Evening star., 1902-03-22

emperor? But there is often a sentiment
which the official classes do not think IL
wise to voice. even admit; an under
current of sentiment for or against; and
the undercurrent against England, and
more. sluggishly but still against, tn.
Erited States. John Bull perfectly under
stands this. and takes it phl0-ophically.
and for the most part. with good flumor.
Like the eels that got 50 used TO being
skinned that they rather enjoyed 1t. he can
become so used to being isolated and hated
by the rest of Europe, that be apparently
doesn't mind it at all.
Such spirit may easily be carried too
far but it would be well for Americans to
take a leaf out of John Bulls diary. We
are too thin-skinned, and easily provoked.
as a nation. Criticism hurts us too much.
Like all new nations we are too Sef-con-
scious, and do not show sufficient assur-
ance and confidence in our own position.
At least this has been so in the past, but
We are getting bravely over this flult oi
our childhood. Dickens and Mr.. Troilopf
could not now eXaSperate US as they ala
fifty years ago with their sneers. which too
often had the sting OF a partial truth in
them. Let us not go to the other extreme.
and become Indifferent to public opinion;
pa chyderma tous to the prodS or rival ma
tons, and unwilling to learn from our enc
mics as we'll as our friends. We could not
we'll become insular, perhaps. but we could
easily become continental in our assurance
and self-sufficiency, and SO deserve the dis
like of the world.
Good ADVICE.
A straw which shows which way the
wind blows toward those who speak the
English tongue, picked up when the EN-
cient young secretary Of the Christian En-
deavor Society for Germany said to me. In
all kindness. "Now when you are speaking
about the society in those countries of
central Europe, I would not say much
about it's prosperity in England or America.
but tell them how wonderfully it has pros
pered in Germany. When [ remembered
that it had only recently begun In Ger
many, and was still an infant there, though
a. healthy and promising one, while 1t num-
hers it's millions in America and England.
I smiled to myself-and inwardly resolved
to follow his advice.
One large reason for the GOODNESS which
an American feels on the part of Germany
toward this country. though rarely toward
himself undoubtedly lies in the fact of
trade rivalry and competition. american
goods are making their way into every
nook and corner OF Germany. as into all
the rest of the world. But Germany is cs-
sentialy manufacturing country, and in
introducing Yankee notions We are enter
ing into the keenest kind of competition in
their own chosen field.
Just Like Home.
To Illustrate: Within almost the same
block on a busy street in Berlin | saw large
shop windows devoted to the phonograph,
the kodak, the sewing machine. American
art photography. American diamonds
(paste alasD and the American bar (again
alasD. Such signs and the goods for which
they stand may account for good deal of
commercial antipathy.
I would not be understood as saying that
the feeling against the United States is
painfully unpleasant, even among the COM
mon people. 1t certainly is not so acute
as against England. In fact, the distin
gufshed ambassador Hon. Andrew d.
White, told me he thought the feeling to-
ward America very good. So it is in
official Germany. undoubtedly. as / have
said. at least the official German wants it
to be good. but at the same time, we must
remember that since We have entered the
arena of world powers the jeaiousies and
rivalries and heart burnings that go with
world power have also been inherited and
we must walk a narrower and more difficult
line of foreign policies than in the old days.
Everywhere, however. I have heard
President Roosevelt spoken of with respect
and esteem. His Dutch name and ances-
try, his manly. straightforward strength
Of character. his upr,ghtness and down.
rightness. have captured the admiration of