New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-24


Paris: Libraire de la Nouvec Revue. New
York: F. W. Christcrn.
The observations of foreign tourists concerning
Americans, their ways. customs institutions and com
try. do not often. in these latter days. affect the pnb
lie mind otherwise than in producing gentle sur
prise at the capacity possessed by strangers for see
things which do not exist and for putting unexpected
constructions upon those which do. The Ma?Qui %
San Carlos de Pedroso appears to have come among W
Tor the purpose OF doing for the United states what Tho
author Of the Count Nas' series has done iOT the
principal countries Of Europe. She arrived intent upon
something like serious analysis but observe Tn" fcS
that observation memory both. play with the
most honest lookero in Vienna. Reaching New York
on the Fourth Of July. the first thing she notices IS
that the feryboatS have all stopped running and why
think you Because almost the entire population OF
New York had fed to the mountains and the seashore
o. is the custom every year during the doedays AT
ter this example Of careful and iafom1tion
should be prepared for much. and in truth il must
be said that Madame la Marquse docs contrfvc to get
her facts singularly distorted, at by no means intro
qucnt intervals. Her book or "The Americans at
Home" is obviously written from friendly point OF
view though many Of our customs strike tn" artho7
distinctly barbarous. and though there is through
ont her observations tone Of mild condesceasion and
Indulgence, such heress Of all the ages in the
foremost files OF Time might naturally assume toward
a parvenu and semi-barbarous people.
Her book qucer mixture Of fact and fiction. and
one passes without warning or grd0auOn from serious
statistics flights Of exuberant fancy. The account
OF domestic life in this city is. might have been
pected, Oute comically inadequate, and suspicion
occasionally suggests itself 10 the effect that much
older books travel have consulted and their
remarks and conclusions now and then neatly con
veyed." What most suggests this is the otherwise IN
accountable intrusion Of descriptions Of social cond
lions which might have been true enough fifty years
ago but have long ceased to exist. Again. the candid
reader cannot but be astoniShed at the views taken
concerning American virtues, Of which Madame Ia
Marquise gravcly declares truthf'ilnesS and probty
10 be the most conspicuous and dstinctivey National
IT seems that American cannot tell lie, and that
the principal for his answering veracity con
siss in the fact that George Washington cut down an
spple-tree with his little Ratchet. All American
mothers il appears further have ever since that epoca
event. repeated the anecdote TO their children. with
such powerfully convincing results that citizens OF
the Great Republic, without respect of sex. race color
or previous condition of servituGe. exhibit an unap
proachabe recttrde. Also the said citizens arc the
soul Of honor They wOulh. and ALL rather starvc
than resort TO ways that dark and tricks That are
vain. They practise adultcation, they never put
up Jobs Of any kind they never perpe'Tate swindleN
they never-not even in politics pal,er with the truth
AN of which is very refreshing, and 10 say the least
speaks volumes for the unsOphistcaed guileesness OF
Madame la MarqUise.
That which her admiration especially. how
over Is the extraordinary mixture of blood which
flows in the veins of the modern American lie is.
whether he knows it or not compounded OF so many
races that he might as well abandon all ehorts al
disentangng himself. He is amaCamation of
English, French. German, Indian. spanish. Mexican;
Dutch. Irsh scotch. Italian. and few other pro
ccnitors and he has the characteristics of score OF
single gentlemen (of diverse nationality rolled INTO
one. The product of this medley Is curious creature
the male of which for nothing but business
while tie female devOteS herself 10 a good the
IN which shopping plays principal part. In the
middle Of the day the masculine money crubbcr MAKES
oF IN a restaurant and hurriedy consumes gigantic
cutlet washing IL down with measure Of beer
when the female of species is delayed by her shop
ming until it Is home for lunch she also
repars to the restaurant and she also dcN""r> th'
.toant,c cu,Iet together with oysters anddrcadful T.
relate-she drinks tea with these things. lheh si'
rushes home and prepares FOR those receptions VINO"
are as the breath of life to her. but which in the
ewes Of the intelligent and SUPERIOR foreigner nave
their drawbacks, Of which the most serious Is the
custom among The young people Of sitting In ilTaou>
couples upon the stairs. TO the embarrassment Oh most
who wish 10 20 up down. and to the peril OF 'hc
oxn health because a. everybody knows. when the
front door of an American house is opened the wh'e
house is instantly filed with an icy drai'. hehce
pneumonia and an abnormal growth Of doc'orlnS
and undertaking. -,
American yoith should be glad to know, not OILY
that II is the privilege Of any young man. no matter
how poor TO ask for the hand Of any yonnG wohah'
no matter how rich in expectation but 'hd' '"o
American father be his name Vanderbilt AS'or "o"''
or simple Smith or Jones. never ventures 10 oppose
h,s d.uchter,s choice All he asks in such case Is
whether the youth can support wife, and II the
snitor can show a clear income Of-say - week
the parent says" Then take her. my boy. ana my
blessing with her!"-and the noble girl calmly sur
rendering all the luxury in which she has been reared
goes forth upon her lovers arm, establishes herset
in hoard and waits With dnEcIc
ratence until the old man. passes away or her
husband makes his fortune with the suddenness when
Is 80 usual characteristic of American prosperity
II is a beautiful picture. beyond doubt ana docs
Madame la Marquise credit though some OF her III
formants must have assumed responsibility to be
<a,r,v shuddered at. OF course it Is no news that
the first ambition of every American woman is pail
of solitaire diamond earrings and that once seized
and possessed Of those jewels she never ceases "
wear them from morning till night. Perhaps tlis j.
why so many more American men than women e
mad this and the inCcssant grind at 'business' a.
to the women, they do not go mad, they only MAKE
It necessary send them to restcure" where they
renew the store of vital energy regularly dssipaet
every winter.
Madame la Marquse thinks we are a wonderful
people, but unhapply. not yet civilized. For eX
ample. have an worth speaking of; our socia
manners ard customs truly barbarous; our ta>t'
IN music is very. very bad. Wagner is the fashion b
ew-York; not that those who praise him understand
him: but his music is loud, sometimes almost stun
ming. and II is well known that this kind Of nois
pieases savage We have no indigenous art, i
Mr.. Huntington and Mr.. Sargent excepted. II
literature VIC can, il is true. boast Poe and Long
fellow. These greatest writers. Emerson
clever but inconcusvc. There criti
csrns in the same style. Madame Ia Marquse doc
not aim at humorous effects. Yet occasionally sh
produces them. of American education she taxes TN
Ultramontane vew and in economies she is attracted
Col.
pages. She has hardly rediscovercd America. but
IS evident that she sets down her imasna,iOns in
truly ingenious manner. and her book. if not pre-
cisely Illuminating, has its diverting features.