New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-12
INTERIM TIONAL CONTRASTS.

Matthew Arnold 5 remark tnat AlnerlCdHS
are too cowardly to tell themselves disagree
able facts canrot be applied to the writer OF
an article in the current number of "Thc
Princeton Review" entitled New York After
Paris" This American is certainly not coward
~, and he has a capacity for candor as abun-
dant as his perception Of things to hit at is
keen. Having accustomed himself during a
three years residence abroad to the Irregularities
and conventionalities of foreign life, to the
characteristic towns of the Continent, he finds
himself bewidered not to say shocked upon
returning home, at the generally disreputabe
appearance of things physical and at the want
of harmony the restless spirit Of contention,
the "intense individualism," as he calls it,
which distinguish things moral. Upon these
circumstances he makes some clever, sharp, but
generally good natured reflections. many Of
which are well worth considering.
1t is true enough that there is very little in
New-York either beautiful as n vision or pleas
ant as Il surrounding 1t possesses few handsome
or imposing pieces Of architecture. It's streets
are narrow and abominably paved. 1t is dirty
to a degree that is scandalous. Everything in
it seems to be inconvenently placed No mat
ter where one wishes to go, he must make a
tour Of the town to get there, and no matter
to what devices of conveyance he may resort,
comfort is an absolute impossibility. If he
goes in a cab he is iostled out of shape, or in
car he is mashed and polled and trodden upon
by fat and odorous entities until he is made sore
and miserable. If he walks, he must either
walk with rush or be walked over.
II is true enough that New Workers in the
bulk have better minds than manners. In
gratifying their appetites they have neglected
their faculties. They have secured for them
selves an abundance of everything but leisure,
the highest purposes Of which do not appeal to
them as a community. They bolt along through
life as If all they wished were to have done with
il as soon as possible. They know how to get
money and how to get rid Of it, but not how to
appreciate IL nor how to spend it. They make
their relation to its acquisition disagrecably
Conspicuous Their way Of measuring the
value of everything by the unyieding yard
stick of utility is confirmed and much too
palpable habit. 1t is shocking to think how
often in every twenty-four hours the question
" How much is it worth ~ is put in this city.
And yet no comparison Of Newly orl with a
European city or of its people with those of
foreign capitals, is at all fair which fails to re-
mark upon the circumstance that all enterprise
here is either private enterprise or else hemmed
in and bounded by democratic sentiments
while those things which are most beautiful
and interesting abroad are generally the in
hertance of ages and invariably produced by
social systems that Americans could not en-
dure Magnificent arches of triumph, grand
catbedrals superb collections Of art treasures
palaces and great public works, whatever be
their refining effect upon the popular taste, arc
altogether too expensive when purchased 10y the
sacrifice Of one iota of the Individual liberty
enjoyed in America. 1t is doubtless highly
tranquillizing TO have ones social status fixed
by ones birth and to know that it must remain