New-York tribune., 1906-04-11
THE AMERICAN MIND.
What an EngIshman Thinks
about 1t.

IN A Modern Symposium Mr.. G. Loves
Dlckinson's collection OF imaginary speeches on
the principles that should guide the modern
statesman, the American is permitted to see
himself as a British observer sees him, ''There
is one thing" says The Atheneurn." in q re-
view Of the volume, (which stands out for
originality and force, the analysis of the
American mind; and it continues:
Civilization is really state of mind and II is Mr.
so dseens merit 5g t{hs fhst Re has recognized this and
and Of ell purely western ideals !For Wba
America is. that Europe is becoming" 1t was, in
genius Of that strange combination OF the seer and
than y bscf The th5 he &c ned
mechanlca! age, and pointed out in "Coningsby."
dent Europe which talked Of progres becanse
by the ingenious manipulation OF a few mechanical
has mistaken comfort for civiiEaton In essence Ss
opeR Of the same me noton bu d 9eg Gsye IL
such force and insight that 1t ought compel the
chanical millennium suggested by some writer's
seems the the IDEAL @ or at Least satsfpg We DO
!1ink that at The society described in SUCH books
the latent ideals Of America as discerned BY Ellis
have worked themselves out to external perfecs
there which Illustrate the aena sPeske eTFe v fH9
that The one object Of Americans is rapdity Of life
VIII sacrifice Increasingly every kind OF dsinterest-
ed psssionretgton. art, love, and even science ex-
cept so far as it has purely practica. object.
Here THE Atheneum" pauses to quot. from Mr.
Dickinson
Thanks 70 Europe. America has never been pow
felt fearI therefore has never known reverence!
therefore never experienced religion, -. nas
pean sense. whose roots were struck in the soil Of
spiritual combat Of temptations in haunted forests
scourgings OF the flesh and vigs in vast cathedrals
y 's Of Pan III 1e nson wod gssd never en-
have accepted Christian Science as religion. No!
Religion in America IS a parasite without roots,
The questions that have occupied Europe from the
SerceS ~ tan for enpre or berfv for WHICH sbe
has tasted in deserts agoniEed cells suffered on
cs m 6ea fha 9F Wealth. ease ntegencs n life s
for the American people simply 90 not exist They
sphere to the dwellers in Flatland -. d. Their re-
healthy mndedness."
Mr.. Dickinson-or his imaginary speechmaker
thinks that art and literature are tnconceiv-
able in America, 'for the spirit OF art is disin-
terested contemplation, while that OF America Is
cupidous ACQUISITION. . The future is for
them the kingdom Of elevators, OF telephones, Of
motor cars, OF flying machines Let them not
idly bark back msled by effete traditions, to
the old European dream Of the kingdom OF
heaven Excudent alii, let them say, for Eu-
rope. Letters and Art: tn regere argento populos
Morgane. memento, let America rule the world
bv syndicates and trusts. For such is her true
destiny: and that she conceives 1t TO be such is
evidenced by the determination with which she
has suppressed all irrelevant activities"
Our whole purpose this critic supposes, to be
'acceleration': ITO be always moving, and al
ways moving faster. that they think is the be-
attic life If they are asked by Euro
peans as they sometimes are What is the point
of going so fast? their only feeling is one OF
genuine astonishment. Why. they reply. you
go fast. And what more can be said2 Hence
their contempt for the leisure much valued by
Europeans Leisure they feel 10 be kind OF
standing still the objectionable sin
The Athenaum" az the close or It's notlce e1-
presses mild disagreement with the pessimistic
tone of the speaker:
II the older scheme Of values corresponds as we
baIeva n does TO permanent elements In human
nature a society constituted wiIhout lneih CaIlhoL
have within il the power OF duration Already
there are signs of reaction. Nor would II surprise
ne 90 the tUenteth century were to witness marVes
of human passion and mysticism on par with its
undoubted certainty OF progress IN mechanism. 1t
NAV well be that the age of which We are yet
bIf on the threshold viii hold its rank in history
less for the evolution of future Carnegies and
Tsdfsons than for some hero, who shall repeat in
fresh forms something Of the work of d Francis
OF Assist and be more witness to the undying
romance OF the human soul.