Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-30
FEW AMERICAN
EXPATRIATES
Henry James Was Preceded in For
swearing His Allegiance to the
United States by w. w. Astor,
Baron Fairfax and Hudson Maxim
Bv GEORGE w. DOUCLAs


11HE stream of migration to these shores
u has SO strong current that there are
few back eddies. Once man becomes an
American by birth or naturalization he holds
fast to his country with grip that nothing
can unloose, There are few exceptions, but
they prove the rule.
Henry James was once a real American, II
a man brought up within the shadow OF Har-
ward University can be so described He
has lived in England SO many years, how
ever, that his interest in America has long
since faded away. When he foreswore his
allegiance the other day and became Brit
lsh subject he merely made formal recog-
milton Of fact which he had long admitted
in his own mind, namely, that he is an Eng
lishman. In his explanation of his unusual
course-unusuai for real American-he
uses some fine words about throwing his
moral weight and personal allegiance into
the scale of the contending nations and thus
delivers characteristically Jamesian rebuke
to the neutrality of his native country.
James Was Once Human
The distinguished man of letters was once
a very human sort OF person. as the anec-
dotes of his youth indicate. When small
boy he had bitter quarrel with his brother,
William, later famous as a psychologist.
After searching his youthful mind for the
most bitter fate that could befall a person,
Henry finally wished that William might be
doomed to finding Jumps in his mashed pota-
toes for the rest of his natural life This
was his earlier manner. His later manner
was admirably described by Gertrude Ather-
ton when she said that "TIe makes elaborate
co ~ Y1,r ,tyl,i ryi.y
all good tapestries do, a kind Of an idea
of life." He used to write, but they say he
has dictated his books for years and rambles
on at his ease This is why it is so hard
for most of us to read him. My friend, S.
however says that If you will only read him
aloud and reproduce the process of debating
the whole puzzle unravels itself into the
beautiful flowing stream of crystalline clear
ness that first poured into the ears of the
stenographer.
He is now among the few American ex-
patriates, however His transfer of al
legiance is not likely to attract so much at
tention as that of william Waldorf Astor
received when he finally decided to become
an Englshman, Astor was the heir to one
of the greatest American fortunes. He had
married an American wife, the beautiful Mary
Dahlgren Paul, daughter of the late James
w. Paul. of this city, and he had been hon
ored by his State and by the nation He
served two terms in the New York Legisla-
ture and he was United States Minister to
Italy from 1882 to 1885. and he had further
ambitions. Indeed he was candidate for
a seat in Congress, but was defeated in a
district where he was confident that he could
be elected. Soon after this defeat he took up
his residence abroad.
1t was said at the time that he left Amer
lea because of pique at this political failure,
but his friends say that he went to London
because the sensational newspapers made 1t
unsafe for his family to live In New York.
They printed exaggerated stories of his
wealth and told of plots to kidnap his chill
dren, until he concluded that If he wanted
to live in peace he must go somewhere else.
He bought great house on the Thames, and
has been living the life of an English gentle
man ever since. He became a naturallzed
British subject in 1899, and his son has been
elected to Parliament and his daughter has
married an Englishman. Notwithstanding