The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-26
MR.. oRAwFoRD's oBsEavA7I TONS.
What the Novelist Thinks About
American Women.
From the Ee,U Y0}k Tribune.


From, the Neto Yo%k Tribune.
"What changes in this country have Inn
pressed me most during my last visitP' re-
peated F. Marion Crawford, the nov elist, as
he bent over his large trunk which be was
packing for his departure homeward. 81
have noticed SO many changes that it ia
difficult for ms to pat my. / IMPRESSIONS IN
shape. When | came here ten years ago
after long absence in Europe and 10 the
east | was most struck by the
remarkable growth of the cities that saw;
but during my present visit | have been
particularly impressed by the dovels
opment in taste which 1 have noticed among
the people here. 1t seems to me that my
brother Americans-you know / am really
an American myself, and a thoroughly
loyal one, in spite of the fact that circum-
stances have obliged me to spend most of
my life abroad-have made great advance
in their knowledge and appreciation OF the
arts. This is shown most conspiouously in
the architectural improvements in the
various cities that | have visited.
There are fewer monstrosiies in the way of
buildings now put up, for instance, than
there were few years ago; and among the
new ones there are some magnificent Bpeci-
mems of architecture. The interior of the
houses, too, show a similar improvement;
instead of rooms filed with fric~a-brao of
inferior quality aud poor etchings bought
at a fabulous price by misguided collectors.
l have found less crowded rooms, but far
more taste displayed in their adornmens.
Where formerly the walls would be COW
cred with many poor etchings, l have no.
ticed a very few in the best taste.
Then, too. | have noticedi a marked
change IN the physical appearance Of the
people here. The women seem to have de-
velOped, ard are now healthier and hUer
looking than they we're when / last came
l have observed that the men carry them
selves better, walk from the watst 80 to
speak. / attribute their improvement to
the increase in games and physical exercise
In general in this country. l presume that
this increase is due in part to the fact that
American men are now beginning to
have little leisure in which they thew can
devote themselves to other pursuits than
those Of business There is much to be hoped
from the increase of leisure in this councryT
| have no doubt that before many years
America will have a leisure GLASS just as
each of the old European countries has
Indeed, have already seen signs of its for
nation. There are at the present time
plenty Of rich men in New York who have
no business, and who spend most of their
time at heir clubs and 10 sports, which are
practically the only resources OF tho aver
age man of leisure here. And speaking
OF clubs reminds me Of one fact
that has interested me very much: that
Is, the decline of dr.. hiking here | re-
member when ] was here before that IL was
impossible to go into a club after midnight
without finding three or four men half seas
over. Now 1t is a rare thing TO find even
one man in this condition. There Is very
much less drinking, TOO, at dinners Do
attribute this TO the growth of a sentiment
against winel Not at all. think il is due