The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-12-10
English Mons In America.

The reception given to Mrs. Langtry in
New York Is thoroughly creditabio To tho American
public from every point of view. II has been at
once enthusiastic and discriminating. The woman
has been appauded chiyalroasly and the echo; tho
actress has been closely but not ungenerOusy cri-
clsed. She has been Judged upon her own merits
ana has been exposed to rs little of detraCtion az
OF undue panegyric. The harmony of common sense
comment has been broken only by the cTitique which
Mr. Oscar wilde is reported to have penned, and
which Is described rs being dreamy rhapsody about
beauty In the abstract and the concrete II is the
old story coium dntBiu,n, etc, and Mr.. Wilde
outbursts apparently are the sole exceptions to the
sobrety OF utterance which the New York press has
exhibited. There is probably public In the world
so grossly aud systematically msrepresented ms that
OF the United States. 1t is, fnglisImen re-
quested TO understand wholly given the loInry of
nonstroStleS; II prefers eccentricity la excellence
and asks not for what IL good, but for what is
ton OF being a British lion, IL Will, we told,
flock TO sec him. although the only thing genuinely
le0nino about him Is the skin. such Is the cOlyen-
tonal ldea and II is impossible to imagine anything
that Is moro wide of the mark.
The distinctive qualities Of the American people
are really their Intelligence aud perception and tey
show, In regard TO artists OF every description the
mingled srowdness aud refinement taste In which
they are supposed to be wanting. Mere names arc
not enough for them. They VIII take nothing for
granted. They give every candidate for their favor
Il fair chance, but they are not content merely to
register the Judgment of others. Mr.. FrOude crossed
the Atlantic heradcd by - reputation which had few
European superiors. His works as deeply and
deseryodiy admired In Baltimore and In Boston
London Everything was In his favor, and H. was
predicted that his visit would prove an
Success And so II would have proved II the citizens
and citzenesses OF the great Republic had no other
wish but To gaze upon the presence of distinguished
man. They were, however, impelled by u sentiment
OF something more than mere idle curiosity. They
wished not To look at Mr.. FrOude, hut to hear him
lecturer MS lecturer MIR. Froude failed, and there
fore, his expedition failed too. The truth Is that the
Americans are as keen and correct Judges az modern
ol'lizalioh KNOWS OF the genuine aud tho spurious,
Of the true aud OF the false. The decisions of their
tribunal may not be absolutely final but they de-
nonnced only by those who have failed to satisfy its
requirements.
Another British star, besides Mrs. Iangtry and Mr.
Oscar WILDE has lately shot athwart the trasat antG
armament. Mr. Herbert Spencer only left tho United
states on Saturday last. IL cannot perhaps, quite be
said Of Mr.. Spencer that he prophet without honor
In his country; he Is certainly philosopher moro
deeply worshiped and better known In tho land where
he has been guest. The truth Is that the American
puOllc, which sometimes confirms tho verdict of the
English often equltably redresses the lust balance,
ana, while II Is more critical, is frequently
spencer has enjoyed on the other side Of
the Atlantic must be new experience 10 him. In
England lie Is tho author only of limited class. For
every one reader he has here he has probably less
than half n score m America. Nor, so FAR as the
public taste of his native land Is concerned, he be
considered parsonage. His appearance is as little
familiar as his fame II tho ordinary wayfarer he.
tween 81. Janess street aud Charing Gross were to
meet Mr.. Spencer ON his way 90 the Athennum Club
ana were To he Informed of his indenity he would
| probably receive the Information FOR the
FIRST time, and would be unconscious OF any special
emotion excited by It, In England Mr. Spencer has
been, ~ tue most the hero OF clique and the Idol OF
u colerle' Occasionally an lmpulsiyo young lady,
WIN prelS turn Tor philosophy, has been carried
away IN an ecstasy of admratiOu and has inhabited
for weeks the boarding house where the sage been
temporarily located. few matrOuS Of mature years
have been known 10 encourage him to address Tho
company assembled In their drawing rooms from the
hearthrug as from pulpit and have taken notes of
his discourse, which the great man has obllgingly
corrected tho next morning at breakfast. But MIR.
spencor's distinction In the land Of his birth has
/ always hoen, and 10, sectaran, aud not national.
He has not been quito understood by the community
at large any muie than his habits have been ap-
pfoclated 10y all the gentlemen and ladies whose
clcly o has affected As thinker he IL great, as
man he Is eccentric, and probably there was never
yet united In the same individual such mixture Of
tho cool scientific vision and morbid nervous excta-
billy. LOadOH lI0rid.