The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-07-06

Of jealousy and suspiciou. II which America
he's NO part We have fought and buliisd In
every quarter Of the world. while the too
fortunate Yankee. nsvyisss and armylsss. 10
future snomy. but merely "A the welcome VIC
tim Of hungry shopkeopers. II America wore
as closely connected with Europe a. II England.
her citizcns would b a. much detestsd - are
EnElishmcn."
II was already we'll known before the publica-
tlon Of this volume that Sir LOPEZ Grimm docs
not share tho rapturouy admiration Of Ameri-
can women imputed to Lord Coleridgc. He
thinks the remarks ascrIbed to the Lord
Chief Justice on this subject. like his
indiscriminate eulogy OF our elective ~.
dietary. and his dsfsrontial ailusion to
Gov. Butler. should. u thoy were uttered ct
oil. DO regarded a. obiter dicta. There can DO
no doubt" says Sir Lepsl. that Americans
honestly believe their women to be tho most
beautiful In tho world. Butthe opinion
Of ioreiansrs--I do not speak Of Englishmen
alons--is very different: and have mover met
one who had iivod long or travelled much In
America who did not hold that female beauty
In the Rtates 10 extremely rare. while the
average OF ordinary good looks 10 unusually
low. More pretty faces are TO be seen In .
single day In London than In month in tho
States" Elsewhere the author comedies that
"the comparison thus made u hardly fsir to
America. seeing that London naturally absorbs
all that 10 best and brightest In English men or
women. and there are many parts Of England
whore beauty among ths lower classes II Is rare
~ In America" This. however. WAS an after
thought: In tho pnpor. as nrst printed. the author
insisted that the average Of beauty 10 far high
Or In Canada and the American town in which
most pretty women are noticeable II Detroit.
on the Canadian border. and containing many
Canadian residents. In the Western States
beauty IL conspicuous by its absence. and It 10
chiefly to Ia found In the Eastern towns-Bal-
tinoro Philadelphia New York. and Boston,"
It may Do objected TO the statement that even
In New York In August the suthor hardly saw
. iace which could be called pretty" that soois-
~ thon was out OF town. But there IL some
thing In his rejonder that An estimate Of ma
tional beauty 10 bost formed by . study Of the
faces OF the people. He admits that I'm No
ysmber New York presented . differ
snt appearance. and many pretty women
were to be seen. although the num-
Der was comparatively small. and at the
Metropolitan Opera House even American
friends were unable to point out any lady
whom they could cal. beautiful. A dis
tinguishsd artist told me that whom no nrst
visited America he scsrcsly saw In the streets
Of New York single face which he could select
- model. though he could ind twenty such
In the London street in which his studio was
situated" The foregoing remarks excited on
their nrst publication much aAgry criticism on
this side Of tbs Atlantic. But there was really
NO occasion for 30 much heat. II Ia only the
old story about the two-sided shield. The
English and the American ideals OF feminine
beauty are quite distinct. delioacy being the
sovereign charm Of the one. health and robust
moss the capital features Of the other. The ono
10 Q porcelain vase. the other . carved cup Of
solid but precious metal. The one is meant to
BE- looked at; the other also may delight the
eye. but. at the same time. It Is meant to wear.
The author OF this book recognizes that the
position Of women in the United States 10 fur
moro Just and favorable than in England. where
their most elementary rights have been only
lately conceded In the Married Woman's Prop
srty act. Their equitable claim to such work
a. they may choose to do and can efficiently
perform 10 not disputed. and the unmanly riots
In Kidderminstsr to prevent tho employment
OF women In the curtain and carpet manufac-
tories would hardly be possible In America"
In another place We read that nothing 10
more pleasantin America. or places the civil.
Sstion Of the country In brighter or moro hon.
orable light than the universal respect pub
licly paid to women BY men OF all degrees.
| That there il in this something Of exaggera-
| ton. and that some women abuse their sxceD-
| tionsl privileges. demanding diseourteously
what men are willing voluntarily to offer.
does not materially affect the oues-
tion." The author proceeds to note the
Tt d. A~k- -.
French and American republics. "A French
man will ruthlsssly turn lady into the mud
Of the street rather than step of the pavement
himself. or will bride the railway guard to In
duce delicate women to leave their preengaRed
carriage in order that he may not sit with his
| back to tho engine. He will hardly assist Q
| woman In distress unless she DO attractive.
The French below the thinnest veneer are the
most impolite OF civilized races Americans.
on the other hand. though without superficial
polish. are warm hearted and chivarous In the
highest degree. Tho position in which they
have placed their women Is the best guarantee
that the nation will outgrow the blemishes
which now disfgure It. and will. In the future.
attain higher civilization than has been en-
joyed by any people who have regarded their
intellectual and political life as the exclusive
domain Of the masculine half Of humanity"
It does not follow that Sir Lepei Griffin views
with approval the freedom OF social inter.
course permitted to unmarried girls In every
American circle. except the very narrow one
which. In some measure. reproduces the 70.
straints imposed on the Continent Of Europe
and to less extent In England. Whether
no writes. the emancipation Of women has
not proceeded too far In the case OF unmarried
girls 10 q question which those who are no.
| ouainted with American society can best de.
eide" For his own part. he avows Q preferences
for the English system. which. midway be.
tween the complete and jealous seelusion Of
France and the Independence Of America. o.
lows the young girl AZ much liberty as experi
encs has shown can be safely intrusted TO her
American novelists have described their youns
countrywoman - formed OF different elaI
70 the rest of the world. and q
strong. sslf-rsliant. and superior to the innrm
tiles and weaknesses OF humanity - to be able
to defy the dangers which may threaten from
without. or from her own heart" But thu
author submits that the American girl 10. aftel
! all lone OF Eyes family and - susceptible