American Notes.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 4 (Supplement)

American Notes.

By Pastor W. L. Birch, D.D,

San Francisco, April 1 I.

During my voyage to San Francisco (no culDured American calls ifc ' 'Frisco' ; so. make a note of it), I was requested by the passengers to hold divine service on Sundays, whereupon the captain ordered id to be held in the email social ball instead of the saloon, and since I was informed that the steerage passengers wore nob to bo invited, I declined to hold the service. Both steerage and saloon approved my decision nob to make any £ s d distinction in the church. So far 'as official service is concerned, we therefore existed three weeks like heathens. Though' I had the sole use of a cabin on deck aft. the room was co hot and stuffy from tho fumes of the engine that I slept every night outside on a bench 'for'ard,' and enjoyed pure air, with an occasional wave-splash, and a look ab the majestic stars. Samoa. The German* are doing their level best to got) Snmoa into their hands. Though I tried to ccc the king, we wore permitted to interview only tho queen. I learned that the German official had ordered the king to keep in his room. I had a conversation with a girl on the king's verandah, and only knowing a few words of the language, whilo ohe knew only a little English, our talk was difficult. She said sho was the king's daughter—she meant a relative. When 1 tried to ask if sho would nob like to come with us in the steamer to visit America, she evidently regarded it as an offer of marriage and with a cheerful grin and kindly gesture, exclaimed like the coster song—' Yuss.' A present seemed to please her, and as she walked a little way under my umbrella, for the rain came down just then, she chatted sweetly, that is, it sounded sweet, but I could not understand, more than a word here and there. The queen did not appear to comprehend English, yeb I enabled her to understand that I was married, that my wife was not with me. and when I kiased the photograph, the queen shrieked with laughter, nodding tbab abe knew what I meant. Why cannot New Zealand ' protect' Samoa ? No one seems to like the Germans and every native in the town hates the king, who is a mere puppet in their handa. The American inhabitants of Honolulu and the whites there, are very anxious to be annexed by tho United States, but I learn here that the American polioy is nob to possess any territory out of this continent. I think Now Zealand might, therefore, 'go in and win ' all the unprotected islands. The International' Peace Federation botweon Americans, Canadians, British, Irish,, and Australasians, on which I am missioning this country, is now beginning to move by leaps and bounds. lam in communication with seventy cities, with the Trades' Councils, Women's Societies, and Ministers' Associations?, but keep myself in the background as a suggestor, moving American leaders to take the first fiddles—they like ' blowing the big drum ;' they blow hard when they are about ib. Sunday In San Francisco. The churches are poorly attended, chiefly by women. The Anglicans are bell-less— biens 'em for this modesty. I with the New Zealand Anglicans would melb their ear-splitting bells into breast-pins. In the ordinary churches of all kinds, I have no* counted more than seven montosixfcy women, while in the Roman Catholic Cathedral on Palm Sunday, the Archbishop blessing the pnlma to be given away, I could make only one man to a hundred women. The men, poor dear?, are too much fagged to go to church, they need the amusement and instruction and stir ot the theatre, the "onsational Sunday newspapers, and the street; Yea; all the theatres are open on Sunday ;it is their best day. One theatre, holding about 3,500 or more, is open every night, Suaday and week-day, admission free, bat everyone who occupies a seat is expected to order a drink, which everyone does. Tho parformancs is of the low variety kind, the lower the better it is liked, and tho higher the girls kick the greater the applause. I find many small music Italia have 'admission free,' while almost all of these add, ' Men only admitted, and no boys under'Bixteen allowed in.' But women are inside tempting the poor beggars to drink. The6e women have a percentage on the liquor sold. Those • free shows ' are wretched dens, and the men who frequent them look miserable, as if they possessed neither home nor friend. I tried to get the big theatre referred to tor Sunday lectures, bub without success. Almost everyono smokos, and most of the women chew guiM. I have, so far, seen only one drunken man, though many people drink. Gibber they do not take much, or they can stand a groat amount without being knocked over. Mutual Admiration Meetings. In their assemblies or meetings men do not seem to poeeess the independence which obtains in New Zealand. The spirit is that known aa ' I will proceed to scratch your back in order that you may scratch mine,' that is, applaud or vote for me. At a meeting presided over by a minister, he slobbered over his church officers, and in their speeches they slobbered over him; they named ib Christian love, but it lasts only while they are mutually willing to do the slobber and tickle. At another, a secular meeting, when a merchant was called to speak, the president gushingly exclaimed, ' I am now about to call upon Mr Bum de Bum, of the great firm of Bum, Bum, Bum and Co., who in every city of the civilised world is known to be the most honourable and solid in the trade of Rumbum-dust, and whose name is dear to every member of thiß chamber.' (I had never heard tho name until then.) Tbo worthy Mr Bum do Bum then came modestly forward, looking as if he felb like a comfortably-stroked cat, whose tail is perpendicularly waved towards the sky. At another similar gathering, the president uplifted his chest and remarked, while be lovingly looked around, ' We— we are tho most noble-minded and the moat generoushearted of all the nations en tho face of the earth, 1 whereupon, the tickled people graciously applauded (the tickler, and I smiled a smole. Many persons ask what I think of America, yet scarcely give time for a reply, but pub words into my mouth and perhaps imagine I have uttered inflated praise. Nothing tickles an American more than judicioualy expressed, high-flown approval of his country, except, perhaps, when you can do ib without showing flattery, bo praise himself aa a representative specimen. John Bull dislikes flattery, bub Jonathan courts it; and, somehow, it suits his nature, for taking him all in all the gsnuiue article is without guile and shows his heart on his coat sleeve, as tho saying ia.' Full Speed Ahead. To-day, at luncheon, a well-dressed man hurriedly entered, sat down, and almost immediately swallowed a lot of iced milk, about a tumbler full. I remarked that I had been taught to drink milk in sips with bites of food between, since to take ib big as he had done might lodge ib like a leaden ball in one's bread basket (stomach). He replied with a sigh, • Yes, I suppose it is not wise to drink as I do, but when one is hob and in a hurry ib is refreshing; and, besides, you know, life is too short to drink iced milk in dps.' Bin reply voices Americunisin—life ia too pborb tt> take things quietly ; go ahead full, speed 1 risk au ex plofiion, a failure, a death, rather than take things quietly. In effect, Americanism exclaims, * I mutt eflfc from myself, my servants, my engine, my theatre, my church, my counory the fastest speed, the biggesb show, the loudesb sbout. No wonder the men look haggard and home-

less and the women worn In face as if weary at hearb. The pace tells—it is a continual attempt to spurt. They have no time to properly oil the human engine— they sleep too little, eat too fast, overwork the jaw either in talking or chewing tobacco or gum, and swallow too many pills. Cigar shops, druggists' stores, or medical men's brass signs, meet one's eyes every few yards. When walking in tho city you seldom meeb a ruddy face or laughing, healthful eyes. The people are sentimental and highly strung. Aba religious revival service they are in dead earnest and go the whole hog—quite a drove will flock to ' the altar' or penitent form and fail down to be converted or re-converted in great haste, as if a steamboat were waiting at the wharf blowing the steam-whistle. When entering a chnrch they walk quickly.as if tbere were no time to waste in wonshipping God ; and at theatres, diaing-rooms and steamboats they are moved by the same * go-ahead— full speed' feeling, and press forward like greased lightning to heaven or hell. Yeb I am drawn to and love them, and bhose with whom I*corns into close contacts seem to know it. They are genial and hospitable, and will do anything for you it yon will hurry up and let ib be done quickly. Thoy are as true ac steel to the prevailing principle which inspires them, bub too fond of being tickled. If, however, you scratch bbc wrong way. well, you had better make tracks by the first handy railroad or steamboat. Scratching backs in the proper way is the only road to peace and glory. | An Appeal to Nkw Zealand, May I ask, through you, New Zealandera to bake active steps to belp on the American and British peace federation. If the two nations receive the projecb with the enthusiasm which noble ideas have hitherto inspired them, their mutual voice will move every intelligent hearD with responsive thrill, while the colossal strength of the alliance would win the reverence of tho civilised world and be the mosb Godlike evolution yet manifested on earth. I respectfully submit, therefore, than every New Zealand and Australian Trades' Council, Women's Society, Christian Endeavour Union, Chamber of Commerce, Friendly Society and Religious Ministers' Association, should pass a resolution expressing sympathy with the wide-spread-ing idea that Americans and British should now stretch lortb the band of everlasting peace. _____^___«____