Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-01
u. S. IN ENGLISH EYES
The New America" by An English.
man." Is Ciean.Cm and Clear.
Ti,ioued


Anglophobes will not find much COM
fort OF bulls" and "bonehead" state
ments ready-made for confutation and
refutation in THE New America" by
An Englishman" Crank DilnoD, one
Of the numerous books currently coming
from the press with the avowed aim of
reducing traditional misunderstanding
between the British and American
peoples and of explaining away causes
Of dissension. Most of such books are
shining marks for apt criticism, as their
ridiculous mlsstatements, and unin-
formed foundation and antipathetic
background are their own antidotes and
the books themselves do more harm
than good to their cause.
Mr.. Dilnot writes very brightly,
brskly and understandingly. even with
a touch Of Yankee raciness Judge his
quality and candor by the following ex-
tract from his first few pages: "To find
out the great secret of this complex
nation, so full of contrasts, so reputedly
material on tho one hand, SO high
minded on the other, so intensely prac-
teal, while at the same time flaming
with a spiritual patriotism unsur-
passed in hlstory-here was riddle
not to be solved in day or a month,
or even year" In this frame of open
. lllIlNl. OF COURSE, MT. l)llnOt saw no Jti-
ferson Bricks here. though he got as far
west as Toledo, Chicago and Detroit.
Apparently. too, If he had ever read
Mrs. Trollope and her successors in
| traducing America. down TO Kipling
| he had emerged fancy free and un-
| touched by their carping and criticast-
I ing, the grains Of truth in which Amer
leans have never resented. the right to
/ their individual opinions Americans have
never resented. the ill-uature of whom
Americans will always resent so often
as these books are busted infrequently
and read
A studious reading of Mr.. Dilnots
book reveals only one bad break" That
is in the chapter on "The Spoken and
Written Word" and we reprint IL with
out comment. for IL neds none. The
Englishman must and will per-
sist that the true English language is in
possession of the English people. And
this in spite OF the ract that some of
the less educated people. especially in
London. drop their his in pretty much
the same way that the less educated do
in New York"
Mr.. Dilnot has an Interesting char
acter analysis of President Wilson. In
one passage he says
thought about President Wilson
the man. Bat for that nervous body.
that long. rather narrow head and
| intellectual face. | should nave called
him stolid and yet | knew he was not
stolid He ought to have given me
impressions of British restraint. He
did not do so. There was something
different, something more direct ard
boyish. despite his reserve, than was
to be found in a calm. reserved British
statesman. | saw in him traces of the
mOrdant. cear-cut. uncompromising
Joseph Chamberlain and yet he had
more effective touch and his phrases
a suspicion of Mr.. Asquth, intel
lectual. with that mental poise which
accompanies full knowledge and an
inhexihie will on the other hand he
was the antithesis OF Mr.. LLOYD
George. who is a flaming, cracking,
bursting sort of person.
Again:
He took IL for granted he was the
responsible person. lie sought TO shift
no burden to other, people, but there
was no arrogance about him, for that
is impossible to man with the tenn
permanent of Woodrow Wilson. There
was however, a subtle assertiveness,
n crystal consciousness thGt his work
called for personal decision constantly.
1t was obviously impossible for this
man to be in any position OF authority
without using that authority TO the
fullest limit in his belief of what was
: right.
Although Mr.. Dllnot calls his boo.
"The New America" It is by no mean
confined exclusively to an observant an
oDen-mlnded Englishman's reactions I
, America in fact his chapters inevitabl
and Invariably tend to disclose the con
trasts and differences. rather than de
. note the resemblance and similaritie
between the American and British TEN
peraments and viewpoints. For that rea
son his chapters will be informing t
. the Britisher on the subject of America
traits, thoughts and ideals. and 1t wi
divulge good -naturedly to the America
comparisons between his ways and thos
4 of the British on such subjects a
t women, language. humor, amusement
a speech etc.
= THE NEW AMERICA. BY "An Englisf
man; Drank pilnoD, New York; tt
l 81 -.