The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13
FRENCHVIEW AMERICA
N. Maseart Describes Some Of His
Impressions.
A Nation Whose Influence VIII Bo
Felt More and More In the Old
Neutrality-suspicious. Result. Aehfev-
ed in a Few Centuries-Some Mat
tiers That Are Open to Criticism.

NJ Mascart. President of the French As
| ISOLATION for the Advancement Of Science
thus describes some of his Impressions Of
this country. scientific and otherwise:
''Ycsi americans" said the distinguished
Frenchman, who has been the guest OF che
OF the chief savants In this city, have
come to be fashionable topic in Europe.
You have been much talked Of in news
papers and publications OF all kinds, in n
rather unkind vein at first. we must con-
fess. but public opinion has since lndes-
gone perceptible change.
Il have conversed with great number
of my countrymen who have visited the
United States, and they all agree with me
in the conviction that Americans In the
North constitute great people. and ma
ton whose influence will be more and
more felt on the ancient continent
Upon first landing in this country,
must confess was not very favorably i'm
pressed. possibly from the effects Of preju-
dice. I saw restless people who rush
through the streets as through the halls
OF bank. with no other care than BUSH
ness; who do away with Idle talk and
forms Of politeness to save time. and
whose only concern seems to be about
the number of dollars that the day will
bring in. In this land of freedom a high
price appears to be set on everything,
public Offices. access to the bench, and the
stewardship OF city funds. The young go
into training in tender years at small
trades which enable them to make money
The girls, who generally have better in
struction. direct their own course in the
world. receive friends of either sex, and
being without the attraction Of dowry,
depend upon their personal gifts and
charms to find husbands who have already
been successful in business. and whom they
are to win for themselves.
Outside OF cities. and not emote from
the Eastern coast where civilization has
logger existed. forests have been burned,
either for the purpose of teaching the
ashes or simply for making a clearing at
small expense. thus absolutely spurning
the wealth wasted in that manner. In
meadows or cultivated fields I AVE no
ticee, from my car wiRa2w, charred trunks
or huge stumps standing as witnesses OF
Wanton destruction, which have been LEFT
On the spot because they would not Yield
enough to pay for more complete removal
The multitude Of emigrants. who are
prone 10 blend their various origins and
to constitute peculiar race comes in
like an army Of invaders gifted with I'M
wonted pluck. and bent on making the
most Of the country without many scru-
pies or much regard for the future
I need not say that such a picture, In
spite Of its foundation in fact is no more
accurate than a cartoon Is like a por-
trait. but Paris en- Amerique' is also a
legend that must be taken with consider
able allowance.
And yet l think that q longer inter-
course with the Americans. a more thor
ough insight into their private lives and
public institutions, partial departure
from the European standpoint and our
historical traditions. viii very soon Gre
ate in US foreigners genuine sense OF
admiration for the prodgious results you
have achieved in a few centuries The
country has received its true character
istics from its people of Anglo-Saxon de-
scent; they have ir1bued it with a spirit
OF adventure, OF profitable enterprise, of
and liberty. Those who
come here with any ambition for success
must perforce conform by degrees to the
same ideas"