The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-08
1T IS TO BLUSH.
English Praise Us for Our Buildings, Our
Socks, Our Dinners.


Bouquets continue to be thrown at the
American people. some are odorous: some
the reverse. Whether it is praise or blame,
it always comes to lis pretty strong.
This time it is praise, An English Ad-
miral, Sir Cyprian Bridge, spreads it upon
the pages of the Nineteenth Century, as
follows
"Of the physical greatness and material
development of the United States the whole
world ia aware. 1t would be a serious error
to suppose that the Americans have de-
veloped only along material lines. There
has peer a moral, 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 III the fore
most rank. Not aver the %unsightly out
ines of a group of eighteen or twenty
stored skyscrapers can be cited as evidence
of want of architectural good taste. Such
evidence would be refuted by a LOOK at
hundreds OF stately and beautiful public
buildings and sumptuous private houses.
Large numbers of Americans visit, and
are rlgnUi in visiting the old cities of Europe
with their historic monuments, but nowhere
are they likely to see anything Of modern
date superior to that which they have proved
themselves capable Of producing. The
rala ces of Genoa and Venice might be
searched IN vain for higher taste in design
or greater spiendor of treatment.
Not in library buildings only do the
Americans show their respect for books.
The ables in book sellers shops are piled
the word is exact-with books that are
really beautiful specimens OF printing. 1t
is a treat to glance at the pages OF some OF
the dainty volumes scattered In rich pro-
fusion over q shop counter. The oeauty OF
some Of the bindings is almost dazzling.
and the multitude Of fine designs is extra
ordinary.
1T is surely worth while to make inquiry
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 1t
ever struck the reader that, over the i'm
mensr area Of the United states. a single
language i spoken, and that language is
English? Conceive what it would be II.
from london TO Consta ntinople, from stock
holm to Messina, only one form Of speech
prevailed.
The social life of America is attractive
70 the En- glish visitor because of its SINH
larity to that OF his own. He does not feel
a stranger. Social intercourse there is
charmingly vivacious, and is made intensely
interesting By the remarkable conversa-
tional powers of Americans Of both sexes
1t is perhaps safe to assert that a dinner
party in London car possibly Ne dull: a
duh dinner party in Washington lis IN
thinkable.
1T is not surprising-the conditions bein g
as they are-that much friend,iness should
be shown by Americans to the English peorle
generally, as well as to individual Englsh
men. Expressions of satisfaction with the
present amicsble relations between the old
country and the new com 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 in
the world