The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-05-16
A NOVELIST'S VIEWS.
r. MARION cRAWFoRp,s ossERvA.
TloNS ABOUT AMERICA.

TlONS ABOUT AMERICA.
Changes In American Taste For Art and
Better Architecture-Ameri Hurry
and Worry Is subsiding-Handicapp
by a Lack of Traditions.
What changes in this country have i'm
pressed me most during my last VISIT" re.
Ipeated Mr. #. Marion Crawford, the novel
list, as he bent over his large trunk which
he was packing for his departure home
ward. II have noticed so many changes
that IL is difficult for me to putjrny impress
sions In shape. When came here 10 years
ago, after long absence in Europe and In the
east, was most struck by the remarkably
growth OF the cities that ! saw, but during
my present visit | have been particularly
impressed by the development in taste
which ! have noticed among the people
here.
at seems to mo that fny brother Ameri
cans-you know am really an American
myself and thoroughly loyal one in spite
Iof the fact TINT circumstances 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 conspicuously In the architectural i'm
provements in the various cities that have
visited.
There are fewer monstrosities 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 speci-
mems OF architecture Phe interiors of tho
houses, too, show similar improvement.
Instead Of rooms filled with bric-a-brac OF
inferior quality and poor etchings bought
at fabulous price by misguided collectors
| have found less crowded rooms, but far
more taste displayed In their adornment.
Where formerly the walls would be GOV.
erred with many poor etchings | have no,
ticed very few in the best taste.
"fhen, too, havo noticed marked
change in the physical appearance of the
people here. The women seem to have de
veloped and are now healthier and finer
looking than they were when last came.
have observed that the men carry them
selves better, walk from the waist, so to
speak. ! attribute their improvement to
the increase in games and physical exercise
IN general in this country. presume that
this increase is due in Part to the fact that
American men are now beginning to have
Il little leisure in which they can devote
themselves to other pursuits than those OF
business.
There is much to be hoped from the in
crease Of leisure In this country have no
doubt that before many years America will
have leisure class Just as each of the old
European countries las Indeed | have
already seen signs of its formation. There
are nj the present time plenty of rich men
in New York who have no business and
who spend most of their time mt their clubs
and in sports, which are practically the
only resources of the average man of leisure
here
\ The business pressure in London is, In
my opinion, far greater than in New York;
AMI AZ for the social whirl New York
doesn't compare with Rome. Roman so
ciety during the four months of the season
gets practically no sleep at all. In New
York society is far more moderate.
! And this brings me to the subject Of the
conditions of American life The most in.
teresting OF these conditions, in my judg.
ment, is tho complete absence of tradition
In the usages here. OF course there are
many Americans who like to follow Euro
pean traditions; they swallow these at q
grlp, and the effect is like that of taking a
pill. Practically America must make her
own traditions, and as she has not as yet
had time to do this the American people
ueNelOD
themselves in natural and spontaneous
manner. The complete absence of tradition
here has struck me specifically and yet
most forcibly and amusingly in American
social customs
.. For example, l can't tell You what a
str'tnge sensation have had when have
dined Mt luxurious American houses where
all the appointments have been OF the most
magnificent description, and where at table
| have been confronted with the spectacle
or butler wearing n mustache. No one
! who has not been brought up abroad amid
the iron clad rules of society which prevail
IN European countries can understand the
utter incongruity of that buffers appear.
ance. As matter of fact, don't care a
rap about that sort of thing but neverthe
less ! can't help being amused by it. The
incident aforementioned is only one instance
Of a large number of incongruitie3 that
have noticed in American society.
\ THE lack OF tradition in America affects
even the arts, Every other country has long
established tradition by which its whole
artistic life is regulated, but America has
~ yet TO develop its schools of literature,
painting sculpture and music. We have
not thus far produced one great writer. All,
yes, Emerson, Hawthorne. Lowell and the
little group of New England writers of Is
years ago did admirable work, but Judged
by the standards of Sophoeles, Shakespeare,
Dante, Goethe and Schiller they must be
rated rs second class men. Hawthorne was
the gro0test writer that we have ever pro
duGed, but he was only on the fringe of the
first class
] Every country-that is every ancient
conntry-has had its great aristocratic err
, As rule 1t comes only once, though in the