfish, / am AFRAID
iustlv: but then " people glass houses and 80 on
Passengers by your lOrse-CdTs, for example, tuluk
nothing stopping the az the very point az Wch
tbev have 70 get out II they compel two or three
srOppages in single block And thls ls the case, not
only with ladies' which would DE Dau enough, but with
great hearty men, who DO IT, and dol haDituaY though
every stOppage may delay tlirty OF forty business men
whose time ls almost invaluable. In an Euslsh Omul-
bus IL is taken matter OF course that passenger
will get while the stage is stopping, II II De WliAh
aftv or even a hundred yards OF his point observe
he same want regard for others, on yOur streets az
the hotels. theaters, everywhere, ana s sometimes 80
marked as TO quite amusing for the indifference rises
to the hight OF humOr. do not make these remarks IN
anv inatured spirit the condemned gOOdnalured
friend these matters you do not do yourselves
justice. -, .
In a wealthy CITY ike New YOrk-the metropolis OF tins
great cOuutry-yOu should stil have -uch inadequate
means OF transit The rate OF the about
five miles an hour and the loss Of time 70 your merchants
per annum make 10 the most costly mode OF transit
In the world Until you get one OF other Of your new
srop except at the end block Of each alter
nate block Half block in the one case and one block
in the other the utmost that any passenger could nave
10 walk and in IL would be much less. The
stations on your new road will be fully quarter OF "A
mile apart and the difference which II will involve IN the
look tiiae. II Is true that come from country that
is told" "WOrn-Out," "ln a state OF decadence,'
oiled f" eaten" and gong 10 the bad very fast indeed
but before altogether, Uncle sam mas the chance
OF learning two things from us, II ne WILL
Nelp York Feb. 20 1873. An ENGLIsHMAN.