The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-21
MONDAY, SEPT. Fl, 1903.
MISUNDERSTANDING THE WEST.

ga foreigner travelling in Japan who
chances to see a man tumble off a
house in Toxic comes back to his own
country and writes: Those Japanese
have some queer customs. For in
stance, when man wishes to descend
from the roof of his house he falls off
instead of using a ladder"
An Enghshman who had resided for
many years in Japan made the above
terse comment after he had read
number of books on Japan written by
foreigners, presumably after they had
spent a few weeks in that country. Ar
thur Chapman in the September Read
er has much the same complaint to
make against writer's who affect to
give vivid picture of the West. 1T is
by no means an uncommon thing for
writer's OF Western novels and short
stories to display dense ignorance of
the part of the country from which
they draw their local COLOR" says Mr..
Chapman. This is due to the fact that
they have not lived the life, for, despite
The assertion that the outsider gets the
best view of any community, no writer
can master the Vests peculiarities in
one season nor in many seasons"
But 1t is not in short stories and
novels, merely, that writer's of the West
create false impression They fire.
quently make the same mistake when
endeaVoring to give truthful picture
OF the life in Western towns, especially
In cities of the Middle West. MANY
people will recall the astounding as
sertion made by a writer who dweIls in
the East, but who, after a lengthy visit
to the Middle West, endeavored to
convey the impressions he received dur
Ing that visit. In regard to the social
life Of the cities he generalized sop,a-
what in this fashion: There are no
severe social lines drawn in the Middle
West. Hospitality is offered on large
scale. The newcomer is received with
open arms and every courtesy offered
him. This is only withdrawn when he
proves himself undeserving."
The article in question was publish
ed in favorably known magazine and
by its Eastern readers was doubtless
accepted as true picture. AS a matter
of fact it was nothing of the sort. 1t is
as unsafe to generalize about cities as
1t is to generalize about women. for no
fXpn oil off
Of the Middle West do not receive the
stranger with open arms unless he
comes very well recommended, indeed.
And even then he is on probation.
Many Western cities, indeed, are too
conservative in this respect and it is
only one or two that go to the other ex-
treme.
Mr.. Chapman criticises a short story
writer for the following statement:
HE rode his bronco UP at full noon.
before Deadville Square bank, threw
the lines over the poiy~s neck, stalkcd
In and held two Derringers at the CASH
ier's and paying teller's noses" Ac-
cording to Mr. Chapman Western bad
man would not throw his reins over the
pony's neck, for bronco would not
stand in that position. But these are
strenuous literary times and the man
or woman who desires to earn a decent
livelihood by means of the pen cannot,
perhaps, take the time to verify state
ments. There is no reason. however,
why such writer's should not use IA
miliar surroundings for the scenes of
their stories, nor does there seem to be
any good reason why they should write
up the customs of The people concern