The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-29
A GERMAN ON AMERICA.
HE THOUGHT US UNFRTENDLY AT
FIRST, BUT LIKES Us NOW.
He Likes Our Physical Exercise and
CIeanIiness-Reva of an Inventor
and why 1t Comes He Gives" warm
ing to Germany. .

and why 1t Comes He Gives Warm
ing to Germany.
Since it is always profitable ito
see ourselves as others see u.s. 1t is IN
teresting to read q condensation OF a
review, translated from prominent
German paper, Of certain published OBJ
servations and deductions by a promi-
nent German, Mr. A. Van Gulpen,
founded upon his experiences and traV-
els in the United States Mr.. Van Gull
| pen was one of the most prominent
delegates from Germany TO the Inter
national Commercial Congress, held IN
i Philadelphia last fall under the aus
pieces of the Philadelphia Commercial
| Museum Some Of the deductions made
are deserving of close attention, as ne
travelled from Philadelphia to Califor-
mia and from the North to the South
The review quoting the author says;
THAT which really astonishes the
European in North America Is the
method of working and the energy eX-
pended upon it. Upon this Is founded
the rapid growth Of all Industries ana
of agriculture, and in connection with
them the extension of the cities and the
increase in population. For centuries
the most energetic and able people of
all nations emigrated to the land OF
freedom, while the less energetic re-
NAMED at home and doubtless the
mngling of that element In the differ
| rrxr Ill inf
on the population. Even many of those
who left the older countries for moral,
pecuniary or political reasons assisted
in lettering the race in America, where
room existed for many millions, and
where the surplus Of energy which in
Europe was detriment became an adj
vantage.
I'm America much more stress is laid
upon physical exercises than in Ger
many. In Germany no one has con-
ception of the passion and enthusiasm
with which all forms of sport are car
ried on in America. The writer first
learned this fact when by chance he at
tended a football match between the
students of Berkeley and Stamford.
Thousands of people decorated with the
colors of the contending parties occu-
pied the enormous stands built espec-
tally for the purpose, and displayed an
interest and an enthusiasm, which to
foreigners appeared incomprehensible
With yells and cheers the players were
received and encouraged. In the arena,
however, 1t was no play. 1t was COM
bat for the honor of victory, where even
the endangering of life was not
Stunned, and. indeed, surgeons aid
was often needed In earliest youth
one begins in America to strengthen the
body in a way which, if introduced in
Germany, would, for both mind and
body, be an excellent preliminary
schooling for military service.
"Alongside of the different sports in
struction is cared for in the most gen
erous manner through elementary
schools, high schools and free public
libraries with beautiful reading rooms.
The writer saw at Columbia College in
New York, near the instruction and
study halls well-equipped gymnasium
and a splendid, clear, inviting SWIM
ming pool All in all, the American
pays more attention to the cleanliness
Of the body than does the German. The
numerous free baths and washing
basins in the hotels give rise to the in
ference that similar arrangements and
corresponding uses of them exist in pri-
vate houses, In the railroad trains nu-
merous towels with soap are always at
hand German railway management
could learn much in America. Even In
German express trains there is not that
to be had for money and kind words
In the way of cleanliness, which in
America Is everywhere customary and
gratis.
Besides this custom which rebounds
to the common good is the fact that
the great extent of the United States
gives room for productive growth. Many
talents are crippled in Germany like
plants in pots, too small, because there
isn't room for the development of all.
Everywhere in the United States one
finds the same scale of work and the
same manner of living. Wherever one
goes, let it be New York San Francis
co, Chicago, or ST. Louis, one eats,
drinks and lives exactly the same way.
Should someone invent something prac-
teal in a short time he Is a rich man,
for his invention finds acceptance at
once through the entire country, which
is seventeen times as large as Germany.
In Germany, on the contrary, every
thing that suits North Germany does
not suit South Germany, and many In
ventors before they achieve success be-
come old and poor.
THE location on the oceans the great
waterways in the interior of the coun-
try, the cheap freight rates and the
extraordinarily developed net of street
railways aid the striving to rise and
assist the healthy development of the
cities in the highest degree In some
American cities one can ride for sew
enty-five miles for the small sum of
five cents The many centuries expe-
rience of Europe, and enormous cheap
stretches of land are at the disposal of
the Americans in laying out their parks
and cities. All these advantages give
the cities from the beginning a capa-
blity for quick extension and a suit
ability for all kinds of industries hith-
erto undreamed of. Social intercourse
with individuals and of the different
strata of the people with one another is
different and more natural than in the
old States of Europe, where caste rules
more or less.
formerly the writer thought the
rather unfriendly, but he no
longer thinks so. Their manners and !