Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-10-30
Two remarkable Changes.

the face of any Englishman to mention
an American author. 1t was the cele
brated Lord jeffrey, considered to be
the greatest critic of the age, who asked
in the Edinburg Review, "Who ever
reads an American book?" The ques-
ton was quite pertinent. Nobody ever
did read an American book, although
plenty of American books we'll worth the
reading we're easily accessible at that
time if John Bull had but known it. The
writer heard the same question asked at
local banquet by Monsignor Capel, an
excessively clever man, who ought to
have known something about American
books, but who did not.
Sir Edwin Arnold lie evidently man
with different views from those enter
tanned by Lord Jeffrey and Monsignor
Capel, judging from his enthusiastic
commentator of American books and
authors, made to reporter OF San
Francisco newspaper. He is not en-
gagged in the work of conciliating the
favor of the American people, and he
does not even intend to write book
about the United States. He delivered
ofhand an analysis of our leading au-
thors that was happy in the extreme.
He really appreciates their true value.
Cooper, Washington Irving. Hawthorne,
Edgar Allen Poe, Longfellow and Bryant
are square equivalent to the men wko
during the opening years graced the lit
erature Of England, and that was an
illustrious array, including Scott, Byron,
Wordsworth, Southey, or who you will.
By the tenor of his remarks Sir Edwin
shows that he has carefully studied the
authors he talks about. He says frankly
that the English have no author like
Edgar Allen Poe and that Hawthorne is
incompatible.
This is the deliberate opinion Of one Of
the most graceful and virile authors of
the age. 1t is a case where praise from
Sir Hubert is praise indeed. Evidently
American books are now read in Eng.
land, for Sir Edwin took occasion to
mention the fact that the poems of Long
fellow are more generally read in Eng
land than in the United States.
Not only are the English begin
ming to like American books
but they seem to have made up their
minds to transfer the theater of their bus
mess investments largely to this coun-
try. Scarcely day passes in which the
telegraph does not advise us of some tre-
mendous investment in American indus
tries by some British syndicate. John
Bull has always had desire to dabble
in American mines, but he has now
thrown himself into breweries, pork
packing establishments, and what not.
The brewery seems to be his great spec
ialty, and this will not perhaps be 80 bad
if the new managers introduce their own
excellent English methods of making
beer.
Of course, the fact that all these Eng
lieh syndicates expect to make divi-
dends, and big dividends at that, and to
take them over to England, is matter
for grave consideration. What effect it
will have ultimately on the United States
it would be hard to say. The London
edition of the New York Herald is
full of the announcements of promoters.
who undoubtedly expect to stimulate
a whole crop Of syndicates, and this
peculiar development is as yet in its in
fancy. But the drain cannot be as great
as when We sold our bonds by the
thousand million of dollars, and sent
their interest to England year after year.
We at least have the satisfaction of
knowing that we get the money for these
breweries, pork-packing establishments,
etc., and, having secure hold on the
principal, we can let the interest take
care of itself.