The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-14
LORENZ ON AMERICA.
President and Policeman Greeted
Him in Similar Manner.
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
During recent years few foreigners
who have visited this country have at
tracted more attention than Dr. Adolf
Lorenz, the distinguished Austrian
surgeon, who gave new life and vigor
to so many crippled American children,
and for this reason special interest at
taches to an address which he deliver
ed few weeks ago before the Medical
Academy of Vienna and in which he
gave a graphs account of his visit
to the United States.
The following extracts from the ad-
dress show that the Doctor is a keen
observer and also that he has fine
sense of humor:
Every one whom 1 met in America
asked me these two stereotyped ques-
tions:-Is this is your first visit to
this country? and What are your
impressions of American These ques-
tions, in reply to which I had equally
stereotyped answer always ready, are
still ringing in my ears. On my re-
turn journey, as soon as the pictures
que hills of Ireland came in sight and
the mail reached us from Queenstown,
letters and kilograms containing SINH
lar questions poured in on me.
Whoever goes to America will learn
the very first day after he lands that
it is necessary for him always to be
present in person whenever he desires
to have his shoes polished. 1 have
often asked Americans why, since time
is money, l must be present in person
whenever this Indispensable operation
is to be performed. L have pointed out
to them that a quarter of an hour is
generally wasted IN this way. They
admit that / am right, but they ex
plain that it is an old custom and that
the regular hotel attendants have more
important work to do than cleaning
shoes. If you want to have your shoes
polished in America you must either
go to a negro or polish them yourself
For this reason l. advise every one
who intends to cross the Atlantic and
who values his independence more than
his personal comfort to provide him
self with brushes and a supply of pol
ish before he starts on the journey.
THE visitors of the 'Mensa Acad-
emica' will also be interested in learn
ing that to have ones shoes polished
even once in America costs as much
as a dinner provided by the 'Mensa.'
One can easily see that under such
conditions the cost of the cleaning
shoes very soon exceeds the original
purchase price. Indeed, cleaning shoes
is an excellent business in America,
and those engaged in it make fine
profits.
Small families in America do not
think of keeping servants. If they did
their household expenses would be dou
bic what they are. Moreover, one can
get better and cheaper food in a res
taurant than at home, or one can live
altogether in a boarding house. True
Yankees seldom become domestic serV-
ants. Is not the negro, or the 'colored
gentleman as he is humorously styled,
specially designed for that purpose?
In the West Japanese and more fire.
quently the willing and industrious
Chinaman, act as servants. In Ameri-
ca, where honor, equal to that of the
medieval age is paid to women, the
servant girl considers herself. also a
lady, and insists that her master and
mistress shall treat her as one. If she
considers that she is not treated prop
erly or has any other cause for dis
pleasure, she leaves her employers
without a moments notice and her mis-
tress is obliged to do the best she can
until she succeeds in getting another
ServaSt.
"There is one title in America which
makes a powerful impression, though
it is never used in connection with the
names after the manner of ordinary
times. This title begins with an M,
which signifies millionaire. One occa-
sionally finds this word in newspapers,
and it is also used collectively. Thus
serveral costly palaces near Central
Park is New York city are known as
Millionnaires' row. The title 'profes-
sor," which is so difficult to obtain in
Europe, carries no weight in Ameri
ca; indeed, 1t is regarded rather as a
token of degradation than of honor.
The reason is because any one who
pleases may assume this title, and
many persons who fancy that they
are endowed with brilliant qualities do
assume it. On landing in America 1
discarded all my titles except the IN.
D." and supposed that this was suf-
ficent proof of my modesty. Very soon,
however, l discovered that my M. D."
was of no account in America, since 1t
was an imported title. In America on
ly the native article is considered of
any value. To my surprise and m
noyance ] was summoned before the
Board of Health soon after my arrival
in Chicago. My doctors degree, was
informed was a useless title so far as
the State of Illinois was concerned, and
l was not at liberty to practice medi-
cine in it. Now at last | was thorough
ly. Americanized, for 1 had not sim
gle title.
81 read in an evening paper Lorenz
is to be arrested, and soon afterward,
as l was returning to my hotel, /
saw very large and stout policeman
come suddenly toward me. was con-
WINGED that he intended to arrest me,
and was revealing in the unusual SEN
sation for never before had | been