The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-11
AS oRIENTALS SEE US
A HINDOo's ANSWER TO CHOW DO
YOU LIKE OUR COUNTRY."
Vastness of the Land and It's OppOrtu-
nities-The Amazing Rush and Hur-
ny of Life in Our Cities.


Parliament of Religions in SO as representa-
tive of the Brahmo Somaj-the liberal reli-
gious movement in India. He spoke and
lectured extensively in the West on that oc-
casion and is on a second visit to this coun-
try. An OrientaIs impressions of our coun-
try cannot fail to be Of interest to our peo-
pie.
Asking questions is much valued and
much cherished privilege of the American.
He delights in nothing so much as in asking
questions of every foreigner who may
chance to cross his path. This passion of
an American for asking questions has often
made me think that America is a living Fin
terrogation point" All over the extensive
United States, go wherever you may, speak
in private or in public, with whomsoever you
may, men and women, boys and girls. are
sure to confront you with their usual urgent
appeal-"And now may we ask you some
questions?" The appeal is made in the in
terrogative mood, but it must always be in
terpreted in the imperative mood.
From the most distinguished politician
down to the very negro porter in America,
from the most cultured lady in the land to
the commonest waitress in a clearinghouse,
men and women Of every rank and no rank
have asked me so many times that one ques-
ton: What DO you think of our country
Thus on railway trains and on street cars
in places of amusement and worship, with
in doors and out of doors, on every occasion
and on all occasions, you invariably stumble
upon this one universal topic of inquiry.
And, sir, what do you think of our coun-
try?" In America this, indeed, is the ques-
ton Of questions.
That the American feels pride in America
is evident; but il is not the same kind or
pride that an Englishman feels in his little
4Cln nd ),,st CI,a fool T1.
that an Englishman cherishes regarding his
own country is kind of deep-Seated con-
viction that IN the whole world there Is Isl. no
country like his own "Old England" With
him this Is a foregone conclusion, and he IS
ready to force it upon every one by his
habitual taciturnity. On the other hand
the sense of pride that an American feels
for his own land is of the same species as
is experienced by frank-hearted generous
new and captivating toy, the pleasures OF
which the child is only too glad to share
with Others Whenever he happens to see
a foreigner on English soil the EngllSnman
seems to grunt and say-this beautiful little
sIOt is my own, and you have no business
to come here The American on the other
hand, in a similar position, though no less
conscious of the excellence of his own coun-
try appears to be highly gratified TO see a
foreigner, and with the most heartfelt graf
ifcation says to his foreign visitor: Here
we have a magnificent country. We shall
be delighted to have you stay with us" An
Englishman's pride in his native country
has in it a strong shade of selfish jealousy,
while that of the American has that of
generous cordially.
REASON TO BE PROUD.
I believe that the American has every
reason to be proud of the vast and varied
country which has come to be his own. In
our manuals Of geography we read that the
area of the United States, exclusive Of
Alaska, is somewhere about three millions
of square miles, But from this mere knowl-
ado ~ baU
quate idea of even the mere magnitude Of
the United States. Ada to this the far more
than fabulous mineral and agricultural re-
sources, developed and undeveloped, long
and lofty mountain chains, like that of the
Rocky mountains, broad and expansive
riVer-f1oWs, such as that of the Missouri and
the Mississippi-and one cannot but feel that
it requires something more than mere
stretch of the imagination to have realiz-
ing sense of the extent and magnitude OF the
wealth and territory of the United States.
Any one who has passed from the Atlantic
to the Pacific coast-from Boston or New
York to San Francisco or Los AngeeS-and
kept his eyes and ears open during all these
long sojournings, cannot but be impressed
most profoundly with the immensely of the
entire territory of the United States. AS the
traveller is hurried in of the rushing
American trains through miles and miles OF
cornfieds stretching on every side as far as
human eye can discern; as he visits town
after town and city after city and observes
the imposing character of their public and
private buildings, their thoroughfares and
public schools, the innumerable appliances
of civilized life, he cannot but realize the
States and its national resources. And when
he does so he must cease to wonder why the
American asks him so unceaselessly: What
do you think of our country"
The most striking feature Of American life
is its, ceaseIess hurry and rush. When |
landed at New York what a buStling babel
of endless noise and turmoil l found opening
itself before me! The tram cars, private
cabs and carriages, the heavy wagons and
.xvr1aS all at
the foot passengers on both sides moving
fast, as if chasing each other for their very
life: street crierS roaring out VociferouSly
their discordant cries; the very walls echo
ing and re-echoing ali this multfanous noise
and intensifying it at least hundred times
was spectacle that can never pass out of
my mind BY my long stay in the United
States l have been habituated to it, but the
first time that | witnessed it it acted Like
for me to recover myself and realize that l
was in the midst of the new world. The
fact is that the quet-loving Hindu is puz-
zled and perplexed at the intense activity
of American life.
THE WESTERN TURMOIL
In my own country, our modern cities of
Bombay and Calcutta, being recently infiu-
enced by Western thought, have lost much
of their typical Oriental calm and quiet The
commercial activities of Bombay are enough
to disturb the placid equanimity of the ORR
entail mind; but / must admit that they are
nothing before the rush and hurry OF Amer
lean cities. 1 had heard and read much of
the busy London and active Liverpool of
England And So on my arrival in London,
l was amply satisfied and more than per-
picked by the business activities of that
modern Babylon of England. The crowded
parts of London are busy enough and noisy
enough, but they are not characterized by
such rush and hurry as one meets with in
American cities. The Londoners are busy
enough. but they don't scramble about like
the Americans; the street traffic in London
is noisy and crowded, but it is not half
rushing as that in New York, Chicago, Bos-
ton or San Francisco. The public convey
ances in England such as cabs, busses and
tram cars manage TO jog on pretty swiftly.
horse cars; but in America horse cars are
considered extremely slow and sluggish and
consequently no town of over eight or ten
thousand inhabitants is satisfied with any
thing less swift than cable cars or electric
cars. And there can be no comparison be-
tween horse power and electric power. Amer
lean street" cars (street cars being an
Xrnericanism for tram cars) travel at a mad
speed, and it is distressing to see how
American men, women and children rush
along in these. They do not wait until the
car has come to a standstill, but must
scramble on to IT while ii is in full motion.
But pray why so much haste? Why jump
off and on these cars while they are go
ing flll speed. Cabs and carriages speed
aWay rafting as If they are running a race
with each other The drivers seem to take
great delight in driving these at a break
neck. pace and within an inch or half an
inch of each other. At the same time men
and women seem TO feel a peculiar pleasure