Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-09
THEY LACK ENERGY
Business Men in London Object to
Any Innovations,
MARVEL At AMERICAN ENTERPRISE
The Commercial Conquest of Great
Britain by Yankee Methods
IN MANY LINES OF TRADE
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LONDON, October 1, 1897.
One reason why an American in London
can never quite feel himself an exile is
that wherever he may look up toward the
roof tops he will see almost as many flags
CT the United States as there are union
jacks Tapping between his eyes and the
he rizon. On many buildings throughout
the wholesale and retail business sections
of the city the stars and stripes are daily
displayed, the appearance of some of the
flags inspired by the hope that they will.
attract the trade of American tourists,
others loyalty flung out by the London
branches of American business houses,
these of both classes a flattering tribute to
the pIowess of the country. A stranger
might think that the United States had
already accomplished that conquest of
England which most Britishers believe is
our secret and long-cherished ambition
The fact is that a second conquest Of Bri-
tain is in progress, but a commercial con-
quest, and London business men are
awakening to the fact that their territory
is being invaded and their profits looted by
the keencst competitors they have ever en-
countered.
Within the past five years certain lines
OF Americanmade goods, American bicy-
Giles. American typewriters, stoves, sewing
machlnes. electric apparatus, and other
varieties OF machinery have made great
strides in the British markets. Their es-
adjustments are to be seen on all the i'm
portant streets. with the familiar exhibits
IN the windows, always more attractively
ols played than the wares of English COM
petitors in the same lines, and placards ex-
horting the traveller to ride the American
wheel or describing the advantages of the
american shoes in some catchy sentence
he for tho
IN every bus or underground station.
American Enterprise.
A great howl of protest went up from the
London newspapers this month when they
discovered that the contracts for con-
structing and equipping the new under
ground electric belt line, which is to lure
all commuters away from the sooty, chok-
Ing, coal-fed engine tunnels had been
given to Yankee firms. The tunnels them
selves are being bored by American en-
sLeers ana contractors and all the rolling
stcck ana rails are to be imported from
the United States. Reporters were sent to
ask the directors of the road why in the.
name of patriotism they had not expended
their money, which will total several mil
mons, In the home market. The reply was
that the contracts had been advertised to
ne AWARDED to the lowest bidders, and
Americans in every instance had under
DID the English manufacturers
These business defeats worry English
statesmen acutely, and the newspapers
consume many columns in trying to ex-
pam the reason of them. An explanation
is easy for an American who deems his
eyes open. and it is because the secret NJ
the commercial success of the newer world
lies SO plainly in sight that the English
man biindly stumbes over it while he is
trying to find some occult complications NJ
political economy to explain it. An Ameri
can sightseer VINO is taking things easily
ard starts out from his hotel at $50 o'cInck
~ the morning notices with surprise that
the shopkeeperS are Just sWeepinp ont +beir
places and taking down their shutters 10
remembers that storekeepers at home have
already been at work two hours IF he
Happens 10 get an early start and wants to
buy hat or have his hair cut. he finds
mat he is unable to do So The whole
secret of the superiority of American busi-
ness men is in first principles. not in any
,aaehlnery OF political economy-they work
harder and more intelligently Hours of
work here are shorter nor do the mon ~
tend SO strictly to business during those
hours. o"e
Heer and Baccy.
English workingmen get much smaller
wages than their American brethren, but if
the!r wages are reckoned by the day IT
strikes an outsider that they are paid all
they earn A posse of London day laborers
WORKING the word is applied by courtesy
to their movements, in a ditch or IN q
building, is sight to bring tears to tho
eyes of New York contractor. More than
hall the men appear to be engaged at aDy
EVEN tirne In filing their pipes Most Of
the remainder are devoting Themselves ~
beer Beer seems to be the chief element
OF London workingMan's existence If
they are not drinking beer IT is benarsa
Icy nave just sent for more beer or are
discussing ways and means of beer Re-
Is aitogether the NEST striking characteris-
tic OF the lower strata of English life Tbo
, pus driver when he tells you that some
t th,ns happened to some king on the par
ticular street on which you are navipafin,
the log, breathes beer, the respectable Ioor
ing matron who sells you a morning naner
at the corner stall exhales beer, even the
reeks beer from his pores and shur1es or
with your penny to the nearest .nuh ,,
IN the intervals between beer and tobacco
ohe EnShshman devotes himself to tea
Iea Is stated feast occurring at < o'cIock
Just as the Mohammedan wherever ba 80.
o" 1aIls on his knees at noon for nraver
the Englander in the palace the drawinn
room the golf links. the cricket field. the
hve drops whatever he NAV he doing -
or1nk tea. Work and play are practjcaIiv
paraiyzeo throughout the British emnire
lor thirty minutes daily beginning at S pm
Bound by Tradition.
LII adoition to his slowness the English
man Is hideDound in business by tradt-
tions. There is an old servant in the Saw
age Club, who lights fire in the SNORING
room every morning. He was told to start
one when he came to the club half a oan-
fury ago, and as no one has ever told him
Lot to build one, he has made 1t a mart of
his daily routine since that first morning.
he is not paid to think. These traditions
are cnarmingly picturesque. but they earn
no dividends. Every evening at sunset
company of forty soldiers from one of
the government barracks marches into the
Bank of England, where it's men do guard
duty until sunrise. when they are marched
out again. The lieutenant in command is
provided with luxurious sleeping room
In the bank and on his departure every
morning is handed one gold sovereign as
gratuity for his services. "The old lady
OF Threadneedle street. is equipped, of
course. with modern fire proof and burglar
proof safes and might be accoutered with
burglar alarms and all the appliances for
protection made possible by electricity
but. The but Is that two or three CEN
turtles ago. more or less, redcoats were
necessary to guard the boards of money
In the bank and SO to the end of time q
company of soldiers will be dragged forth