The record-union., 1899-11-19
scoTcHMAN ON AMERICANS

Ian Maclaren may VI ludy iAOS "
poking fun at Americans in his recent
paper on 1.-THE Restless Energy OF the
American People" We must think that
he is both sincere and satirical for IN
stance, in this passage:
No man goes slow if he has the
chance of going fast, 10 man stops to
talk if he can talk walking, no man
walks if he can ride in trolley car,
no one goes in a trolley car If he can
get convenient steam car, and by
and by no will go in a steam car II he
can be shot through pneumatic tube.
No one writes with his own hand if he
can dictate to a StenOgrapher, no one
dictates if he can telegraph, no one tel
egraphs if he can telephone, and by
and by when the spirit of American in
vention has brought wireless teleg-
raphy into thorough condition, man
will simply sit with his mouth at one
hole and his ear at another, and do
business with the ends of the earth in
few seconds, which the same machine
will copy and preserve in letter books
and ledgers. 1t is the Americans re-
gret that at present he can do nothing
with his feet while he is listening at
the telephone, but, doubtless, some en-
ployment will be found for them in the
coming age.
There is just enough of suggested
truth in his humor to serve us as a use
full lesson. Are we not living upon
1.-The jump" exhausting our nerve vi
tality and squandering our physical
energy for the sake-shall we say-of
gain? Not entirely, for rush, haste,
push and scramble aff1icts those who
do not need the other dollar, and those
also who do, but whose nerve waste
will not secure it for them sooner than
If they were more deliberate. That is
to say, the parceling out and saving of
seconds at the expense of our nerve
centers, will be bad for us if it becomes
a trait of character, which we do not
think it is as yet, though the ten
dency is all in that direction
Ian Maclaren comedies that our
restless energy is in degree excellent
for us, and might we'll be copied in de-
gree by the English, Scotch and Irish
He laughs at, yet cannot conceal ad-
miration for the tonic of our nerve
vigor-that is he would very much like
to impart something of our excess to
Englishmen generally. He comedies
that the stir Of the New World affects
the European visitor and quickens his
pulses, and that it would do him good
If he could retain something of the
spirit American activity gives.
New York and Chicago he thinks the
noisiest, ''activest" places in the world.
The English merchant saunters down
to his office between 9 and 10; the
New York man rises at 6:3O and is at
work by half-past eight The English
man takes an hour off for luncheon:
the American takes fifteen minutes. The
Englishman spends more than another
hour at afternoon tea and gossip with
friends and in sauntering between club
and office, while the American packs
every minute with work.
The very walk of the English merch-
ant, slow, dignified, self-satisfied. and
that of the American, rapid. eager.
anxious-the one looking as if time
We're Of no Importance, and the other
as If the loss of a minute might mean
ruln-"are visible induces of the char
acter of the nations"
There is enough of truth in all that
10 warrant it's saying, perhaps. but
there is eyapperatior o1co W. - -
DIS oenoerate as we should be for our
own good, but we are not as rushing
ana -scrimping as either Max
oRell or DR.. Watson charge. Each
one paints his picture in too much of
over color. something Of that is per-
mlssible for emphasis and for artistic
hnlsh, but in this case it is not iustifi-
able
For instance, we do not believe that
the luncheon hour is shortened as rep
resented by nearly SO great a number
as may be supposed. We do know that
the American business men and work
ing men find time for amusements, en-
terta1nments, home delights, vacations
and half holidays.
1t is very true that we put elevators
into our business buildings long before
Engllshmen thought of them. and that
some of the better and greater Eng
hsh city structures are still IAN Alpine
ascent for those who wish to reach
upper floors. But if We adopted ele-
Vators to save time we did it more TO
save muscle and prevent nerve waste
Maclaren tells of an American friend
VINO SAID to him in a lofty American
building: Don't go in there That is
an accommodation elevator; stops. YOU
know. at every station. This one is the
express for the top floor" would it
nave made much difference" asked the
scotch clergyman. Very nearly a min
ute,' was, the reply. But such an in
cldent is not proof Of the claim made
While it is exceptional, yet in truth
1t proves that the American is nerve
economizing. Having no way station
business he saves the wear and tear
of waiting by taking the through ele-
elevator; for just such the latter is
provided
A very handsome compliment is paid
to American railways, for speed, fine
cars and superior accommodations and
1t Is added that "if a slow-witted and
slow-moving Englishman desires lib