The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-10-26

win make my speaking q difficult task.
Also, Ihave no scientific matter to oom-
municate, and am unprepared. Since
my arrival have discovered that the
special instinct Of curiosity is altogether
developed here. I experienced it al
4 most Immediately on my arrival in be-
ing interviewed by two active and in
teligent representatives of your press,
who put to me q series of inquiries CT
deepest sand most profound interest,
each of which would require treatise
in reply; and am afraid had to dis
miss them with scant courtesy. It may
satisfy their curiosity if I state briefly
some OF my general Impressions of this
country. ~ 6s4aa
Since my arrival I have learned q
great many things, -more,s II think,
than ever before in an, equal space of
time in my life. In England we have
always taken lively interest in Amer
lea; but think mo Englshman who
has not had the good fortune to visit
America has any real conception of the
activity OF the population, the enor-
nous distances which separate the
great centres; d.least of all do En-
glishmen understand how identical is
the great basis of character on both
sides of the Atlantic. An Englishman
with whom I have been talking since
my arrival says: 81 can not find that 1
am abroad.'' The great features of
your country are all such as I am ia
miliar with in parts of England and
Scotland. Your beautiful Hudson re-
minds me of Scotch lake. The marks
of glaciation in your hills remind me
of those in Scottish highlands.
I had heard of the degeneration of
your stock from the English type.
have not perceived it. Some years ago
one of your most distinguished men of
letters, equally loved and admired in
England and America, expressed an
opinion which touched English feeling
somewhat keenly-that there was q
difference between your women and
ours after reaching certain age. He
said our English women were .sbeefy. :, ..
That is his word, not mine. Well,
l have studied the aspect. Of the
people that have met here in steam
boats and railway carriages, and meet
with just the same faces, the main diff
ference as to the men being in the way
of shaving. Though I should be sorry
to use the word which Hawthorne did,
yet in respect to stature for fine, portly
women, I think the average here fully
as great as on the other side. Some
people talk of the injurious influence of
climate. l have seen no trace of the
"North American type" You have
among you the virtue which is most
notable among the savages, that of
hospitality. You take us to bounti-
full dinner, and are not quite satisfied
unless we take away with us the plates
and spoons. Another feature has i'm
pressed itself upon me. have visited
some of your great universities, and
meet men as well known in the Old
World as in the New. I find certain
differences here. The English uni
versities ARE the product of Govern
ment, yours of private munifcence.
That among us is almost unknown.
The general notion of an Englishman
when he gets rich is to found an estate
and benefit his family. The general
notion of an American when fortunate
is to do something for the good of the
people, and from which benefits shall
continue to flow. The latter is the
nobler ambition. 'S' - .s'i.a5.' ~ J" s a
1t is popularity said abroad that you
have no antiquities in America. If you
talk about the trumpery of three or four
thousand years of history, it is true.
But, in the large sense, as referring to
times before man made his momentary
appearance, America is the place to
study the antiquities of the globe. The
reality of the enormous amount Of ma
terial here has far surpassed my antici-
patton. Ihave studied the collection
gathered by Prof. Marsh, at New Ha-
ven. There is none like, it in Europe,
not only in extent Of time covered, but
by reason of its bearing on the problem
OF evolution. Whereas, before this col
lection was made, evolution was mat
ter OF speculative reasoning, it is now a
matter of fact and history, as much as
the monuments Of Egypt. In that COL
lection are the facts Of the succession
OF forms and the history OF their evolu-
ton: All that now remains to be asked
is, How? and that is a subordinate ques-
ton. With such matters as this before
my mind, you will excuse me if can
not find thoughts appropriate to this
occasion. would that I might have
offered something more worthy; but I
hope that your Association may do what
the British Association is doing-may
SOW the seeds Of scientific inquiry in
your cities and villages, whence shall
arise a process Of natural selection by
which those minds best fitted for the