RICHMOND THATCHER ON AMERICA.

Ashburton Herald, Volume I, Issue 186, 17 October 1878, Page 3

RICHMOND THATCHER ON AMERICA.

In a long letter to “ Tahite” the dramatic critic of the Australasian , Mr. R. Thatcher gives an account of h s trip to America and England with Miss Ada Ward. He says : —“ We leave England for New York on August 6. Miss Ward is very anxious to get back to New Zealand and Australia, so anxious that she bade me yesterday cable to Simmonds, of New York, to stop making any contracts in the Eastern States. Those entered into she will carry out if obliged to do so, but she wants to get to San Francisco at once, and start early for New Zealand. Everybody I meet who has been to our part of the world is anxious to return. Carden is negotiating with the Melbourne Royal management. Emmet, whom I met in New York, and with whom I had a delicious swim to-day (he opens to-night at the Alexandra), longs to see Melbourne, at least again, and so does his wife. Williamson sighs for another tour in the Colonies. Dampier—who is engaged in a Chancery suit on behalf of his wife —will certainly make his way out, and no doubt settle. They all bear the sunny skies and generous hearts of Australia in kind remembrance. Climate is a great inducement. It is hotter here now than I ever recollect feeling it in Melbourne, and the winter must be dreadfully trying. I need scarcely say that I am nothing loth to hasten back. I should not care for an English winter, and as for stopping in America the thought appalled me. It is a great country and a line one —for Americans; but, to use their own term, ‘ I have no use for it,’ and I say so with no feeling of disappointment, for I saw the country —what I did see of it—at its best, and had ample leisure and means to find out its excellencies. It is a solemn fact, however, that fsis impossible for any that have been brought up elsewhere to avoid having their prejudices shocked at every turn. The manners and customs, the speech, the appearance of this strange people, are ail foreign ; and though i like individual Americans much, I must confess to a feeling ot almost aversion lor the collective Yankee and his mstitutions. If you are kind enough to publish this unusually long letter, may I ask you, in conclusion, te contradict a scandalous report circulated with regard to my connection with Levy. I heard it stated in America and here that 1 connived at his bolting, which is a vile slander. As soon as I met him in Hono lulu I expressed my opinion of his conduct, and the moment I landed in San Francisco I commenced a suit against him, and only compounded on receipt of ioo dollars and all expenses, because I was bound to get away to New York with Miss Ward.”