The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-14
HER ENGLISH VIEW OF AMERICA.
Comparison Of Views Derived from b"ohs
and from Observations.


Comparison Of Views Derived from Books
and from Observations.
Miss Amelia IL. Edwards, native OF Eng
land has been featuring in Baltimore TINS
week on Ancient Egypt. To reporter OK
me Sun she talked Of her impression OF
America. resulting from her comparison OF
what she had read in newspapers and mag
azines and Of what she had observed She
said: Au,,~,,-,ard
"What has surprised me IL t,:s luxury snq
splendor Of the public buildings Nn, .'o'
have obseryed In great numbers in the cll'fs
have thus far visited. either completed or
in The course OF erection. This extraNa-
gance is everywhere much greater than J
had anticipated. such a small place-"e
should call il provincial tovn-as Hari-
ford. Conn, has magnificent and henuu-
full state House. whose architecture - conf
posite. comprising the elements OF the
kenais-snce. Italian and Venetian Gothic,
all blended together with the most cousum.
mate skill. Taken separately, one would
expect an homogeneous mixture.
"The surprising effects are not conhned
to one town, nor even 10 municipal puilu-
ings. for have noticed tina! many priNai"
dwellings, apparently Of not wealthy peo.
ple. are built with such lavishness as we
"What is most distinctly American
are your railroads, more especially
those in the city limits, the tram
WAYS and the like. The large numbers
of what we would call the lower
classes. the working people IN common,
dirty clothes. with whom one comes in IRE
quent and close contact on ferry boats ana
street-car.. and especially their excellent
depOrtmeni, are agreeable surprises. In
England they would b. looked on rs rather
rough customers. whose acquaintance we
would not care to cultivate. Yet here they
are generally gentle in their manners ana
quite polite. have been accus-
toned. too. % read in your papers
iokes about conductors and police.
ascribing.tO them rougbness Of manner and
savage sharpness ofspeech; describing them
as men who do not scruple 10 be rude, who
are proud and brlsque In their replies on
the contrary. / have been agreeably sur
prised in finding the reverse 10 be- the case;
that they are much more considerable, polite
and attentive than are ours at home. These
small officials are 80 different, i'm TACT, nom
ours that il has occurred 10 me, Judging
from looks and behavior. that they are real
gentlemen who have lost their property all
save the diamonds and ieYeliy on their per-
sOns-and have sought out these positions
"A
everybody "A gentleman who il correct m
his habits. thoughts. actions. and demeanor.
But what | mean is that men are charac-
terized by such ease Of bearing a. we con-
slider comes from good breeding. college
education. and the proper employment
OF leisure: that they have a power for
looking after details which busy men
Of affairs usually forget II may
come from superior educational facilities
but if mistake not the English schools are
greater i'm number and efficiency than those
Of the United States. Then, too. i'm Ger
many. where education il compulsory.
these officials are sh0ckingly brutal and
savage i'm their treatment. 1t must be re-
suit of the democratic ideas which make
these people not only feel equality with the
best in the land, but which cause them TO
emulate their good qualities
Miss Edwards said she was delighted
with the superior advantages Of the palace
cars on the railroads. the easy chairs. the
tables. and other cOnNeniences. In the
tirst-class compartment carriages of the old
country one can ask the guard 10 purchase
him or her something 10 eat at the railway
stations. but IL is far more convenient ana
pleasant 10 dine in the car at your leisure.
She thought the railroad ears much too hot
for comfort. however. What is worse j.
very unsatisfactory. window cannot De
opened or closed without mountaineering
great many on all sides. The old-stYle
compartment car has decided advantage
over this. not to mention the greater privacy
il insures.
In speaking Of the American newspapers,
Miss Edwards said she had not had much
opportunity % make study Of the dailios.
Il am familiar. however. with s0me Of the
weekly religious papers, she added, land
have golden opinions of such a. the Sun
daV-NchOOi Times, The Ndcpendcn',
Christi0u W0rid, etc. They have remark
ably brilliant editorial STATS composed OF
scholars, receive papers Of great merit, large
" on scientific questions. calling for high
order Of biblical scholarship and criticism.
They are religious. but not at all narrow n
their treatment. Writers who readily lind
space in their columns would c0ndescend.
were they in England, only 10 appear IN the
scientific magazines or in the publication,
OF learned societies, which do not reach the
general public. / understand that the be- {
daiiies also receive such articles and that /
they find an intelligent reading public
'.'rhe houses in New York she contin- I
ued, .'are built up ON nothing. The thir- /
teen-story sky-,crapers seem like houses If |
paper cards. likely 10 fan ut any moment.
Elcctric-light wires everywhere cross your /
path. making accidents extremely liable, |
and YOU always feel as If the elevated rail- J
roads were unsafe and might come down
ON YOU without a moment, warning. New
FORK reminds me Of a great soap bubble,
and dread 10 think Of what would happen |
in case Of an earthquake. Besides this,
found on all sides nothing but holes OF mud' /
cutters and dirt piles, an endless rush /
and Il block of street traffic. There are "a
many dangers. and the state q the high |
ways such ~ 10 make 1t incomprehensible |
20 English people that enterpr-ing Ameri- /
cans would long endure IT,. The hackmen /
in New York add 10 Oue's difficulties. They /
are arbitrary in their charges, and IN inn /
posing on you claim that YOU have no re- /
dress. Even more remarkable is the COS
mopOitan character Of the people. Judging
from the faces on the streets and the names
on the signs, not one person in a half dozen
is American or English.
"ln Boston | felt more as IL | were at
home i'm London. one part Of the Common
looks 80 much like Hyde Park. and the
street opposite 10 80 much like Park Lane !
and Piccadilly. that You fancy the houses
were patterned after the structures ~ that
locality with the intention Of initiating the
mother country even in this respect.