Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-26
CRITICISM OF AMERICA
Sir Philip Burne-Jones' impress
sions of the New World.
NEWPORT PALACES VERY UGLY.

~
wherein He Tells What He COnsid-
ers Our ShOrtcOminEs-HeH ad Ex-
Dected Unattended Girls Would
Make Him So welcome.
Sir Philip Burne-JOnes, having spent
the year 1902 in the United States, de-
voted a portion of the year 1903 to
writing an account of his Impressions
of the new world, which is published
by D. Appleton & Co., says the New
York Herald.
He is frank, but not as u rule often
sive in his criticism. He repeats some
of the old indictments against crudities
of manners and of culture. and he adds
some new structures of his own, but at
the same time he does Justice to the
energy. the intelligence and especially
the kindness and hospitality of all the
people whom he met.
Here was the precOnceived vision of
America which he had in mind before
he started:
Il had a vision OF q vast continent
full of the most bewitching girls clad
in the daintiest costumes. delighted to
see me and ready to extend their pref
ty hands in a natural and unaffected
camaraderie only possible in America.
Their husbands and brothers, strong,
manly, simple folk, / pictured to my
self as constantly at work somewhere
out of sight, chiefly in Wall street,
wherever that was, leaving their wives
and sisters free to entertain me and
glad to think that they were doing so.
1 had heard much of the unselfshness
of American men,"
At first he was somewhat taken
aback by the absence of the Difference
or servility which the better classes
abroad expect from their interiors"
Later he became accustomed to it and
realized it arises mot from any de-
sire to be rude or offensive, but from
a combination of causes-partly from
an honest ignorance of what cOnsti-
tutes good manners and partly from
a perfectly sincere conviction, Gravely
entertained, that they are really every
bit as good as you are in a country
where all social distinctions are sup
posed to be nonexistant."
But this sense of universal equality
disappeared when he came into con-
tact with American society" He
says:
THE so called exclusiveness of these
good republicans is an amusing spec
tacle to those accustomed to the well
defined and generally accepted social
distinctions of community governed
by mOnarchical tradition. In Ameri-
ca, where no such tradition exists,
class distinction depends largely upon
the caprice of the very wealthy and re-
solves itself, as do so many other
things in this democracy, into a sim
pie question of dollars. The tenacity
with which the ultra fashionables cling
together has given American society
in America a reputation for exclusive
ness which is interesting to contem-
plate in view of the personalities OF
most of the eXcluders. 1t is all so like
a burlesque of our own London so
ciety'"
OF the morality of this society Sir
Burne-JOnes has this to say, MY own
observations would point to the fact
that, childlike. they are fascinated by
the idea of playing at being naughty
and shocking people. but that I'm reali-
ty they are for the most part excellent
citizens
THAT amazing summer playground"
Newport battles his powers of descrlp-
ton. He glories in it's natural beau
ties. He wonders at the bad taste dis
played in its architecture, declaring
that its palaces proclaim the fact that
the plutocratic owners in their scram
BILE for wealth have had little time
left to devote to the cultivation Of
the arts in any form. Here is his
criticism:
1.-The palaces of Newport are, I'm
truth, just what you would expect the
palaces of Newport to be. They ara
very costly, very sumptuOus, often
very ugly, but they admirably fulfill
what, I take it, is one Of their chief
raisons d'etre, they are the material
and visible expression of the posses
sion of vast riches"
Speaking of Chicago, the author
says:
II don't suppose that even its own
would seriously make ex-
cuse for Chicago. 1t is an ugly, dirty,
noisy, wind swept city If ever there
was one. OF course 1 saw It under the
most disadvantageous and discourag-
ng conditions and at the very worst
time of the year. Still nothing, not
wen the most brilliant sunshine, could
nave made it appear beautiful, and one
would be a little exacting perhaps to
expect that it should be one. The won
Ter is that the hideous place, so vast
Ind populOus as It is, should be In ex-
stence at all.
THE street cars here run in doubles,
hus multiplying their horrors by two.
The skyscrapers appear twice as high
Is those in New York. It's newspapers
ire twice as vulgar and in tone twice
Is deep yellow. naturally avoldeC
he stock yards, and If you don't vlsiS
hese mammoth shambles Chicago haf