AMERICAN METHODS—A REPLY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 27, 1 February 1907, Page 2

AMERICAN METHODS— A REPLY.

TO THE EDITOH. Sir, — The severe animadversions against America published in last evening's issue of the Post in tho interview with Mr. T. W. Bonthorne do not constitute very pleasing reading to an American. I have landed in the port of New York thirteen times from Europe, and cannot recall a single instance in which a Customs or any olher officer by brusque or irrelevant questioning has given the least cause for offence. The instances cited of "tipping" officials in order to facilitate the despatch of baggage are the sort of stock yarns the embryo traveller is regaled -nhli, and which, as far, as America is concerned, hardly need contradiction. For monumental ineptitude and blundering nothing can compare with the disembarkation of passengers and baggage from a. long distance ship at Wellington. I do not hesitate to affirm that the business morality of New York or any other big American city is fully as high as that of New Zealand, and as regards the amenities and courtesies of business intercourse— e.g., ,the prompt and satisfactory acknowledgment of correspondence — this country is hopelessly out 'of the contest. The broad dietinction between political corruption in America and New Zpaland is that the former is positive and. implies the possession of bi'ains and energy ; the latter negative, indicating inefficiency and unblushing nepotism. It, is news to me that Americans are selfish ; the unbounded private munificence exemplified in universities, colleges, hospitals, and institutions of all sorts, from Maine to California is, after all, hallucina- . tion. Meals may cost a little more in America than here, but then cleanliness and good cooking aie included. The ghastly death-dealing Wellington board- j inghouee — and tho same obtains all over > the colony — should make criticism of the Chicago canned meat industry impossible. Opinion of America in New Zealand will sensibly improve when the lightning San Francisco mail service is dealt with as it ought to be dealt with, and the present unending volume of useless discussion on the subject Tesolves itself into practical purpose. — I am, etc., A. BEESON (New York). 30th January.

Of Ton Bulow, the pianist, Mr. J. P. Barnett tells a characteristic anecdote in his " Musical Reminiscences." At one of his recitals at St. James's Hall two ladies came in late, much to his annoyance. They wero making their .way to their seats just as he had finished the introduction to the opening movement of Beethoven's Sonata. Pathetique. In beginning the allegro, accordingly, he took it so as to make the quavers in the bass coincide exactly with the ladies' footsteps. Natiirally they felt on thorns while walking to their places, and hurried on as fast as they possible could, while Von> Bulow accelerated his tempo accordingly. " One can well believe that the effect was exceedingly comic."