The new North-west., 1889-03-01
WHOLE NO. 1928.

passed Bartholdis statue OF Liberty Ell
tightening the World" and it seemed US if
France were not far off. 1t was sweet sen
sation, and instinctively l had raised my
hat All at onco the Germanic stopped A
little steam tug drew up alongside, and there
stepped on board few custom house officers,
followed by several other perSol.s
"Look outl" cried one Of my fellow passen-
gers, seeing that appeared to be unconscious
Of danger.
"What is the matter'" asked
''Thc intcryiewcrsl"
"Nonsense, not here surely" exclaimed.
No sooner were tho words out Of my mouth
than two young mon handed me their cards,
with the announcement that they were jour
nalists
"We have como to present our respects to
yon" they said, ''and to wish you pleasant
time in our country"
While they uttered these words they
scanned me from head to foot, iotting a few
strokes on their note books. They were TAX
ing my portrait, which appeared next morn
ing at the head of the articles that the press
of New York thought fit to devote to me.
Obi that first afternoon in New York,
spent in the company Of the interv iewelsl |
shall never forget It'll
The office OF my lecture manager, Maj
Pond, was situated on the ground floor Of the
Everett house where had put up Thither
Irepaired after lunch to undergo the opera
ton Of tapping by eight interviewers at once.
"Ahi" said one Of them, after the usual
salulatious, ''wc going to bore you. SO let
us begin at tho beginning"
This made me smile.
Il know your first question" said; 'you
arc going TO ask me whether this is my first
visit to America"
You are right, that is generally our Grst
question; but have another to ask you bo-
fore YOU havo just eaten your first meal i'll
America; what did you havc2"
Gentlemen" I replied as seriously us
possibly could, ''I have just been in for
piece of t1rbot, {; beefstcak and potato CHIPS,
celery salad and vanilla ice.
''And now" remarked another reporter,
Il have an important question to put to you.
I hope it will not astonish yo1l."
"Ohn'I replied, 81 am in America, aud
quito ready not to be astoniShed at any
thing"
''Well, then, said he, Il want to ask you
what are your impressions Of America"
Excuse me-" 1 exclaimed, II have only
been in it three hours, aud those three hours
have been spent in this hotel. You must
really allow me to abstain for the moment
from telling you what think Of America,
for you will admit, hope, that one must
have passed Il whole day Mt least in A1ncricn,
in order to Judge it with any accuracy"
7 n, In fi1,.p
lemon squash
The reporters Immediately made an entry
III their note books
''What is that you have put down2" 1
asked.
4 young fellow, with face beaming with
activity and intelligence, replied: II wrote
that at this point Of our conversation yon
rolled cigarette and rang for lemon
squash"
Tho questions they asked really appeared TO
me so commonplace, SO trivial, that l was
almost ashamed to think | was tho hero Of
this little farce
With the idea Of giving them something
better worth writing, launched into anec-
tiotes, and told few TO these intervieweis
This brought about little scene which was
-
little ofteucr than the rest, while | told an
anecdote he would turn to his brethren end
say:
This story is for my paper, you have no
! right to take it down, it was tuld especially
| to nc
s'Not at ull,n would cry the others, sit was
| told to all Of us"
! Next dag / procured al! the New York
morning papers, more from curiosity, l must
say in justice to myself, than from vanity,
for was not at all proud of my utterances
| Of the day before.
Judge Of my surprise on opening the first
paper to find nearly two columns full OF
amusing details, picturesque descriptions
wesl told anecdotes, witty remarks the whole
cleverly mingled aud arranged by men who
had always supposed, were nero stenogra-
pliers,
Everything was faithfully reported and
artistically set down. The smallest incidents
were rendered interesting by the manner OF
telling. The major, for instance, who, ac
custSmed to this kind Of interview for many
years, had peacefully dropped asleep, COM
fortably Installed with his head on the sofa
pillows and his feet on tho back Of a chair
my own gestures; tho description Of the
pretty and elegantly furnished odice-all was
very crisp and vivid. They had turned
everything to account; oven the arrival oi
the lemon squash was made to furnish little
paragraph that was drou and attractive
You might have imagined that the whole
thing was the first chapter of a novel, com
nencias with the majestic entry Of q steamer
into New York hnrbor.
Well, l said to myself, tho American jour
nalist Knows at any rate, how to make {
savory hash out Of very little.
TO be continued.