The New York herald., 1922-04-02
NY AMERICAN DIARy. BY Ciar'
Sheridan. Boni & Liveright.

II
her experiences. called MY
American Diary" thinks that she |
sees in the diary OF Lady Emmeline |
Stuart WORTHY. written in 1850. a |
precedent for her own literary ad-
ventures in this country and Mexico. |
She admits, however. that the forInef
traveller from England wrote with
the unconscious arrogance OF an
aristocrat for whom there was no
Bohemianisn." So an important diff
ference is at once established. Mrs.
Sheridan's enjoyment of the varied
hospitality offered to her in New
York must have made the task of
her hosts as easy as it was delight
full. She could enjoy herself as much
with Griffin Barry in an Italian res
taurant in. Greenwich Village as she
could on the roof garden OF Brook
lyn hotel done up as ship for the
guests, who studied from aloft the
beauties OF the Manhattan skyline
But they both went to Mexico. both
were. upset by the elements in the
hotel at Vera Cruz and had bad
night So maybe they are. after all,
analogous figures in literary life.
Mrs. Sheridan leaves the disquiet-
ing personalities OF her New York
experiences behind her when, she
sets out for Mexico, but even on this
Journey there is some evidence that
she may be poor judge OF men.
whom she pretends to understand SO
we'll. On the way to Vera Cruz
''young man insisted on attaching
himself. He is Mexican architect.
who has just graduated from the
university at Philadelphia. He will
be very useful ut Vera Cruz with the
luggage" Yet only page further
on the writer is compelled to change
her mind. which plainly dwelt on
the luggage. She met reliable"
American, who had many good quail
ties, which are recited in the de-
scription of him. But all were meant
to lead up to his most important at
tribute. "It is he," is Mrs. Sheri-
dams final conclusion, "and not the
young Mexican architect. who prom
ises to be useful with the luggage at
Vera Cruz"
This time the writer's estimate of
character was finally correct, but it
was necessary at least once for this
reliable American" to take a hard
in the travellers affairs before her
destination was reached. The vessel
stopped at Progreso 10 unload cargo
and take on new passengers. zone
of our fellow travellers is a Syrian
Jew going ashore at Prosreso,"
writes the sculptress, "and invited
me TO SO with him to see the town,
but the reliable American assured
rne the Syrian would delay me sight
seeing until after the departure Of
tnres need not begin quite SO soon."
So she remained on board.
The voyage continued without pos
sible adventure and the reliable
American proved to have n partner
Just as thoroughly to be counted on.
lie gave up his room in the hotel
at Vera Cruz because no other WAS
to be had and it was no fault OF his
that the storm ragged and the water
came through the roof so,persistent-
iy that the leds had TO be pulled all
over the apartment in search OF
siry spot Then there followed the
long trip TO the city of Mexico. which
had almost exhausted the strength
OF the party before, it came to an
end. so cxasperating were the heat
and the slowness of the trip and the
department of her fellow passengers
In Mexico city she received the
cabled news of her Aunt Jennie's'
death. This was Lady Randolph
Churchill. with whom Mrs. Sheridan
was thrown in her youth in Lon
don. "She used to say TO me-" she
writes. "'While you are dressing, put
YOUR mind TO it and do the best you
can with yourself. After. that never
give your appearance another
thought She would scold me un-