Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-02-07
coNAN DoYLE on AMERIcA.

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CONAN DOYLE ON AMERICA.
Tho English Novelist Tells His Countrymen
Some Cold, Hard Facts.
Tho present cbullition ia only one of
those lecurrorb crises W hich have marked
the whole history of the two nations. Tho
feeling is always smoldeTing, and the least
breath Of discussion sets It in blaze.
believe, ard have long believed, that the
greatest danger which can threaten our
empire is the existence Of this spirit Of
hostility in a ration which is already great
and powerful, but which is destined to be
far more so in the future. Our statesmen
have stood too long with their faces to-
ward the east, Todiscern our best hopes
as we'll as our gravest dangers they must
turn the other way,
As to the cause of this feeling, it is not
so unreasonable as Englishmen usually
contend 1t is tho fashion among us to
apportion tho blame between the Irish
American and the politician who is IN
search of his vote But pa SUCH superficial
explanation as this can cover the fact that
the governors Of 80 American states should
unhesitatingly indorsc presidential mes
sage which obviously leads straight to war.
A dislike so widely spread ana so fierce in
its expression cannot he explained by the
imported animosity Of the Celtic ITishman.
Few Englishmen could be found now TO
contend that we were justified in those
views of taxation which brought on the
first American war or in the question of
searching neutral vessels, which was the
main cause of the second. This war of
1912 would possibly only occupy two pages
out of 500 IN an English history, but it
buks very large in an American ono, and
has left many bitter memories bahind it,
Then there was the surly attitude which
England adopted toward the States after
they had won their independence, the re-
peated frietions during the Napoleonic
epoch, and the attack upon an American
frigato by a British 30 gun ship in time Of
peace. After the wan there was the Flor
ida dispute in the time of Andrew Jack
son, the question Of the Oregon line, the
settlement of the Maine and Now Bruins
wick line, and finally the hostile attitude of
most of our press at the time of the civil
war. Since thon We have had two burn
ing questions-that OF the Alabama claims
and that of tho Dering sea flsheries-cul
minating in this Of Venezuela. The his
tory Of this country, then, as it presents
itself to an American, is simply a long
succession of quarels with ourselves, and
how can it be wondered at if he has now
reached that chronic state of sensitivepess
and suspicion which wa have not outgrown
ourselves in tho case Of the FrenohY
If we are to blame as community for
some at least Of these unfortunate histor-
ical incidents, we are even more to blame |
as individuals for the widespread bitter |
ness which is felt against us We have
never had "A warm, ungrudging word of
heartfelt praise for the great things which /
our kinsmon have done, for their unweary /
ing industry, their virtues in peace, their |
doggadness in war, their unparalleled |
clemency WHEN tho war was over, We /
have always fastened upon the small, rude |
details and overlooked the great facts be- /
hind. In our shocked contemplation of |
an oxpectoratlon upon tho floor we have
lost sight Of universal suffrage and equal 1
education. Our travellers, from Mrs. /
Trollope and Dickens onward, have been
surprised that the versatile, hard working
men, who often combined ten trades in
one to adapt themselves to tho varying I
needs Of a raw, growing community, had
not the manners Of Oxford or the repose
of Sussex. They could MT understand
that this rough vitality and overbearing
energy which carried them through their
task implied those Complementary defects
which must go with unusual virtues OF
all English travelOrs to the States there
Asas hardly onc who did not make mischief
with his "reminiscences until, in our own
days, MI Bryce did something to reotify
the balance. And our want of charity
and true insight are the more inexcusable
since no ono has written moro chRrmingly
Of England than Washington Irving, EN-
erson and Holmes. Our journals and
public men are in the habit now, as rule,
of abiding TO America and Americans in
the most friendly way, and that must in
time have its effect, If recent unhappy
events do not change it. We should IN
my opinion lose no opportunity Of doing
those little graceful acts of Kindness which
arc the practical sign of brotherly senti
ment. Above all, should like to see an
society started in Lon
don, with branches all over the empire,
for the purpose of promoting good feeling,
over friction, laying literature
before the public which will show them
how strong are the arguments in favor of
an Anglo-American alliance and supplying
the English press with the American side
Of the question, and Woo versa. oucN an
would, AM sure be easily
founded and would do useful work toward
that greatest Of all ends, tho consolidation
Of the English speaking races.-A. Conan
Doyle in London Times.
During the four years of the civil war
there were 107 pitched battles. 102 COM
bats involving the presence Of number
IF regiments on each side and 362 Skin
mishes,- sieges and other actions.
Noah's business.
While teaching a class Of girls in a
school recently, the master asked the
question:
"What was Noah supposed to be do
ing when the animals were going into
she aik?7
He received several answers At last
4 little girl put tip her hand.
Well he said, "what do you say?"
"Taking the tickets, sir. Buffalo
Times.