AMERICAN WAYS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 147, 19 December 1927, Page 9

AMERICAN WAYS

CHANGE ENGLISH LIFE

CHESTERTON PROTESTS

"A GHASTLY BUSINESS"

fUnited Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Eeeeived 19th December, 11 a,m.)

LONDON, 18th December.

Mr. G. K. Chesterton, speaking at a Delphian Coterie dinner,- said that he violently objected to the Americanisatiou of England, of the English habit of life, and of the appearance of the English village. The whole tone of their existence had been altered entirely by the commercial pressure of America. Tha English inn was the most

glorious thing on

earth, but it was becunimg an American hotel, and nobgdy was stopping it. The American habit of showing off wealth, he said, was insulting to the poorer but much more civilised countries, and had an uncomfortable resemblance' to the reputation of the early nineteenth century Englishman abroad. The Kaiser's army could, not have more completely denationalised London. Even in war, invasion spared the common habit of life of a nation. "It is amusing in Broadway to see idiotic electric signs wriggling like dancing devils," said Mr. Chesterton, "because you can always say, "Please God, I shall soon see England again.' If I had thought I should see the same red-hot devils standing on their heads and chewing gum in Piccadilly I should have contemplated suicide, yet this ghastly business is happening in London. When it comes to defending our native land the time has arrived for damning all Americans to Hell."