New-York tribune., 1879-12-20
ION THE WRONG SIDE OF THE HEDGE"
HE CHANGES HIS OPINIONS.
From an InierrieV IN The Philadelphia Press
came To make a close study of the pre-

From IntcrrieV IN The Philadelphia Press.
| came to make close study of the pres
ent condition Of affairs in the Southern States You
cannot imagine the Ignorance OF even the thinking
closses in EngI md touching the condition OF Amerca
not alone IN the South in the North well will
devote four months to my work. and VIII during ta
time visit every state in the SOUTH including Florida
propose 10 personally investigate the condition OF the
negroes their present status and their future prospects
am informed that ardent desire 20 acquire kn0w
edge or books Is the chief characteristics Of the black
since from bondage. 81 such is the case
our black brother IL bound to pull through But from
what the deep-thinking men. who have had the best
opportunities o. study the question. tell me- the strug
gle s gong TO be hard one what the people OF Eng
land want Is series of letters from the south descri p
tive OF the condition of aairs there just n they exist
unbiased by political prejudice And that is just what
propose TO give them"
Some persons thought, Mr.. sala that when you pub
shed the history OF your visit 10 America durng the
civil war; the book contained many harsh reflections
the people OF the NOrfhand that they not from
CAIN dirpassonate consaeiauoh OF the Iu,sus9n s
under consideration. but instead from deliberate de-
termination To see only one side OF the case
:. l VIII MAKE frank confession was on tne wrong
side OF the ledge But there were many extenusting
viii to Dury the natchet. aware that at
the time publication the book was the cause Of much
North. but i stiiI hold to the opinion that,
in many respects. l was unfairly treated
Dickens in Martin Chuzzlewit' aud never accepted
OF their hospitality, Dickens did, only TO turn and
the better of Dickens and he lived 70 repent and
his Statements Eighieen years have gone by since
wrote book and although eighteen years Is snort
period In the life OF Nation, II II still long enough TO
admit many changes and innovations. ara the sou Of
a West India who kept slaves. ana taught TO
believe that the custom consistent with the very
Highest form OF Chris siaity. At the time wrote there
was no uiOdle ground One had tc get one side or
the other the fence. The with whom assD
caied during my stay this country mostly Cop
perheads Ol q very pronounced type. aud inDed my
them. I com iarativey speaking. young
time, and lngllshman, the occasion OF
his first VISIT here, bound 10 be more or less pflu-
diced. ard was exception 20 the rule In lcoO- %
petty dlscOmfOrt- and aggravaung an
nOyauces that apt 10 prejudice the mind OF tle
traveller m America aud give him had opinion the
people. thai time great changes have been made
than that II any 0tner the globe. am M
formed tnaf engage berth on Pu Imam
and have all the uxuries. well as the necessities
OF le, served him without being Obliged 10 quii ne
afarfmen The hotels OF America are the finest In the
world. have not been impOrtuned once srce NY ar
rival fee- IL En- gland the pOrers and walters
are continually asking Tor backsheesh. and 10 rs almost
impUs be wcllseTyed in English aurant or
hotel without hrst tipping tue water IL Is the GUS
ton. country. The great number Of hrst-class
American hotels is what ast0uncs me, and frequently
find mysei wondering how 10 Ia thar they ali manage 20
make LIVING One reason. think. Is found in The fact
York Chicago and Francisco spend the greater
part of their lives az note preference 10 having
homes Of their own THIS arises suppose from tle fact
hotel furnishes comforts Tor the money tban
can procured elsewhere for Ike amount The prodi-
g4tlty Of the Americans surprises me. How thel 90
turOw he money Compared with Eng AMI the cOat OF
ilv ng here Is prOdIgous. Here pay 20 cents When
want % be shaved; in England pay cents. THIS II
one instance Of hunarcd To pat the case IN few
words "a shilling m uglana dollar IN America Tie
astounding luxury OF New-NorG pewiiders foreigner