Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-06
Letters to the Editor
EnoIlsh Criticism and Others ,

70 tbe Editor Of the EUeniuD Public Ledger!
sir-Really 7 must say that the letter
from Mrs. NJ. H. John very far from rep
sn.on,s true American feeling. The whole
,ors 10 bnd.natured and jeers are neither
foc,s nor argument. The absurd assertion
tno, American men have stood insults for
40 venrs is downright untruth. Vow
American men that I know would stand in
suits for 14O seconds, let alone period or
almost n century and n half.
Mrs Johns ducal friends and ornitholog-
tcaI specimens from Konsington have never
met my notice. The number OF bhghsh
dukes visiting the United states In CEN
t,,ry could be written on postage stamp,
.rd I have never heard OF them possessing
literary ability enough to write any news
MINER article. Any ordinary american re-
ooiyos English criticisms with good
rotured yawn. The kind of Englishman
,bat ,ye cannot stand In the one who does
mi think us worth any criticism at oil. AS
my husband has taken me several times TO
England | can assert that nave oIten
.nod criticisms by Americans of England
in english newspapers, and nobody seemed
TO care n jot.
never heard of mob there hauling
a,pn or desecrating our flag and every one
seemed to cherish friendly feelings Tor us.
Concerning science. mere woman Is per
bons not nj to gve any authoritative opin-
lon but the English constructed the FIRST
railway in the world between stockton and
harrington, and the so-caled brilliant In
yentlon Of making corridor or NestiDule
through railroad car hardly stirs my
Imagination. ~ -,
We excel the world In mechanical inven-
,,ons, but I do not think that we lead In
.ricnce An italian invented wireless teegL
rorhy. an Englishman coal tar dyes. a
Frenchman the pasteurizing OF milk, etc
Tho assertion that Mrs H." makes that
EnpI,shmen said they had the telephone and
t,newrttcr forty years before us would'
mnske one believe that she had questioned the
inmates OF a home for the mentally az
aicted Both inventions are American. alb
.oIutely beyond dispute, although ! ike the
European system of the receiver and speak
ing orince in one piece better thah our
oumbrous two-piece instrument.
Tho city Of Leeds in England. read,
hes had an automatic telephone call sys-
lam for some time. Where Is ours? on
Tho way. | hear, but the desRsed English
were first.
As We possess more high buildings than
any other nation. we naturally have de-
veloped tho elevator to a greater extent
than the English. but they have swedish
system In the subway in London | noticed.
| have never seen In any country elevator
sperators with the marvellous skill of the
Sew Workers. The English regard the
American "twang" with friendly admira-
lion and say that 1t lends piauancy to
narrative like salt to an egg. 1t is pity
that II is vanishing. | am an old woman
and have noticed its decline during the last
tElrty years We ought to have our own
accent as we are the most numerous Eng
lIsh- speaking nation existing. The cockney
twang Is most unpleasant to my ear, but
I do not converse socially with taxi drivers
sr bus conductors. Any people or nations
. who regard themselves as above criticism
deserve pity more than anything else.
GERMANTOWN WOMAN.
PHILADELPHIA December g. 1920.