New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-21
OUR COUNTRYMEN.
THEIR TRAITS AS A CANDID CRITIC SEES
THEM.

AMEsIc AY S6J THE 6r 1IEW cSav sNp pS
csS. Charles Scribners sohl
This ANONYMOUS volume is presented to the
nublc as containing the jottings of French
mans private journal. 1t might also nave peeh
written by any clever American man vi
woman; and. indeed, without questchhg 'he
authors good faith. there may be permi'teu
some doubt as to the exact limits OF inc en-
perence upon which he has drawn LOT HIS
notes Either the substance of this DOCK mas
been gathered from a much longer ana "iuei
acquaintance with America than the authoi
inplies or he must be a miracuiousiv Hihu'e
observer with a memory as unusual. III - ho'
that we find him Heaven-sent critic or our
likes but that lie carries his famllarly WIN
our social life much further than would De
humanity possible for the average hurried traVei-
Ter from abroad Granting that this fortunate
Diplomat came to America twice, with eXceHeh'
introductions both occasions, 1t nevertheless
seems very odd that in the rather accidental
purely social way that he describes ne shouiu
have been able to "do" the country so sys-
tematically. to gather his "hasty no'es WIZ"
So much discretion that he could turn his pri-
vate journal into more or less consecutive
and balanced indictment of Americans ana
somewhere, and we say this without reference
IN any of the specific criticisms passed upon
our countrymen in this book. 1t is merely
susnicious that a book of fragments should
wear so methodical so we'll pondered so scien-
tifcally captious air.
There are several arguments, however. III Ia
yor OF the hypothesis that the author OF
America and the Americans" is really what
he SAWS he is No one but Frenchman Wouiu
have grouped Poe with Longfe!ow. Lowell
Holmes and the rest as native New-hhs-
lander nor would any one without the Dalhc
capacity for unlimited credulity swallow the
legend which is here reproduced concerning 'he
young girls in their teens who "conouct 'hen
fippant and passing firtations unreproVed ana
uninterrupted by parents Perhaps they oo'
but If ouf author believes that "weI-knoWh
Boston lady" could say to friend III WHOSE
house her sxteen-year-old daughter happeneo
TO he staying that II want Sallie TO nave 'he
small reception room to herself this afternoon
Mr. " is coming to see her. and want 'he'n
TO be alone" he can believe anything lhd'
sort of thing does not happen among ci'li%eu
Americans. But our vivacious critic seeHS W
have obtained a somewhat restricted view OF
our civilization or. rather TO nave iooheu ~ ~
with preoccupations which caused him to see
There is the question of servants lie can
never get over It, From the first to the last
of his chapters he has our servants on MS
mind They are not servants at all, from his
noint Of view which demands that they shooid
no far more capable and willing than they
really are On this point, he is undoubtedly
right: but when he talks about the apparent
absence of man servants from our houses. Ia
noents that the domestics Of his various hosts
knew nothing, as rule, about brushlng anu
folding clothes and finally describes with mann
fest disgust the houses in Chicago where ne
handed his card to servants who answered MS
ring Of the doorbell with sleeves rolled up ana
a general air OF being slatterns. we feel that Tic
has been unfortunate in his friends 1t Is I'M
doubtedly true that the valet, whether per-
fectly or ilnperfectly trained. Is far less ire
uuent phenomenon Of society below stairs Ill
America than IN Europe. but that the great
mass of weIl-to-do Americans are sacrihcing
their time their strength and legitimate amoi-
tions 10 a passion for brushing their own CLONES
and polishing their own boots Is one OF those
foreign ideas which excite a compassionate
smile
We do not mean to distort the broad meaning
of our author. There is truth in what ne says
about nefficiency among paid servants. whether
nurlic or Drivate and about the manner in which
this moor service reacts upon our nerves. But
he is far too much impressed by the detail 1t Is,
after all but a detail in National life, ana
we never heard that the worst sufferers from the
tyranny Of the domestic servant had any con-
seriousness of being manned in their plans py 'he
duties shifted to their shoulders from those or
their help" The writer keeps remembering MS
useful old Francois at home in France, between
whom and himself there would appear to be
certain affection Because the American does
not treat his servant in the same way we are told
that our social contrasts are very nearly shoeK-
inc. This is rubbish. Why, you know. sir" an
English groom In America is quoted as saying.
"a dollar honly buys what shillin' does at 'ome
sir and the masters take no interest IN hour
amusements as they does at 'ome." Ergo, pro-
cceds the sapjent critic, for the lower classes
this country seems in some sort to be desert
socially where they are thirsty for just the cold
water of their happier, though perhaps less ap-
narently prosperous, life at home. The writer
of that important observation overlooks the TACT
that in spite of our alien population II is iudi-
crous to talk Of our lower classes as thoush
they were composed exclusively or Eh9ish
grooms The class distinctions about which we
hear so much and on which the writer under re-
view has many solemn things 10 say, with much
portentous wagging Of the head may be taken
at their worst and still they DO not equai 'he
class distinctions abroad which are here assumed
TO be the merest trihes. In Germany. 1t seems,
the various classes are educated altogether; In
France the same condition Of things springs
from the accessibility of good educational insti-
tutions and in both countries they serve side
bv side in the army" Now, are to under
stand from this that the Prussian lieutenant and
the private who serves in his regiment are more
closely knit in bond OF human fellowship than
the American millionaire and his servant or
clerk? IL we are to understand this, we are TO
stultify ourselves as intelligent beings The fact
il that what our cocksure critic forgets. If he
even sees It, Is that the democracy in which he
finds us SO faultY. Is. In the long run. much