The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15

fundamental disregard Of titles and orders
Is, OF course, cloeely connected with Eueh
feeling
We would invite tbs readers attention to
another profound remark. Tho author
sees that out OF the American feeling OF
equality spring far reaching dutea The
typical American asserts himself 10 be
equal to all others who are worthy of es-
tenn: he therefore feels that be must
recognize for himself all the duties which
those who are richer. more educated and
more influential impose upon Themselves
In short, ne must behave ike a gentle
man. The motto, which certainly has
nothing TO do with religion, Is nob'tsse
obhGe, but the nobility which imposes an
obligation consists in being citizen OF
America, and az such, subordinate TO no
man. The duties which accrue, however,
are quite similar TO religious obligations
The gentleman requires Of himself Relf-
control and social discipline Thus 1t
comes about that the European visitor
finds in the United States a sexual purity
which is not known on the Continent; One
may sit In jovial mems society after din
ner. with cigars around the fireplace.
hundred times without ever hearing an
unclean story; and. If a young fellow tined
to boast to his friends Of his amorous adj
ventures In the European manner, he would
be snubbed. Nowhere In the world is
young girl so safe In the protection OF
young man. The relation OF one man TO
his neighbor is correspondingly upright.
The spirit Of self-assertion eduoates 10
politeness, helpfulness, good nature and
magnanimity. European books on America
are fond of saying that the fundamental
principle Of American life Is Help your
self Our author has observed, that the
motto is thoroughly misleading, II it be
taken 10 mean that every one must help
himself because his neighbor will not help
him. "A readiness to help in every way is
one Of the most marked traits Of the Ameri-
caa, from the superficial courtesy TO the
noblest self-sacrifce. The readiness
OF tho American TO give 20 good purposes
ia the more impressive the closer one looks
From a distance one secs gifts Of millions OF
dollars which less impress one; everybody
knows that mon like Carnegie and Rookie
Teller make no sacrifices IN contributing
sums even in seven figures. But the per-
son who is nearer the scene observes that
there Is also the Widows mite, and that the
well 10 DO rlOCue ClhSS OUCH gives d"oy
proportion of its income that seems almost
too large according to European ideals
Vanity hardly figures at all; the largest
gifts are oftsn anonymous and unheard OF
by the newspapers.
We must refer the reaser 20 the book
itself for the best chapter In IL, that which
depicts the American woman Never has
a more discriminating and graceful tribute
been paid TO her. When one reads this
chapter-indeed, the same thing may be
said Of the whole work-one can under
stand the authors reluctance to set before
us q translation made with his own hands,
lest the praise bestowed on us should seem
excessive. Under the circumstances, how
ever, not the faintest doubt can be cast on
his sincerity. The book, as We began with
pointing out. was made exclusively for
Germans. and II Is not to the author. but
to another, that we are indebted for the
English version. NJ W. ID.