New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-12
JBTIyG,S IrPRESSIoNS or AHERICA."
WHAT THE ACTOR HAS TO SAY ABOUT BEECHER,
THE PRESIDENT AND AMERICAN CUSTOMS.

Josegh Hdtron in me IhfiaGeiphfG inquirer.
70 me tmcIic6n pnbic-Th, book the outcome Of
q desire tO chronicle in lasting ioin Solt oi we
events of a tour which your kindness ha made delight
~ Ien ,T,r1y and myself. Before leaving London
yentured upon prophecy that III loHrhelns 10 hirIc
liln,d I'm The history OF the stage the LyceuH Com
puny is the first complete oreanza D Whica mas 3roStu
The Atlantic with the entire equipment OF theatre
4, the tour Is believe, unique, ~ also l. TINS record i
il aud particularly desire to emphasize laci Co.eIh
ing its authorship am myself Ohy Ie5loisiplo i4l Wy
share in conversations and dial Dgoa thht are So doW
everything else being the work en-, OF , ny i nt in
America | but trust that have not erred IN eA-
rronntrT which has excited my profound admiration'
and wlich Ia, The highest claims upon my gratitude;
:. Neic- York, April 30. 1884 HHNh IRVING
venture to supplement this modest self depreciation
of nv collaboration with the assurance that irving opn
ion OF America. and his conversations on art subjects ana
queNt ons fet'Ihg 10 v I 20 M recorded man much
more pretcnOus criticism that zasSes IOf Iearcu Cd
o. Visited yr Henry ward Rcccher asked him:
What is the Beecher home lke-new or o'dcnaracter-
istic OF The host or no he said; quite characteristics
,n,lJ soy II illt..c d me as home that had been
GRADUALLY furnished over period OF many years. That
was particularly the case with REGARD TO the library;
ruing and class in them. The had an old English,
or what / suppose would he called Old NcwE England
appearance Books pictures emma add "hOie'Ume t
smoke hut his sons do I cannot pretend to pm. Gown
OA yes said one Of hi, sons, fine fellow the only
thraSug he gave me was for soklngsa cigar; ana
present received from home was box of cigars sent
Ia m a. m
dert great might be in the face OF opposition
ruou, platform fight at Manchester during the war:
lie faced his opponents witha cain, resolnte face
h.pired lie spoke with feryd eloquence don't think
ever heard equaled In the end he carried the meeting
IKE following extract from chapter on Washington is
o roarled irving as we left the White House after
b. first Interview with the President that If ms re-
have just let has eNlie2ty several qaanles tnaI
should say lit him FOR bis oicc-ioronost among them
il patience would also say that he has the virtue OF
sell denial and lie Is y Hot lnhGslys, Enu
Of friendship. Of gentle disposition and with great
TGey had a long chat at III" White House Mr.. Con-
gresham Phelps accompanied Irving. ana introduced
him to the secretary of the Navy ana 10 other ministers
who came and went during the first part OF the informal
rc6.to The President 'alked of plays and general
literaturc; regretted that Washington, when had so
of tie city a beautiful city, MI President said irving
" had heard much OF Washington, but am agreeaDy
surprised at its fine buildings It's nan isomc houses us
splendid proportions, and the plan OF IL seems 10 De
unique. Washington is one of the most beautiful
cities have ever seen lheie Is no reason ny VIo i6
est architectural ambition should not be realized III such
broad avenues and bonlevards aud with such site
Tie following impressions Of Irving on the club life or
America the work that has been accomplished by the
American people, and tue occasional ana nasty clllciSns
of the United States Ivy l-niormcd and thougltless
English travellers is well worth reprintng: Indeed the
ia cbaractcrizrd by cordially and freedom that Is
glorious; think No nonsense, no unnecessary lot
once so nice be introduced straightway and be on
terms with all the fellows! find by one OF the news
naperS that AIN keeping scIap-D00k-they nave seen
iIowson's handiwOrk, / imagine. was lust thinking
that II one induled IN that sort OF thlng, what coe0
fjOn OF club cards and menus would haNe mere Is
not city we have visited where have not Deeh made
nee OF all The clubs, from Boston 10 chicago inc
BoStOu clubs are very fine English Ike III many re-
spects. Bnt there is nothing, suppose more gorgeous
Than the Union League at New-1ork III le you What
strkes me most about AmeTca-the inlnegsity OF inc
Il has done In regard to The material welfare o iIs
peOplc; building ClNlllLdllo'i
The comforts of the thousands who crowd INTO It's ports
Old World; taking care OF them ana governing
the ncOngruOus into one great people uOh
wonder that young who have only tbelr honest
hands aud hopes legacies from parents come mere 10
make homes and names found families and to lay up
OF almost inspires with eOquence, and think on
many night IL has given me IA new energy and new
| love for my own Work.
notice. by the papers, that English visitor has
been writing in OF the English periodicals what IA
called elashing criticism upon American habits and
customs, and making unfair comparisons between the
life objects of and women OF this great New World
aud the civilizations OF Europe. This sort OF criticism
can only mere work. IL does not consider and
weigh results it does count how thing has
been done short time; II does not how marvel
lously ssful this people has been In making law
unto Itself a civilization unto itself and how IL has not
vet had time and tack TO its great sweeping
Garments the fngcs and ribbons and Jewels that belong
10 AN age Of rest and luxury and art They are but
small critics. and they not respectfully conscious OF
the possibilities OF tho CLOSE union Of England and
give her the credit she deserves for al she has done III
the cause OF freedom and humanity"
AS 10 the merit OF the book fear IL VIII fai 1ar snort
az the kindly hopes OF Il which many correspondents
have expressed But that is matter Tor the critics ana
the public.