CHANGED AMERICANS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 October 1924, Page 3

CHANGED AMERICANS.

“PURSUIT OF PLEASURE AND THE DOLLAR.” DR. MACMILLAN BROWN’S COMMENTS. Some interesting comments on America and the American people were made to a Wellington Post representative by Dr. J. Macmillan Brown, Chancellor of the New Zealand University, on his return after a few months’ visit to the west coast of America. After stating the results of his observations in connection with ethnological research relating to the peoples of the Pacifio Ocean, Dr. Macmillan Brown said: “One other thing I went to see was how the character of the American was changing. I had not been in America for fourteen years, but- I went through America about forty years ago, and after the present visit I have come to the conclusion that in the West the Americans have become in the one sex absolute pursuers of pleasure, and, in the other, pursuers of the dollar. The women have printed in their faces the soft, luxurious look which comes from constant pleasure, and which is so attractive. The men have a set expression on their face' —it is the pursuit of the dollar; a firm lower jaw, ends of the mouth turned down, whilst those of the women are turned up. Altogether, my impression is that the American nation has moved down the slope towards the abyss—the same abyss as the Roman Empire reached. What has made them show this phenomenon more than any other is that it is the richest country in the world, and the most prosperous still. The nation really needs a set-back; and it would be no bad thing if the war which is threatening between Japan and America should come about. It would leave America financially hied, and that would he like the old blood-letting cure for disease: It would make them healthy and strong again. Japan and America were the two nations that won the war financially, all the other Allies lost it financially. The result is that the pleasure-seekers I met in Alaska and down the Yukon to Dawson all asserted ‘We won the war.’ My reply was generally, ‘Yes. just as it was the coveries made at As'ine this year is that It is that tendency to swelled-heacl amongst the well-to-do, semi-educated middle-classes that will flat*© out if any untoward incident in. the relations with Japan should occur.”