The sun., 1903-01-11
QUEER THINGS A BRITON SAW.
Instruction fSr tho Cntraveiied Dug CT
Of the Old Hall or necerds.

Among a lot OF old newspapers dsoov'
cred In the cellar OF tho old Hall OF Records
Building. which Is being torn down tc
make room for the subway, ono OF the
tuniHl laborers the other day found q book
printed in London In 1884 and entitled
Manners. Customs and Costumes OF All
Nations of tho World
One j. Aspin appears on the titlc pcge
Gs tho author. and in his introduction he
tells bis readers that 10 takes them on a
trip around tao world without the expense
OF travel and in way to acquaint them
with tho folks OF various lands, without
exposure to the fatigues and dangers OF
long journeys by lind and water, the perils
Of the ocean, the inclemcncy OF foreign
climes. tho :eroclty Of uncivilized tribes OF
the artiicco that among politcr nations
arc too frequently practijcd upon the
inexperienced.
II would surprise the people Of some
nations described in the book to see them
selves depicted as Mr.. Aspin saw them.
His book is illustrated with colored plates
showing the natives Of the various lands in
their native costume. The American In
dians costume II 4 wonder. Then there is
a Brazilian hunter in high hat. short coat.
shoeless, gun in one hand and an alligator
in the other. China Is represented by a
picture OF Chinaman peddling rats and
dogs. These. tho author says, are the
principal food in China. aside from Iice.
OF Canada the author says that the Gov
ernment is free. bu, learning has made so
little progress that few of the natives can
either read or write" He announces, also
that at all early period Of life the Canadian
IL healthy and robust but his strength is
not Of long duration and he soon looks old.
Accustomed 10 concern himself only in
hs own affairs, he j. not remarkable for
c'nstancy in iendship and is rarely liable
TO be overreached in traffic"
In the winter, according to the veracious
author, the Canadians live on carcasses
they have put IN the garrets, -where they
soon become frozen and keep without
injury or have buried in the snow.
The Mexicans are described as spending
much 81 their time Ia eating, having no less
than eight meals a day Ia which chocolate
IL very considerable article. The passion
Tor strong liquors is carried To great excess
and all the ladies smoke small cigars.
Whel Mexican dies the autnor Informs
the world a domestic qtladru uped resembling
dog Is Killed TO accompany the deceased
In his Journey TO the Invisible world" just
what the domestic quadruped is has not
been explained.
Ia Brazil tbe author found that knives
though the best cottages are furnished
with a table IL Is more usual for the family
at meal time to squat upon IA mat In circle
on the floor with dishes and bowls in the
centre
There are equally remarkable things
about France, Ireland, Patagonia, Spain,
Italy. turkey and many other countries,
and finally the author reaches the United
States with this result:
The population Of this great republic
was Tor the most part originally British,
yet from peculiar circumst lnces the present
have obtained characteristics
and adopted names different from those
OF the parent state. The education of
youth Is an object Of public attention. but
the national literature Is Vet In its infancy,
as are tine fine arts. A marked difference
exists In the state uf the people of the vari-
Gus provinces Of this extensive country
In the southern States religion Is aim Il
totally disregarded. and slavery prevails
wit h all II, concomitant, deru"raliIing 4 effects
The same tall, stout, well-dressed
men every where appear much at ease,
shrewd and intelligent, but indolent. and
though boasting Of freedom generally
slaves to idleness. Such as are engaged
in commerce are. however, peculiarly
active and enterprising, and travellers
are continually setting out on journeys
OF two or three thousand miles. on boat,
on horseback or on foot
Among the wealthier classes as much
polit eness and good breeding prevails
as with most II the middle classes OF Europe.
With this demeanor, the cleanliness both
of person and habit IL often at variance.
The use OF tobacco pervades the whole
frame Of society from thePresident Of the
United States to the meanest paupcr.
Nett her chair Of state, the Senate the pull
pit. the bar. nor drawing groom isexempt
from this annoyance and its loathsoIne
the marks Of which are
witnessed upon the floors and walls Of even
the best apartments. Another prevail
ing vice is that OF excessive drinking which
Is INDUCED in by all classes"
The most conspicuous trait in the Amer
lean character appeared TO Mr. Aspin TO
Ire consummate vanity which transcends
all that has been attributed TO the French
men.
on the contrary. In old England. the Eng.
lish author found literature, the fine arts,
science and mechanics daily receiving fresh
accessions to their stores from the pro-
life genius Of British skill. The peculiar
modesty and neatness which pervade all
the actions and habits of Englishwomen
confer upon them charms which are in
vain sought for among the fair Of other
nations. The natural proneness Of the
English to think before they speak and
their reluctance to enter into familiar
with strangers have subjected
them to the imputation Of being reserved
and phlegmatic but the most recent and
candid travellers confess that their reserve
arises from habits of reflection rather
from any mistT,ist or moroseness.'
The author remarks naivelv that the
thirst for knowledge is Unsuitable in an
and he IL led by 1t to traverse
nhospitable climes and trackless regions
in every quarter Of the globe. Englishmen
run in quest OF danger. attempt extraordi-
nary things. and delight in strong emo
ions"
But they don't know how to write books
on people they know nothing about, re-
marked the laborer who picked up a little
volume in the vanishing Hall Of Records.
4 Medical View Of Religion.