The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-16

AL lIit ioSl flilCtbtiiS ois eiic A@' tauqua circles, Miss Nan Walshe, who not long since left Ireland, the land of her birth and came to America, told the members of the club her im- pressions of this country and It's peo- pie Her views are very sunny and very feminine. for the most part what one would desire that an Irishwoman should think of America and Ameri- cans. She said:
 You wish for my humble opinion of the Americans. Permit me to say, first of all, that as vet I know very few people who proudly style them selves free citizen of the United States and the majority of those that I have had the pleasure of meeting are themselves emigrators or the de- scendants of emigrators from either the Emerald Isle or some other country of the great European continent.
 However, I will do my little best to give you as well as I am able, an impartial opinion of Americans in gen. eral, fnducting my results from obser- vations I have made in Texas and Alabama.
 At one time, not very long ago, ] was compelled through circumstances connected with the Mexican revolutions to cross the Rio Grande and remain under Uncle Sam's protection. For three weeks I lived at the fort in Eagle Pass, Tex, and here I saw a great deal or both military and civil life. My im- pression of the army was more than satisfactory. The soldiers are quiet and unassuming and extremely obliglng' being quite willing to rough It While doing all in their power to make the severe life of their superior officers little less hard, little more comfort able.
 During my stay at the fort one of the houses caught fire and was rapidly being burned to the ground. The exhibition of bravery and coolness in the presence of danger, of prompt action and immediate resource shown by those soldiers m that fire was one of the finest sights { ever wish to see. The officers and generals are gallant and courteous, agreeable and sociable and treat those under them with lenient kindness, pre- serving at the same time strict discipline. Uncle Sam may certainly feel proud or his army if all his brave soldiers resemble those whom 1 have met. and yet let us hope 1t will be a long day before they are called upon to prove their courage in ac- ton against national enemy.
 50 much for the army. l will now tell you how the other Texan Americans inn pressed me. Living as 1 was on the Texan-Mexican border, I came in con- tact with father a mixture of races, so that my opinion of Texans must by no means be taken as my opinion of Amer jeans.
 '.I met many people who styled them stlyes Americans down there who boasted about being free citizens of the United States who made sighting remarks abodi England. who despised Ireland for remainipg under English rule, who spoke familiarly of their gracious majesties, the King and Queen of England as George an1 Mary, snd is it necessary for me to tell you that I dislked them? It makes me angry to think of them even now. so the least said about them the better. Of course, l met others down there on the border quite opposite in character to those mentioned aEove, but while living there ny opinion of America and Americans was anything but flattering. I am glad to say since have come to Birmingham have greatly moderated that opinion. and now l may say that the Stars and Stripes have one more loyal follower. that the Star Spangled Banner has an other ardent sadmirer, and that Uncle Sam has another daughter who, though sIe, will never forget her own beloved Ireland, her beautiful jewel set in the Western seas, yet knows she is going to love and be proud of the country of her adoption, the land and home of the free and the brave. The most prominent and perhaps the most pleasing characteristic possessed by Americans whom I have mel Is ther lack of reticence. That sounds like an Irish bull, but you will forgive me, since 1t is natural and ex- presse es in the best what I wish to say. Americans, as I know them are large hearted and friendly, sweet and expan- sive, kind and hospitabe, making friends with facility through their charming manners and putting the stranger at his ease at once with their winning ways. Of course, I was speaking then princi- nal!y of the ladies. The gentlemen are courteous and respectful, agreeable and scciable in daily intercourse. Of their in- tellectual, political and business abilities, I cannot pretend to judge.
 "The young men are clever and capa- ble in the majority. and for the most part they are hard working and ambitious.
 But they initiate too closely their fair companions in thinking rather little too much of their appearance.
 And what must I say of the young
 ladies? They are charming, fascinating
 friendly to degree, and altogether the
 finest product of this land of the Stars
 and Stripes They. perhaps. attach too much importance to the art of dressing well and spend too much time, mayhap in endeavoring to look well. And how they love gaiety and pleasure! Why, il is the food of their existence. I do not mean to say that they spend their days in round of gaieties and frivolities By no means! But do mean that Americans hcla hox i,,o taJ t,,-< <ha;r ture love of the good things and the good times of this world and if perhaps they were deprived of them, they would
 lose in corresponding degree their hap
 py and sunshiny nature. Another dis
 tinguishing trait is the different accent