The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1891.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6267, 1 October 1891, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1891.

In Max O'Rell's very entertaining book, "Jonathan and his Continent," we are given an excellent insight into the manners and customs of American citizens. The chief feature in the character of a Yankee is love of work. Outside a few sets that ape English habits, no one in the United States boasts of living on his proporty. In England, a mau who docs nothing goes by the name of " gentleman ;" in Chicago he goes by the name of "loafer." In fifty years' timo, when America has two hundred million inhabitants, perhaps, she wilj impose hor ideas upon the Old World. Then, may be, society will havo no contempt excopt for tho ignorant and tbe idle. Max O'Rell tolls tho following little story: —" A young man, with a very in-telligent-looking face, waa pointed out

to me one evening, in a Chicago draw-ing-room. ' He is very rich,' said my hostess to me softly. ' For & year or two after he inherited the property he did no work, and people began rather to shun him. But he has just gone ioto partnership with a friend in business, and so he is quita reinstated in everyone's esteem.' " The unemployed difficulty is not heard of in America, and if it onCe showed itself there it would be made short work of. It would not be pettfd and encouraged, nor would paupers bo manufactured by tho hundred in every largo centre, of population. Not only is work respectable in America, but in certain States it is compulsory. In the _ State _of Missouri, for instance, any idl« improvident fellow who neglects his family or, through shiftless habits, is likely to becoma a burden to the State, may be sold at auction to the highest bidder for a term of six months. This is a law passed twenty years ago. It provides, also, that after tbe vagrant has worked out the purchase ruouoy, uuy other sum earned by him, at a fair compensation, is to be applied by his purchaser to the payment of bis debts, or the maintenance of Lie family. If, when he is free again, he returns to his bad habits, his fellow townsmen take the law into their own hands They escort him to some public place and flog him ; and if that does not euro him, his wife runs the risk of seeing him one flue day hanging from some neighboring tree. The people will tell you. says Max O'Rell, as the most simple, thing in the world,, that by acting thus they economise the cost of a police force. Rather primitive this reason, it must be admitted; but in new societies idleness is a crime, and the bees ought to have a right to drive the drones.out of the hive.