ENGLISH HABITS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 20 December 1927, Page 5

ENGLISH HABITS.

A VIGOROUS PROTEST. AGAINST AMERICANISATION. Press Association- Electrio Telegraph-Copyright. LONDON, Monday. Mr G. K. Chesterman, speaking at a Delphian Coterie dinner, said that he violently objected to the Americanisation 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. The English inn was the most glorious thing on earth, but it was becoming an American hotel, and nobody 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 Chesterman, “because you can always say, ‘Please God, I shall soon see England again.’ If I had thought 1 should see the samo 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.”