The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
FRENCHMAN' VIEW
 OF AMERICANISM
BUSTER CROOK OF HOOK G CROOK HAS HIS VULGAR EYES OPENED WIDE-VISITOR FROM KANSAS CITY ARRIVES.

From the Boston Herald.
 2 If it is well that we should sometimes see oursers as ithers see us, it may be we'll to look for a moment at a tale which N. Urban Confer tells about American and French types NJ Confer has visited the United States and he speaks English. In this tale, published in widely read newspaper he whacks two heads at once, that of a bumptious Brother Jonathan and that of royalty bound France, for in the details of ad- ministration France Is as much bound by monarchial custom today as though the country were not a republic
 M. Confer, letting his fancy run as though recording fact, for the purpose of teaching perhaps a double lesson. to the two nationalities tells of the arrival in Paris of Monsieur Buster T. Crook of the house of Hook & Crook of Kansas City, with the ambition of bringing the French people to admire American energy. Opportunities await him, as Americans who have ever learned Paris will understand.
 Buster Crook standing on the Point des Arts to look afar toward Notre Dame sees a human form borne toward him on the Seines flood. Doffng hat coat and
 
 as the form reaches the bridge. He makes a rescue. A boat puts out from the Quai du Louvre-a hook a rope, and the rescue is complete.
 Applauding spectators hand MT. Crook his clothing, minus his watch. He goes to his hotel and awaits the English speaking reporters, who do not come i; neither do their French brethren. Things are not done thus in this happy and easy-going city.
 In the morning Mir Crook receives the card of M. Vincent, upon seing whom he recognizes the man he had saved from drowning-a little old man of sad face and tired eyes and poorly clad. He foresees the tribute of heartfelt thanks, without other reward.
 M. Vincent upbraids him, very politely indeed, but poignantly, for interfering with the wishes, comfort and liberty of another. M. Vincent explains that with out a sou al 72 years and unable to find work he had determined to take himself hence, when you, monsieur, who know me not and asked me not, and apparent ly for the love of sport, drew me from the water. The commissary of police has preached to me and made me promise not to do 1t again. Respect for my word forbids that l should do it over again. Well, monsieur, it is up to you"
 'Me?'
 You indeed, monsieur It is written in our laws, but above all in the laws of all humanity, that a mss is responsi- ble for injury or damage done to an other. I had been delivered from suffer ing; you have brought suffering upon me; you must aid me to support it. By your act I am forbidden to die; you owe me the means to live"
 As a further argument M Vincent says that the publicity possible would be worth more to Crooks firm than enough to keep him (vincenD alive in a quiet village and Crook says all right and pays up.
 The better to digest his adventure Crook goes toward the Arc de Triomphe and turns off for a saunter in the Ave nue du Bois de Boulogne, smoking and whistling Come Into the Woods. Maude." Toward the board walk filled with children and nurses and many wo- men walking Crook sees a runaway team coming. It should be said here that in the minds of some Frenchmen all Amer jeans carry revolvers. Crook sees with horror that the runaways must kill and trample many of the helpless ones on the walk if they are not stopped, and he is powerless to stop them. An, mol
 Quick as lightning he puts his hand to his hip and draws his infallible re- volver Two shots!
 The women and the children are saved. but the horses live no more. A lawyer calls on Crook. Those horses were their owners best and worth 5000, which is saying something for Paris horses, speaking in a general way. A lawsuit would be inconvenient And besides, Mir. Lawyer, like M Vincent, realizes the value Americans set upon ldvertise- ment, whichever way 1t acts. Think of the glorious advertisement of the house of Hook, and think, too, how a lawsuit might raise a suspicion of the firm s solvency.
 Crook signs and pays up. Then he