New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
Learning How the British OF To-
day Live Now Task of Amer
leans Sojourning Abroad.
C0CKNEY ACCENTS PUZZLE
"A" of the Visitor from Across
the Water Incomprehensible
to Hotel Clerk-London
Antique Fakes.
tBy Cable TO The Tribune

notable change in the fashions OF slghl-
seeing among American visitors In Eng
land in the last few years. Formerly
they picked out places of historical in
terest, where they might be found In
flocks. with notebooks and guide0ooks
in their hands. or gathered around q
guide, listening TO a lecture and trying
to explain to one another what he was
saying in weird Cockney accents.
This week, for example. visitor was
endeavoring to give a name to Cockney
hotel clerk.
"a. y. Marsh" said the visitor.
Il. n. Marsh" came from the clerk.
No said the visitor, mot |, but A.
Yes, SIR" persisted the clerk, Il didn't
saw 7 but /. the first letter of the alpha
bet, sir-I."
But TO get back to the tourist. NOW
adays he is seeking to learn no" the
Englishman lives and how the everyday
affairs of English life are carried on
He is looking into the public institutions
and comparing them with those at nome,
More American visitors may be fouho
to-day at the metropolitan gas WORKS.
at the electric power stations, at Green
WITCH and Chelsea, respectively, the Lon
don County Council schools, the hre
brigade headquarters, the London
County Council pumping stations and
the sewerage systems than at ST. Paui
Cathedral. the Tower of London or at
the Albert Memorial.
The usual thing now for Americans Is
to bring over dozens Of letters OF intro
auction TO Londoners-bankers, people
90 society and members of public bodies
Most Americans who see St Pauls get
only a casual glance at 1t on their wa!
10 the City to deliver some letters OF IN
PRODUCTION, while the Tower Is pointed
ont TO them in the distance as part OF
the irrespective, as Harrow might De
from Hampstead Heath.
Historic Places Neglected.
The following enumeration, made one
dav this week. shows how few American
visitors are now found in places whlch
they formerly frequented in droves' 81
Paurs. %; Westminster Abbey, Is; the
Tower of London, s; the Albert Me-
mortal, /; the National Gallery T.
This. too. at the height Of tae season
when American visitors are specially
numerous. At birmingham, RanelaSn.
Wimbledon. Henley and on the Thanes
and scattered through England In auto
mobiles, however, they are seen by the
thousand.
Americans used to be counted as about
the best customers in the big shops OF
the West End, but also they search out
nowadays the small places on the SIDE
streets, particularly the art stores ana
the antique shops. Such is the passion
for antiques and so high are the prices
maid for them that every American
seems TO think It his bounden duty to
emulate ]. p. Morgan TO the extent OF
his resources. He always has one eye
out for something or other a couple OF
centuries old. and the craze has IN
evitably built up a class OF business IN
London that is almost as profitable as
the making Of Colonial furniture was
once in Philadelphia.
There is one shop in Fleet street That
exhibits a most wonderful collection OF
"antioues" on the ground floor, while
IN the second floor in a small room are
displayed a few genuine articles for the
cognoscenti.
An American, who was looking in the
shop windows the other day had about
made up his mind what to buy, when an
Inglishman stopped beside him.
"Wonderful fakes, aren't they" re-
marked the Englishman.
Fakes exclaimed the American.
"Oh, yes" said the Englshman.
"They're all fakes"
The American turned away with the
Englishman, who explained TO him that
Yankees are not the only cunning trad
ers.
The English, by the way, have their
own method Of valuing art objects. A
niece of tapestry brought $4,000 at the
TAYLOR sale at Christie's on Thursday
and the London papers explained the
price by saying that the tapestry was
worth 81 900 square foot.
ChaIk.Ts Men Organize.
The chalk-talk sidewalk artists have
organized. Now they spread all over
London, catching the pennies Of tourists.
Half a dozen active and talented users
of colored chalks go around in the early
morning hours and make designs on the
,avements. while all day their employees
,o, IN scraps Of carpet beside the
pictures, making occasional dabs with
nieces of chalk and gathering in the
pepnies. All they need TO make the
scheme complete IS cash registers.
There are two or three friends OF w.
r. Hearst in London just now-men who
have talked with him in the last few
weeks. They have been greatly inter
.sted in the nomination Of Governor Will
son and one may gather from what
they say that any support Governor
Wilson receives from Mr.. Hearst will be
from the lips outward.
kid" Mccoy was married year ago
on July 3 last, and he celebrated In the
savoy bar with Louis Lemp and couple
OF American newspaper men. He told
how he evaded the New York reporters
and fed to South Carolina with his pros
pectiye bride and her aunt. whose name
he could not remember. The marriage
stook place at a little place called Gas
coigne.
Mccoy now weighs 1888 pounds and
looks extremely ft. He was the victor