The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-01-28
AMERICAN AND BRIToN.
Their Likes and Contrasts, AS Observed
By Joseph Newton.

/ The longest frontier in the world is
between the British commonwealth and
the American republic thousand
miles of river. a thousand miles of lake,
a thousand miles of prairie and thou
sand miles of mountain--and there is
not fort. not a gun, not battleship,
along that vast distance. Two flags, but
one civilization, and so 1t has been for
more than hundred years. Here truly
is the basis and beginning of any world
! organization worthy of the name, since
we must begin with things as they are
on the earth, not off up in the clouds.
Moreover, for hundred years we have
kept the peace. During that time we
have been on the edge of war, bat there
was sense enough and sentiment enough
in common to find a way of settling
disputes by appeal to reason and law,
and honor enough TO abide by the de
cisions Such record of arbitration is
not only an achievement, but II consti-
tutes an obligation to bring that eXpe
rience and method to the service of hui
mainly.
Such conviction took me to Eng.
land in 1916 against my wish and de-
sire. as minister Of the city temple;
and more than once, over the teacups,
| discussed it with the most picturesque
of British statesmen now living. Once,
while the tea was a-brewing, ! eX
pressed regret that in America we have
nothing just like the teatime in Eng
land, feeling that such an hour Of re-
taxation and chit chat would be re-
lease from the rush and hurry Of our
life. He said nothing till ] had fin
ished and then he remarked, with n
twinkle in his eve: But remember; we
offered you tea once and you would not |
take it," His idea was that what |
Americans and Britons need is "a smok- I
ing room acquaintance"th that is, some |
thing Of the freedom, informality and I
comradcship which reign in a smoking /
room, where, if you do not know a
man. you ask him for match, and |
that breaks the ice and serves as an in
PRODUCTION. Exactly, il could not be
better put Fof when the ice is bro
ken, Britons and Americans discover I
that, at bottom. they are the same 4
kind Of men think in the same world
Of ideas, and have the same conception
Of life and civilization.
Something is needed to break the ice
Nothing is more amusing than 10 bring
a typioal American and a typical Brit
shcr together, and watch the perform
lnce Il is like one mystery APP
preaching another They are like cous-
ms who have a dim memory that they
lnce played together. and fought each
other, and are not certain whether they
want to be friends or not. Each says
he wrong thing at the right time.
Both are thin skinned. only their skins
ire thick and thin in different spots,
md Il takes time and tact 10 discover
he spots Emotions were given TO an
American to express, and to an Eng
ishman 10 suppress. The two things
IN American talks about are himself
md hi business. aud those are the
wo things which a Britisher will not
ak about Hence the frequent mis-
But when once each in
.crstands the manner and habit. Of the
'ther. and they really meet in an at
nosphere of good viii, differences Dis
Ppear and they become loyal and abid
NJ friends.
Unfortunately two great nations can
ot meet in a smoking room, and that
5 why such DAYS a. this ought 20 be /
made opportunities 81 Interpretation.
rom the Cougregationalist.