The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-19
SOME NEW "AMERICAN NOTES."
How Some of Our Institutions Appear
to u Young English Visitor.

London Girl in Pail Mall Gazette.
When l engaged my "stateroom' in the
ton, L had never heard of the famous brew
OF tea in Boston harbor in seventeen hun
dred and something, but have often
thought since that it was, perhaps, a pun
ishment for that shameful waste that
America has never succeeded in brewing
good tea; nor had L heard of Crispus At
tucks, the martyred "colored gentleman,
whose elegant statue stands in Boston
Park. Nor, indeed, did / know that in that
free country "colored gentleman" is the
American for African niger. In fact 1
did not. as Yankees say, know enough
to come in when it rains.
On that memorable voyage 1 learned three
things. First that you must not call the
Southerner a Yankee; secondly, that you
must not call the Canadian an American,
how like America, the better.
1t was night when / got to my hall
room" (as the small room in a boarding
house over the front door Is called in Amer
ica). was dreadfully sleepy, and L suppose
Mrs. G.. noticed this, for she said, kindly,
in her New England soprano: why, my
right to bed?' Yes. indeed, l would; but
l looked In vain for the bed; the entire
furniture of this hall room was beautiful
bird's-eye maple piano-at least what l
thought was a piano-a pretty writing bu-
reau and rocking chair
Let me fix your bed for you." and from
the ledge of the supposed writing table
she produced the magic wand, and, in
trice, "unwound my bed" spring mattress
and all. but the piano had disappeared;
likewise my writing table had revolved
into a charming washstand with a clear
flow of water from the deep tank behind
which formed the solid looking upright of
brought me in a large jug of 'icewater''
and some crackers and asked If would
like some lunch. l thought she was a
trife previous" still L reflected that in
this rapid land they might have adopted
Alice in Wonderland's system of break
fasting at afternoon tea, and dining on
the following day." but / afterward learned
that any meal served after 10 p. m. was
termed lunch. When l was left alone
took off my walking boots and deposited
them at the back of the door, and pro-
ceeded to do my hair Presently Mrs. G..
came along and knocked at the door: "Ex-
cuse me, but would you mind taking in
your boots? / can't be responsible for them
out there" l explained that wanted them
brushed.
"Oh, my, but Pm afraid you'd wait
awhile; my help wouldn't brush ps.r of
boots, not for the President himself. If
you'll take my advice you'll put these
black leather boots away, and wear a
dress kid pair of half shoes with patent
leather tips"
1 soon fell asleep on the comfortable
plano, and dreamt that l was surrounded
all over the bedclothes by little dishes of
Boston beans, succotash and cream toast
and that / must not move, or the piano
would play Home, Sweet Home" When
up the blinds and have look out. The
street was not long one, and quite
straight. There lice cream and
drug store right opposite, and in large
black letters on a white ground over the
entire length of the building ran BLACK
eyes mended here" At the corner sat a
colored gentleman, and his sign read thus:
Professor Monday shine, cents; varnish
10 cents" He wore tall pearl derby hat
and a frock coat apd was reading Town
Top.cs, so he must have been man Of
/ said that after lunch I would like to go
out shopping; my companion at table d'hote
offered to come with me and show me
around AS she had some commissions to
do for "mumma" and as she could not
come out till "ha'f psf g. she lent me the
local paper to study, as she so said there were
When my friend had finished all her COM
missions for ''mumma," and had done my
ment." and there, perched up on high stools
we. along with hundreds of others, drank
lice cream soda through straw. She de-
cared that she had just the right change
should not pay for my first American drink.
/ was most amused when we took the "ele-
to buy ''rubbers." to see the American men
take off their hats in the elevator when
ladies were present; it seemed almost alb
surd. as they retained them In the stores
and Surface cars" The goods are dis
played much more attractively in America
than with US; their enormous plate-glass
windows which dwarf our largest show off
the rich brocades and illuminated silks to
advantage
Inside the stores the goods are displayed
on long, low tables with the prices dis
tinctly marked; you can meet your friends
and look around" without being molested
as to what you want by the "aisle man
ager' (shop walker). IT is an excellent
plan. for II you are left alone you pass
the motion counter you sure TO pur-
chase some trifle. The American bric-a-b rac
is irresistible.
There is another capital institution in a
large dry goods store uptown" Mothers
taking their babies there can have them
checked entering along with their UNI
brelas and rubbers. and leave them in good
hands in large room arranged for the pur-
pose. When the mothers have finished on
showing the number of the check the baby
is produced. This pays well. as mothers
are aften driven out of a store by crying
baby.