New-York tribune., 1898-11-27

Handbook to the United States" Having
packed the prosaic fruits oc his wanderirgs into
the pages Of that volume, after the excellent
Impersunal fashion Of the true Baedckerian, he
now makes a volume Of his own out CT the 'ni-
prcssions received during three years and more
OF social intercourse with our countrymen. The
book is friendly, judicous and readable Our
British cousin had some happy times IN Amer
ica-that much is pltin-and he lays II all 20
the good qualities and amiability OF the people
he met. The title OF his book prepares us Tor
the declaration that this is the land " stark,
staring and stimulating Inconsistency, but out
Of the Inconsistency he sees that not only
stimulus but charm proceeda And ho is quick
to draw contrasts between English and Ameri-
can life. as well as between the various parts
and customs Of America. Naturally the Ameri-
con girl has taken him captive, and this is the
picture that he draws of her and Of her cousin
across tic sea as he places them side by side:
The American girl Is not hampered by the
feeling Of class distinction, which has for her
neither religious nor historical sanction. The
English girl is first the sIulres dauStter, sec
ond "a good rhurchWornan. third an Engllsh SUD-
1ect, and fourth a Homan Even the best or
them cannot rise holly superior to the a-per-
vading, and, IN It's essence, vulgarHing supersu-
tlon that some Of her tellOw-crcatures are net
1T 10 come between the wind and her nobility.
Thos, who reject the theory DO so by self
conscious effort, which in Itself IS crude and
strain The American gill is, however, born
into an atmosphere Of unconsciCUsEess OF all
this and unless she belongs TO very narrow
coteric does not reach this point Of view either
Us believer or antagonist This cndu'S her, at
her best with sWeot and subtle fragrance or
humanity that is perhaps, unique. Free from
any sense Of inherited or conventional su-
perority or inferiority, as devoid OF the bru.
tany Of cOndescension Of the meanncss or
toalyisTn she combines in strangely attractive
way the charm Of eternal womanliness With the
latest aroma Of a progressive century.
Decidedly Mr.. Murhead is a person OF ad-
ulraie perccptions We are glad he was happy.
But II is a trine dis ontertinG to find so saga
cious student " mankind completely at loss
in some of the commonest relations Of Afe. He
bewals the fact that j. The hotels he used II
took nmG times as long 10 order a bath b. elec-
trio bel as It TOOK 10 order cocktail BY me
same process and tha; he was provided with
only ex Uny towels. that thcle vas no carafe
of water in his room. that he had only Ice
water in which to dip his toothbrush, causes
him sadly TO shake his head. Is this not ama1-
ngi Three years Mr.. Nurhead spent in this
country, and apparently he never found out
that by asking the man at the desk he might, in
nine hotels out OF ten. have secured bathroom
next his bedroom in which he might have had
all the water he wanted. hot and oold and
abundant towels without sUmmoning any one
By electric bell. Decidedly, this time. Mr.. Muir
head is a person Of amentable dOcility, else he
would never have allowed himself to be imposed
upon. But we can easily forgive him when We
read his somewhat whimsical yet plausible pas
sage in defence # g much discreIited side Of our
country and life. lie says:
The people Of the United States, compared
with those Of any one European country, seem
to me to have their due share Of variety and
NJ mic
indeed denied to the United States not only by
European visitors. but also by many Americans.
This denial, however, rests on a limited and
traditional use Of the word picturesque. Amer
lea has not the European picturesqueness OF
costume, Of relics of the past OF the constant
presence OF the potential footnan at the gate.
But apart altogether from the almost theatrical
romance Of frontier life and the new obs0lescent
conflict with tho aborigines, is there not some
element Of the picturesque In the processes OF re-
adjustment by which the emgrants Of European
stock have adapted themselves and are adapt
ing themselves 10 the conditions Of the New
World? In some ways the nineteenth century
Is the most romantic Of all; and the United
States ernbody and express II as no other coun-
try. Is there not a picturesque side to the
triumph Of civilization over barbarism? Is
there nothing of The picturesque In the long, thin
lines OF cleaning steel, thrown across the count
less miles OF desert sand and alkali Plain and
IN the mighty mass of metal with its glare CT
cyclopcan eye and It's banner OF lrc-illumned
smoke, that bears tho conquerOrs of stubborn
nature from side TO side Of the great contnent7
Is there not element Of the picturesque in
the struggles Of the Western farmer? Can any
thing be finer in its way than night view CT
Pittsburg-that hell with It's lid off," where
the cold CLEAN Of electricity vies with the lurfe
glare of the furnaces and smelling works?
say nothing Of the Californian MISSIONS Of the
sallOW creOles Of Newt Orleans, with their gor-
geous procession of Mardi-Gras or OF the al
most equally fantastic fete Of the Yelled Prophet
of ST. Louis or Of the umberers of Michgan or
Of the Mexlcans of Arizona; or Of the German
beer gardens Of Chicago; or Of the swinging Ian