Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-26
AMERICANS ARE TOO PATIENT
Jerome Z. Jerome Says Yankee Masses Are
Paying Tribute t. Plutocrata
ADVOCATE OF PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
Believes This VIII Solve Many
Serious ProbIems-Predicts Union
of Canada and the United
states.

Jerome X. Jerome believes that public
ownership OF public utilities will. to a
large extent, solve many of the problems
with which this country is now wrestling.
The English author expressed himself
in an interview with a reporter Tor The
Bee yesterday afternoon at the Willard
hotel.
Americans are altogether too patient in
the matter of asserting their rights. The
thousands are paying tribute to the pluto
Gratis who are exploiting the country, but
this country must learn the lessons We
have learned in England. The United
States as a nation is bound to be a great
nation. I also think the protective tariff
a bad thing in that the people hero pay
excessively for inferior wares, competition
being stifed and the monopolists fat
! tened" said Mr.. Jerome
Mr.. Jerome is student of social and
economical subjects, which he believes are
rather weighty matters to be discussed
in a short interview. yet he consented to
give few of his impressions received
| along the way since he left New York
City early in October.
Impression of American Woman.
What do you think of the American
| author.
"oh. was quite prepared for her by
! statistics before l left England was the
serious and ready response. There is
! less difference between the American man
| and woman than there is in the sexes
| of other nations. What the women OF
| this country have gained in some direc-
| tons by entering the commercial and
other fields she has lost in other direc-
| tions-what she has gained in strength she
! has lost in sweetness"
This is the English writer's first visit
! to this country, although he has been in
| close touch with the United States for
years by studying in the perspective. Mr..
Jerome is more of an American than one
would expect to meet.
II had the country in my minds eye
| as II were, before l arrived, and was not
| disappointed nor particularly surprised
The railroad systems are great affairs.
think improvement could be made in tbs
bus accommodations from the depots tC
hotels, so a man may be able to get hi!
luggage when he reaches his hotel,' re
marked the man of letters.
Are you nearly ready to go skating p
questioned Mrs Jerome, as she passed
down the hall.
In a few minutes dear" Responded
Jerome.
Mr.. and Mrs Jerome took a trip L
Hanscom park with their skates.
Union with Dominion.
: Before you go skating tell me, MI
Jerome. what you think of the possibili
> ties Of Canada and the United State
joining as one country" asked the Wis
itor.
, Geographical and commercial condition
e count for more than sentimentslity, whic
/. leads me to think Canada and this coun
Z try will some day Join hands, althoug
a it may not come In our time. There
now quite an attachment between Canad
and the mother country, but l firmly thin
: the consolidation will come to pass" wa
the reply offered by Mr.. Jerome.
Jerome K. Jerome is a radical In pol
ties when at home and is in sympath
with present political changes in Ems
: land, which, he believes, will have Oh
effect of stopping the growth OF the mil
5 tary spirit in Britain.
h Mr.. Jerome's home is In Oxfordshir,
ten miles from oxford, where the sutho
blends his life with that of the countr
folk of England. He said he has grow
so attached to English lanes and meadow
that he does not believe he could tab
up his residence anywhere else. He love
boating, cycling, walking, tennis. skatin
and other forms of sport. some of whic
he takes daily.
Vow in Serious Vein.
Mr.. Jerome is "A years of age and no
looks on his humorous writings as som.
thing OF the past, his present literaT
| work being OF the serious sort. He
now at work on q play for a New Yor
management, but does not care to di
cuss the play. saying that plsy-wr1tin
IL something akin to gambling. anywa,
Mrs. Jerome IL a pleasant little Ensiis
woman with the bloom OF merry old EN-
land on her cheek. She takes q keen Ia