The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-14
sOME NEW BooKs.
An Ensiishman In America.

pressions obtained Of the United States by
EnRlishmen. for most Of them seem incapable
OF freeing their minds from n haze OF preju-
dice and Of seeing things MS they are. Their
constitutional lnapttude for observation in
foreign parts is displayed on the Continent Of
Europe. as well as on this side OF tho Atlantic:
only Unborn genius or an extraordinary COM
lination OF circumstances enables an Eng
lshman TO appreciate what is admirable in
French. German. or Italian life. The con-
genital incapacity however. Is aggravated.
when he turns his eycglass upon Amer
lea. by quaint assumption OF supe-
riority. based upon the fact that tho United
States wero once. as history Informs him.
British colonies. and by the pcrplexity
arising from many rosembances which are
not perfect and many Emergencies tho
reasons for which are obscure. H. in addition
TO these general disdualiflcations. he Is AZ
ficted with bad temper and with n vXenish
disposition. he is apt 10 carry away and to
communicate n |ery strangely distorted con-
c.ption Of things American. This cross
grained typo OF observer is amusingly OK
emplilcd in Mr.. Hamilton Aldo. who. having
apparently encountered some Sights and
snubs In this country. proceeded to slake his
grudgos in IL hook. which he naively called u
Voyage Of D,scovcry.' Nothing In particular
was revealed by this lin tte steele Columbus.
except the fact that IN old man can be as
spitotul ~ an old woman. and that the true
function OF literature is in his opinion. to chas-
tise unapprecintivc people Tor not asking
novelist to dinner. MIR. Aide. however. is only
peculiarly spleenful specimen OF the visiting
Briton. with whom. from tho days Of Mrs. Troll
lope to those OF Sir Lepel Griffin. We have been
made tolerably familiar. but whose opinions
have long ceased to disturb our self-compia-
cency. Tho only English visitors about whose
notions OF America we now feel some languid
curiosity are those who como to US in the mood
which Lowell described as tho only ono in
which knowledge Is attainable. that, namely.
OF hearty admiration. sincere Difference. and
earnest sympathy. These conditions meet, we
observe with satisfaction. in Mr.. H. PASMURE
GORDON. and we do not hesitate. therefore. to
bespeak multitude OF readers for his book.
The Land Of the Almighty Dollar tIiondon.
Frederick Warne & CO...
Let us note first how cordial is Mr.. Gordon's
recognition OF tho creature comforts Of New
York. He recalls with establishment the
strange averment mado By Mr.. Walter Besant:
"As there is no cookery in America. 1t was i'm
possible. save by the aid OF canvasbacks. to
dine la Amsricaine." Our authors moro on
larRed experience enables him to pronounce
this declaration monstrous and indeiensible
Has Besant." no cried. never heard OF ter
rapins. the true diamondbnck terrapins OF
Chesapeake. whereof tho bellies OF Baltimore
make boast? Knows he nothing OF the chicken
gumbo wherewith the Creoles Of New Orleans
have enriched the menu OF civilization? Wots
he not Of the soft-shelled crab Of New York;"
Mr.. Gordon assures the English novelist that
II he really knew tho United States he could
instantly draw up from memory Rabelaisian
list OF the triumphs OF American cookery. set
ting forth not only tho m erits OF terrapn. gum
bo and soft shell crab but also OF clam chowder.
OF shad pompano. and Spanish mackerel. OF
corn bread. succotash. and corn on tho cob.
Mr.. Gordon goes on to make the mouths OF his
readers water by describing strictly Ameri-
can dinner. at which he had tho good fortune
to assist. The host. 1t seems. had seated five
guests about a round table. Before every man
was an ice-packed bottle Of the dry champagne
he particularly affected. To Blue Point oysters
succeeded terrapin: then a whole canvas
back was put before each guest, one or moro
birds being hold in reserve for men with envia-
BILE appetites. Afterward came a mayonaise
OF celery: then tho waiter served . little fruit
and q little cheese. Finally there was . cup OF
coffee. after which tho table was cleared for
action and o search for four aces followed.
There are signs here that Mr.. Gordon is
man after our own heart. possessing an
alert eye and an open mind. 1t is therefore
chapter entitled. The Ladies'" With fervor
which he makes no pretencs Of surpressinG.
the author pronounces la belle Americaine
hors liOne. With emphasis he endorses what
he says Is the universal verdict OF Europe on
tho American girl-a verdict which describes
her as at once beautiful. rioh. and strange.
with o hundred charms and only one defect
Mr.. Gordon Is lost in amazement at the extra
ordinary beauties who come out OF un-
heard OF districts In the United States.
He has often had the happiness. it
seems. In London. Paris. or at Nice or HON.
burg. to run against q blonde beauty OF
surprising lustre. or brunette tall. superb.
and flashing. with such exquisite hands and
feet that the proverbial duchess. who is sup
posed to have Q monopoly OF those appen-
dagss. Is nowhere: and then he has almost al
ways learned that this glorious Helen has
come forth from Denver. or Kansas City. or
from the further West. The conviction has
been borne in upon the author that the mix
ture OF race. or the atmosphere. or whatever
subtle influence makes beauty. is floating like
thistledown In the air OF the United States. 1t
is also question which has puzzled him. and
which he thinks must puzzle those who
assume to write upon heredity. why
the children OF men and women who perhaps
have labored with their hands. and who at all
which rival those OF the Venus di Medic. feet
which have Chinese smallness and the Span
ish instep. and little shell-like ears which
point to an ancestry OF hundred earls. The
one defect In our American women-Mr. Cor
don mentions 1t with diffldencs-is their pro-
nunciation and intonation. which seem. he
said. "unmusical to US that love tho soft
csressing voice OF their southern sisters. who
murmur 10 fan,o 80 sweetly." Gliding swiftly
over this deficiency. the author hastsns to
point out that in the matter OF dress an Ameri-
can rises to the situation at once. She 10
very rarely. II sver. badly dressed. Given such
an amount OF prettiness IS she has. such quick
ness OF eye and SO long purse. it Is no won
der that she comes forth from her Paris dress-
maker dream Of loveliness. And then she
wears her clothes like . queen. or. rather. as
queens very seldom wear them. Mr.. Gordon.
finally. IL kesnly sensible that the shadow
which the American girl is Just now casting
on tho map Of Europe Is a robust one She Is at
present the most talk ed about creature In the
world. Never before did the women OF ono ma
tion % successfully invade all other peoples