The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-07
CHICAGO AS A FOCUS
 OF EXUBERANT ENERGY

appreciation of his own town radiatea from the person of the Chicago man.
 
 Chicago is composite, nondescript New York Boston, Philadelphia, and even Washington, have certain marked traits which belong to them. Their people have a certain air or bearing an indeanable something which enables a fairly trained observer to differentiate them with req sonable success. But the Chicago man might come from anywhere between the Alleghanies and the Rockies. There Is no distinct Chicago type In time, that will doubtless be developed. Those who have come from all the corners of the earth to help the pioneers from the east and from the south in the creation of this gigantic focus of exuberant energy and enthusiasm will merge into a common and distinctive type of man with dis tinctive manners and dress and speech. It may be that he will stand as the typi- cal American. The Puritan blood of New England, the Dutch strain from New York, the Seoth- Irish and the Huguenot blood from Carolina, the French of Louis lana, will mingle with the German im-
 
 and the result will be new race. not mongrell but properly cross-bred by seiec- tion and the survival of the best in brawn and sinew, to develop into the best and the clearest in brain. Chicago may yet be the center of genuine Americanism.
 During a chat which I had yesterday with travelled and cultivated Chicago man whom l have met and known in other corners of the world, he said: Do you notice here a decided rudeness of manner, a lack of courtesy and consider ation for others?' I was obliged to admit that did, but I was also obliged to con- fess that I was by no means sure that 1t was at all unique in my experience in American cities. It seems to me an in- creasing American tendency. a logical fruitage of our Strenuous life" our scramble for wealth and gains our eager race for things which moths may eat, rust corrupt and which thieves may come in and steal. Unquestionably, Chicago shows the trait in pronounced degree. The man whom you know will meet you and greet you with a cordial and warm hearted welcome, will take you to his home and give you the best there is in it with a sincere and hearty hospitality. He will put you in the easiest chair and show every possible consideration for your comfort interest and entertainment. The manner may be unconventional off, hand, If not free and easy, but it will be full of an unobtrusive thoughtfulness. He and his house are more genuinely and honestly yours and at your disposition than are the time and the possessions of the Spaniard who volubly asserts that which the Chicago man more definitely does.
 But, in Chicago if one Is a stranger in a strange land, he must do as Chicago does-look out for himself and for his own. The battle is to the strongest and the race to the swiftest-in store or in street car, In office or in theatre, in ele- vator or in restaurant wherever Chicago gathers in numbers or in crowds. Chi cago people have had their way to make in the world and they have made it. The strenuous life leaves little time for the refinement of civilization. In the strug- gle for wealth and place, In the rush to get ahead in the world, one does not stop to apologize for treading on his neighbours toes or for letting door slam in his neighbors face.
 Chicago is city in process. Its people have devoted their time and their thought to the establishment and the ex- tension of vast enterprises. The tendency has been centralization of thought and interest Chicago is their world center their own affairs a first consideration. It could not be otherwise. It is the course of all great achievement in the world. Chicago has achieved and the day will come when more and more of her people will have time to realize that there is a large world outside of their municipal limits. Chicago is already emerging from her provincialism. and more and more her citizens are becoming people of the larger world. Her life has necessitated and enforced absorption. The dawn of her day of radiation Is al- ready apparent.
 H&A-%~-4-~-1-e-@%-4 4 1-e-@-&-~4e&S