The Washington herald., 1913-01-14
TO BEGU1LE THE YANKEES.
From tho London Daily Express.

From the London Daily Express
Paris may be the paradise Of good
Americans after deaths as they say. but
London they actually possess during the
summer months at the present day.
Every one knows II. Absurd for English
men to put in a protest. when the drawl-
ing twang of the strangers from across
the Atlantic Is heard in every street shop
or building of historic interest. Even
our language has been invaded by so
many Americanisms as to destroy its
original dullness.
No. II is, no use protesting against
facts. Much the wisest plan is to allow
frankly that we lease old England to
America during the season. and to keep
our part of the bargain by making life
as pleasant as possible for the invader:
to greet him as an old friend. and to
tempt him tactfully to leave as much
money behind him as may be when he
returns.
Some Frenchmen were one day discuss
ing one side of the entente cordiale in a
little Soho restaurants queer place as
yet undiscovered by English-speaking
customers They were laughing loudly at
our expense, and wittIcisms few across
the low room where French cooks. wait
ers and diners combined to give the ilIu-
sion of a bourgeois restaurant In Paris
Engiishmen. they said. go TO France to
spend money, while Frenchmen come to
England to earn II.
Now. We might truthfully say the same
of our American friends. And yet We do
little to assist them. We all know the
worry and fuss OF TRANSMITTING shillings
into francs when we recover from a
Channel crossing, but II is simple child's
play to the complications of the dollar
How many of US are quite certain what a
dollar Is? Perhaps not one in a hundred.
If the American girl knew at a glance
how much money to disburse for gloves
at Is. ll&d., wouldn't she far more
likely to buy them? A protracted discus
sion with a shopgirl, followed by an ap-
peal to the shopwaiker. who In turn
sends for an accountant, is more likely
to end in the gloves remaining on the
counter at Is. 11&d. than finding their
way on fair American hands. The mark
ing OF goods in dollars and shillings is
one OF the most needed reforms.
Nothing makes one so homesick as I'M
familiar food. 1t may be excellent. but
il is different Why not engage Ameri-
can cooks. not only in the big hotels and
restaurants, but in the refreshment
rooms of the great stores as well. TO pre-
pare the special dishes that are hall
marked by the Stars and Stripes?
Why not have special lifts. marked
speed. as they do on the other side? 1t
is rumored that the passion for speed is
satisfied in this way, business men In a
hurry preferring TO wait while three slow
lifts pass up and then rush skyward in
the express one.
Then We might follow their hustling
example and install typewriters and
typists on the tubes and Metropolitan:
that no time might be wasted under
ground. Why not? II is done in Ameri-
ca.
Bars might be Installed where Martini.
Manhattan, Yarmouth and other cock
tails can be obtained at lightning speed
and reasonable prices.
Though IL is seldom seriously hot dur
ing the summer months. We need not
cheat our American guests Of their illu-
sion. We may not be able to supply the
sun. but We might at least lay I'm ice,
icewater. grapefruit and other frozen
delicacies Of the sunny season.
And so on.
In fact, let us state the case briefly.
Make England as homelike to America.
as France. Switzerland and Egypt are to
England, and the trick is done. After
all, II is but a business proposition.