MR JEROME K. JEROME OK AMERICA.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 193, 14 August 1909, Page 15

MR JEROME K. JEROME OK AMERICA.

SOME AMUSING INCIDENTS WITH' INTERVIEWERS.' Mr Jerome K. Jeromo who, with his wife, was present on Monday, June 28th, at the annual luncheon of the.'{Society of American Women in London, made an amusing speech on "America Through English Spectacles." He said that he thought the European man had been more unselfish than the American man. The European -man, instead of thinking about his own soul and character, had given women every opportunity for acquiring the virtues of patience and humility. The American man seemed to have gone about Jn n selfish desire to acquire all the virtues of unselfishness and chivalry and left the American women, so far as he could see, no opportunity to acquire those virtues. THE AMERICAN INTERVIEWER. The first thing an Englishman Baw In America was the interviewer. He came on board at Sandy Hook and asked tha visitor at once what he thought of America. He (Mr Jerome) told the first interviewer that he had not got there yet. The Interviewer said: "What do you think you are going to think about America?" He replied that he did not know; but) the interviewer did. (Laughter.) He did not know whether it could be suggested to the American rutervlewer that there was such a thing as an Englishman who did not drop his "h's," and did not end every sentence with "Don't you know." He found in the interviews with him that were published that be never used an "h" In the right place, nnd never came to a full stop without the observation, "Don't you know." Ho mentioned this to one Interviewer, and the interviewer replied: "Well, you have got to put a little character Into these things. You English people don't spread yourselves on and we have got to put a little character Intel it." BROKE IN AT TWO A.M. Then the American interviewer seemed to have no Idea that there was a time for sleep. When he was la New York a man broke Into his bedroom at two o'clock in the morning and began talking to iblm. In the paper he was reported us being rather *, surly type of Englishman. He was described lv the report of one interview as a "tubby little man," nnd In another aa "a blonde Viking." (Laughter.) Both reports were written by the same man, who afterwards explained thnt he wrote for two papers and bad to vary It." (Renewed laughter.) The Press in America was anf Institution: that struck one. It was always talking at the top of its voice; It was always screaming. The result was) that when there wal anything to scream about It 6eemed to have lost Its voice. At Atalanta an interview came upon him w)ie:i lie was having a bath. He had not locked the door, so the Interviewer walked in. lie told him he would see him In a few. minutes If ho would wait in the next room, but tlie Interviewer said: "Oh, don't trouble yourself. You are enjoying yourself. It must be a treat for an Englishman to have a bath."