Max O'Rell on America.

Evening Star, Issue 7875, 6 April 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

Max O'Rell on America.

If the American woman has a fault it is her passion for displaying diamonds and dress. This is what Max O'Rell says of the liberty of the American girl : From the age of eighteen the American girl is allowed almost every liberty. She takes the others. She can travel alone, and go to concerts and even theatres unattended by a chaperon. She is supplied with pocketmoney, which she spends at her own sweet will in bonbons, knick-knacks, and jewels. If there is none left for the milliner and dressmaker papa is coaxed to pay them. She visits and receives whom she pleases, or rather those who please her, and she has her own circle of acquaintances. If at a ball she meets with a young man who takes her fancy—l do not say touches her heart—she says to him : " I am at home on such a day; como and see me." Next day he may send hor a ticket for the theatre, and be her escort for the evening. He may bring ber flowers, offer her refreshments after the play, and take her home in a carriage. In America all this is the most natural thing in the world. This leads to no intimacy, for a few days later it may happen that he meets the young lady at a ball, and she comes up to him and says: " I want to present you to a friend; do tell me your name, I quite forget it." The American girl who appears to us French so giddy, and even fast, seems to me to act according to the dictates of common sense. Tired of the old formula "a lady cannot do that—it would be improper," she says " I will do it; and if I choose to do it, it becomes proper." It is for woman herself to make the law on these matters.

Max O'Rell protests against the view that worship of the golden calf is the paramount feature of the American life :

THE DOLLAR NOT ALMIGHTF.

If a millionaire inspires respect it is as much for the activity and talent he has displayed in the winning of his fortune as for the dollars themselves. An American who had nothing but his dollars to boast of might easily see all English doors open to him, but his millions alone would not give him the enlrde into the beßt society ofßoston and Mew York. There he would be requested to produce some other recommendation. An American girl who was rich, but plain and stupid, would always find some English duke, French marquis, or Italian count ready to marry her, but she would have great difficulty in finding an American gentleman who would look upon her fortune or her dot as a sufficient indemnity.

PKESS TUB BUTTON, S.V.P.

This is how the thing is to be done: The restaurant is provided with small numbered tables. Each table is in direct communication with the kitchen by means of rails. Close at hand are a number of electric buttons, upon which the customer sees written beef, mutton, chop, vegetables, tart, etc. He touches three, four, five buttons, according to his appetite, and the cook receives his order. " Steak and potatoes, tomato, salad, chocolate cream, for No. 52 ! ... All right, ready !" In an instant a, tray bearing the lunch appears upon the table, placed there without hands. When the customer has disposed of his food, he touches the button marked "bill." In a twinkling the bill appears on his plate, and the assuaged American settles it at the desk as he goes out. The whole thing is aB simple as bonjour. The American complains that it is impossible to lunch in less than ten minutes. This evil will be remedied shortly. DIVOKCE IN THE STATES. Those who share Mr Gladstone's interest in the question of divorce may like to read Max O'Rell's remarks on the facility with which marriages can be made and unmade in the States. " The Court of Divorce in Chicago," he tells us, "called by the Americans the * divorce mill,' decided 681 cases during the year 1887. This institution is just as flourishing in the State of Indiana as in Illinois. The Easterners jokingly pretend that, as the train rolls into the capital of Indiana, the porters cry out: "Indianapolis—twenty minutes for divorce!" bo

that couples who may have fallen out the journey can part company for good. Doea the husband snore or chew ? Has He disagreeable breath, or a clumsy manner ot kissing his wife ? Does that lady wear false hair, give her tongue too free play, or habitually take up the newspaper as soon as her husband shows signs of dropping into sentiment ? All these offences are serious ones before the aforesaid tribunals.

THE GALLANTRY OF AMERICA. We are not in the habit of particularly associating America with gallantry; yet Max O'Rell says that the American would stand rather than sit by the side of a lady in a railway carriage. An amusing incident recently occurred while Max O'Rell was lecturing at the Midland Institute, Birmingham, and was speaking of American politeness. He noticed that while there were gentlemen sitting, a number of ladies were standing in the aisle of the hall. "The American," he said, " is far more gallant than people think. For instance, if thlfl hall were in America, there would not be a lady standing while there were gentlemen comfortably seated." Some of the male occupants of the chairs began wriggling in their seats, and, after a decent interval haa elapsed, offered them to the ladies who were standing near them. Max O'Rell, who laughs heartily as he relates this anecdote, hastens to explain that he does not charge the Englishman with being ungallant. "He is, in his way, no worse than the Frenchman, who will make way for a lady—so that he may get a better view of her face."

POLITICIANS AND NEWSPAPERS. Of the American politician, Max O'Rell haa a very different opinion. _ " To suggest that an American gentleman is a Senator IB to insult him," we are gravely informed. "When a member of Congress enters a house a servant is sent to guard the spoons, and when he leaves another one is stationed in the hall to keep an eye on the hats and cloaks." One of the most entertaining chapters of Max O'Rell's new book will be the one devoted to American newspapers, three or four of which he read regularly each day. " X never knew," he told us, with a merry twinkle in his eye, "what lively reading was before. At last I got to know when I took up a paper that the only reliable statement printed in it would be—the date. The newspaper offices are miracles of management. The editor?, too. are wonders of entsrprise. Before I left Liverpool I received a letter from the editor of the ' New York Critic,' asking me to write on th« voyage out my preconceived notions of America. You are expected, directly your foot is on the country, to give your opinion of it, bnt to be asked before you have even seen it is—well, very enterprising." JONATHAN AND JOHN BULL. " I am surprised," said Max O'Jtell, "to find what little regard Jonathan has for his cousin. They don't get on together at all well. Why is it? I will tell yon. At home, the Englishman is nice. Abroad, he is not. He goes about sniffing atd sneering. He looks down upon everything which he is not accustomed to see. In the States he puts on an air of mighty patronage, which is very irritating to the American. 'Not so bad,' he says, as he looks around. ' Not so bad, especially as you've done it all without my help.' Instead of that the American expects you to live in an ecstasy of delight while you are staying with him. With everything he shows you must be more than pleased; you must be astonished, and, lifting up your hands, exclaim: ' Great heaven, is it possible!' John Bull won't pretend to admire, and the cousins, in consequence, are not good friends. It's a great pity."