New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-27

AND lS02 BY John Davis With an
Introduction ami Notes by A J. Morri-
son. Svo PIP. Nj. 429. Henry Holt & Co.
In his sensible. scholarly survey OF
what visiting foreigners have written OF
us since Colonial days. in las Others
See Is" Mr.. John Graham Brooks
makes no mention Of this veTitable find.
the work Of an English Immigrant, who
has even failed 70 gain admission to the
Dictionary Of National Biography, per-
haps because its editor, and not without
reason, considered him. though an Eng
hshman by birth. as an early American
author. only two Of whose twelve pub
lished works. including these Travels
Of -Four Years and a Half in the United
States" having won the distinction Of
being printed I'm the kingdom. The omis-
sion, undoubtedly deliberate, of John
Davis from Mr. Brooks's book in no way
affects its value. since he could con-
tribute practically nothing 10 ITS pur-
pose he being. unlike most Of our early
foreign visitors. not a leisurely traveller
interested in the new experiment, come
on purpose to observe with impartial or
jaundiced eyes, not a social philosopher.
economist OF expert on government. but
a self-educated adventurer with a pen
chant for literature seeking a livelihood
among as. Wherefore his book Of trav-
els was dedicated. not 10 British preju-
dice, but To Thomas jefferson. ESQ.
John Davis went 20 sea when still n
boy, leaving. SO he assures US. a home Of
"opulence." He picked UP the begin
nj IF n
10 India from cultured German who
had enlisted in the service Of the East
India Company, saw something Of naval
warfare on board British frigate I'm
liI}-t4. and four years later came To
New York remarkably well read in Eng
fish literature and with "A working
knowledge Of Latin. Greek and French.
He had formed his style. had Jobn
Davis, there can be no doubt Of that. no
Is frankly and amusingly proud Of il in
this book Of travels Of his.
A letter Of Introduction 10 a New YORK.
merchant, on which he built great homes
brought him only disappointment Il
cannot say that I was received with tbe
urhanity had ANTICIPATED" But fort
une favored him. He made the ac
/ quaintance Of a fellow Immigrant Of
earlier date and French origin. Caritat
the publisher. who set him To vorl
,ranslating the Campaigns OF Roma
parte in Italy" which was issued ,ba,
"ery year II served to bring Davis TO
The attention Of Aaron Burr and his
oaugAter and, Of course. he fell under
the charm Of both. But. need driving
ne returned 10 his earliest plan. Of secur-
ing place as private tutor I'm a family,
FOR this purpose he set out for the Soutb
on loot. via Philadelphia. where yellow
fever was raging, and found a place in
me FAMILY or South Carolinian PLANTER
Henceforth b. was constantly enDloved
in this capacity. utilizing his idle Tim in
the writing c. books and adjoining tba
record q his travels with verse. The
luxury and eXclusiyeness Of the south
ern aristocra.s apparently displeased and
astonishei him, for he refers 10 tbepo
more than once.
Ia my walk 10 CoosohatcIie J r,e,..I
heit ana lhsfe plantation, but "a ba,,s
called on it, owner witloi,f = ne, -, 20 -
PRODUCTION would have been = b+c.-i 'ii
tu4util" which has ITS source fror, ~
~! 90 Eieai cities. bIt has not failea
l
" hen nrst beheid fine lady dr,,v,u b,.
four horses through the woods of t.srnli,s
ln h"r coach. ami train II servants co.
LOVING lhc Neilcle. clad IN "a rnaaujiic,,t
iIN'lS, lnolird up with sorroW al 5baf
i,-ANI ai.u Itihtintnt which are hastcn-
ing WIN rapid strides 10 change the p,ire
and - ivan scenes 90 nature into a theatre
az pride and ostentatlun ~ .',,.
I" me that ma Carolina. the simplicity Of
We AISt 'olonlsis Is obliterated, and that
tie present Inhabitants strive To- exc@@5
each other in The vanities u life.
Davis is enthusiastic Ia his praise Of
f the courtesy and thoughtfulness of his
/ employers, and. an ardent lover OF nat
1 ure' eloquent I'm his descriptions. The
/ heat Of Carolina distressed him: ne found
T. far greater than that OF Batavia. His
long travels on foot led him 10 make an
other observation worth quoting:
The lamented scarcity OF American inn.
IL easily accounted for. In a country