The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-04-14
IT IS TO BLUSH.
English Praise Us for Our Buildings,
 O11r Rnnks. Olr Dinners.

Our Books, Our Dinners.
 Bouquets continue to be thrown at the American people Some are odor- ous; some the reverse. Whether 1t is praise or blame, it always comes to us pretty strong.
 This time it is praise. An English admiral, Sir Cyprian Bridge. speaks it upon the pages of the. Nineteenth Gen. tury, as follows:
 Of the physical greatness and ma- terial development of the United States the whole world is aware. It would be a serious error to suppose that the Americans have developed only along material lines. There has been a mor- al, spiritual, intellectual development quite as striking. In no country in the world is mental culture more highly valued or more diligently sought"
 In architecture they stand in the foremost rank. Not even the unsightly outlines of a group of eighteen or twen- ty storied skyscrapers can be cited as evidence of want of architectural good taste. Such evidence would be refuted by look at hundreds of stately and beautiful public buildings and sumptu- ous private houses.
 Large numbers of American visit, and are right in visiting, the old cities of Europe with their historic monu- ments, but nowhere are they likely to see anything of modern date superior to that which they have proved them- selves capable of producing. The pal aces of Genoa and Venice might be searched in vain for higher taste in de- sign or greater splendor of treatment.
 Not in library buildings only do the Americans show their respect for books. The tables in book sellers shops are piled-the word is exact-- with books that are really beautiful specimens of printing. It is a treat to glance at the pages of some of the dainty volumes scattered in rich profu- sion ober a shop counter. The beauty of some of the bindings is almost dag zling, and the multitude of fine designs is extraordinary
 'It is surely worth while to make in quiry as to the racial characteristics of the people who are playing so great a part, and who are obviously destined to play a still greater part, in the affairs of the world Has it ever struck the reader that, over the immense area of the United States, single language is spoken, and that language is English? Conceive what it would be if, from London to Constantinople, from Stock holm to Messina, only one form of speech prevailed.
 "The social life of America is attrac- tive to the English visitor because of its similarity to that of his own. He does not feel stranger. Social inter ! course there is charmingly vivacious, and is made intensely interesting by the remarkable conversational powers of Americans of both sexes, It is per- haps safe to assert that dinner party in London can possibly be dull; dull dinner party in Washington is unthink- able.
 Tt is not surprising-the conditions being as they are-that much friendli- ness should be shown by Americans to the English people generally as well as to individual Englishmen. Expressions of satisfaction with the present amica- ble relations between the old country and the new come from all classes; in fact Americans are as proud of their English origin as we ought to be of the exalted position which they are taking l in the world"