Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-05
SHE VISITED AMERICA
a LONDON GIRL LEARNS SOMETHING
or HISTORY AND OUR WAYS.

LONDON GIRL LEARNS oOMc lF1tN0
or HISTORY AND OUR WAYS.
The Boston Tss Party Was News to Her.
Slept ON . Piano and Had Queer Dreams.
The shops and the Signs interested Her,
rs Did the Baby Checking Annex.
When engaged my ssstateroom" in the
comfortable steamship Catalonia, for Bos-
ton, had never heard of the famous brew
of tea in Boston harbor in seventeen hum
dred and something, but I have often
thought since that it was perhaps pun
ishment for that shameful waste that
America has never succeeded in brewing
good tea. nor had heard of Crispus At
tueks, the martyred "colored gentleman, "
whose elegant statue stands in Boston
park, Nor indeed did know that in that
free country sscolored gentleman" is the
American for African Niger. In fact,
did not, as the Yankees say, ssknow enough
to come in when it rains"
On that memorable voyage l learned
three things: l. That you must not call
the southerner Yankee. 2. That you
must not call the Canadian an American
y. That inc SOOHer louAu OuV INV AAO0u
America the better.
1t was night when I got to my "hall
ROOM as the small room in boarding
house over the front door is called n
America. was dreadfully sleepy, and
supposed Mrs g. noticed this, for she said
kindly in her New England soprano::
"Why, my child, you look real tired
Won't you go right to bed?' Yes, indeed,
| would, but looked in vain for the bed.
The entire furniture of the hall room was
a beautiful birdseye maple piano-at least
what l thought was a piano-a pretty
writing bureau and a rocking chair.
stI.et 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 disap-
peared, likewise my writing table had re-
yolved into charming washstand, with a
clear flow of water from the deep tank be
hind, which formed the solid looking up
right of the bureau. The Irish ''help''
presently brought me in large jug of ''ice
water'' and some Crackers and asked
me if would like some lunch. thought
she was trihe previous, still l reflected
that in this rapid land they might have
adopted Alice in Wonderland's system OF
s'breakfasting at afternoon tea and dining
on the following day." but | afterward
learned that any meal served after 10 p
m. is termed lunch. When / was left
alone, l took off my walking boots and de
posted them at the back OF the door anC
proceeded 10 do my hair. Presently Mrs
G. came along and knocked at the door
'tExcuse me, but would you mind taking
ia your boots. 1 can't be responsible fol
them out there explained that Iwant
ed them brushed.
''Oh, my, but I'm afraid you'd wal
awhile My help wouldn't brush pair o
boots, not for the president himself. /
you'll take my advice, you'll put thes
black leather boots away and wear dres
kid pair of half shoes with patent leathe
tips"
/ soon fell asleep on the comfortable
piano and dreamed that l was surrounded
all over the bedclothes by little dishes o
: Boston beans. succotash and cream toast
and that l must not move or the pian
would play "Home, Sweet Home" Whel
/ awoke, the first thing l did was to pull
up the blinds and have a look out. Th
street was not a long one and quit
straight. There was an ''ice cream ant
drug store" right opposite, and in larg
black letters on white ground over tn
entire length of the building ran "Blacl
eyes mended here" At the corner sat
colored gentleman, and his sign read thus
professor Monday. Shine, Sc; varnish
10c." He wore tall pearl derry hat ant
"A frock coat and was reading Town Top
les, so he must have been a man of cul
ture. l said that after lunch would lik'
to go out shopping. My companion at ia
BILE d'hote offered to come with me ant
'1show me around" As she had some com
missions to do for "mumma, and as SHE
could not come out till "ha'f psf 8" sh'
lent me the local paper to study, as sh'
said there were wonderful 'mark downs
going on.
When my friend had finished all he
commissions for ''mumma," and l hat
done my shopping, we went to the drug
department, /" and there, perched on higf
stools, we, along with hundreds of others
drank ssice cream soda" through straw
She declared that she dust the right
change in her "pocketbook" and insisted
that should not pay for my first Amer
lean drink. was most amused when we
took the elevator" up to the boot and
shoe department to buy "rubbers' to SEE
the American men take off their hats IN
the elevator when ladies were present. II
seemed almost absurd, as they retain them
in the stores and s'surface cars" The
goods are displayed much more attractive
ly in America than with us. Their enor-
nous plate glass windows, which dwarf
our largest, show off the rich brocades
and illuminated silks" to advantage. In
large store in New York they had as an
advertisement at Christmas time the whole
history of Columbus in life size tablevix
IN the windows. Inside the stores the
goods" are displayed on long low tables,
with the prices distinctly marked. You
can meet your friends and look "arournd'
without being molested as to what Iyou
want by the "aisle mansger''-sho walk
er: It is an excellent plan, for if yo,j are
lett alone as you pass the motion cdhuu=
ter" You are sure to purchase some ii
The American bric-a- brac is irrcsist
There is another capital institution
large dry goods store up town." NJ
,I~s