My Impressions of America

Chapter 7

Chapter 71,124 wordsPublic domain

It is enormously to the credit of the American public that they have never chosen a bad character in their presidents and have produced, in Abraham Lincoln, a man of genius, ability and courage who will live for ever in the hearts and minds of every country in the world. Nor must we forget that he dominated the people in spite of a campaign of calumny by the press only equalled by the one to which my husband was subjected in the latter days of the war.

Men at the head of affairs must be independent of public opinion if they wish to achieve anything and never try to conciliate a press that, in all fairness, it must be said,--with a few exceptions--does not attempt to guide, for more than a transitory moment, anyone to any goal.

The present Government in America from all I heard--some of its heads I had the honour to meet--seems to be an admirable one, and working smoothly in times of exceptional difficulty. President Harding has had the wisdom to get good men round him and is a man of open mind and wide views himself.

With some of the faults I have found during my tour I am told that "The American Credo"[*] (given to me by my friend Mr. Anderson of the St. Louis _Dispatch_) deals with searching fidelity. I daresay when I read it I shall learn where I have been wrong; but in criticising as I have, I am merely fulfilling the promise I made to write my impressions which at best can be but superficial.

[*] By G. J. Nathan and H. L. Mencken.

Among thoughtful people there is a great deal of pro-American propaganda going on in this country, and in conclusion I would like to say that there is so much that is fine and keen in the American race, so much that is disarming and lovable, that if I have written anything exaggerated or erroneous, I should feel of all people the most ungrateful.

I can only plead to be forgiven where I have erred, as I was not only shown unforgettable courtesy and friendship, but I feel it is vital to the peace of the world that our people and those of the United States should understand and care for one another.

THE END

INDEX

A

Acton, Lord, 15

Adams, tomb, 62

Allard, Miss, 76

Allen, Henry J, 161, 178, 180

America, 9 dancers, 24 man, 17 press, 83 race, 207 women, 16

Americans, 200

Anderson, Paul, 147, 152, 171, 206

Aurelius, Marcus, 159

B

Balfour, Lady Francis, 101

Balfour, Mr, 47, 59, 170, 181

Balfour, Oswald, 100

_bal poudré_, 45

Baltimore, 135

Bancroft, Mrs, 36

Barnard, Nellie, 178

Beland, Dr. Henri, 108

Bibesco, Antoine, 128

Bibesco, Elizabeth, 46, 181

Bibesco, Prince, 22, 51

bolshevist, 179

Bonus, The, 77

Boston, 29 Fine Arts Museum, 84 Public Library, 34 Sargent Hall, 34, 35 Symphony Hall, 30

Brisbane, Arthur, 181

Brooklyn, 50

Broun, Heywood, 51, 52

"Bruce", 82, 83, 152

Buffalo, 73, 112, 139

Burgess, Mr. and Mrs. Ward, 158

Butler, Dr. Murray, 23

C

Calvé, Mme, 98

Campbell, Ex-Governor, 73

Cannes Conference, 61

Castex, Captain, 65

Caulfield, Judge Henry, 152

Chapin, Mr. and Mrs., 72

Charwoman, 98

Chicago, 73, 137 Michigan Boulevard, 140, 141 reporters, 74

Church, Mr, 86

Cincinnati, 142

Coalition, 148

Columbus, 72

Columbus, Christopher, 167

Communist, 179

Conservative Party, 61, 116, 124, 148, 166

Cravath, Paul, 50

Crewe, Lord, 167

Cromwell, Nelson, 129, 191

D

Davis, Ex-Ambassador, 129

Day, Clarence, Jr, 185

Detroit, 71 Highland Park, 73

Downing Street, 168

Drew, Mrs, 15

Drummond, Mrs. Huntley, 99, 111

E

E. A. S----, 137

Eglee, Dr, 52

F

flappers, 21, 83, 91, 118, 120, 141

Ford, Henry, 72

Fuller, Alvin, Lieutenant Governor, 33, 34

G

Galahad, Sir--statue, 109

Geddes, Sir Auckland, 22, 67

Genoa Conference, 61

German race, 66

Gerry, Miss Mabel, 24

Ghandi, 148

Gibbs, George, 45

Gouin, Sir Lomar, 109

Governor General of Canada, 111

Graham, Hon. George, 109

Grey, Lord, 116, 157

H

Hall, Mr, 158

Hapgood, Mr, 181

Hard, Thomas, 57

Harding, President, 57, 58, 206

Harper, Henry Albert, 110

Hill, Mr. Arthur, 32

Hocker, Mrs, 151

Holland, Dr, 86

Hosmer, Charles, 101

Hostetter, V, 44

House, Colonel, 47, 129

Hughes, Mr, 61, 107, 130

I

_If Winter Comes_, 74, 84

India, 148

influenza, 11

Intemperance, 173

International politics, 81

Irish Free State, 107

J

Jeffries, Mr, 72

Johnson, Pussyfoot, Mr, 125

Jusserand, M, 64

K

Kalamazoo, 172

Kansas City, 155, 158, 171, 179

Keedick, Mr. Lee, 22, 49

Kennedy, Mrs. G. B, 109

Kiel, Henry W, 147

"Kiki", 178

King, MacKenzie, 105, 106, 116

Komroff, Nellie, 72, 178

Kountze, Mrs, 158

Kreisler, 130

L

Labor, 107

Lake Chautauqua, 58

Laughter, 16

Lawford, Mrs, 100, 111

Lee, Lord, 65, 123, 126, 127

Liberal Party, 49, 166

Lincoln, Abraham, 119, 160, 205

Lloyd George, Mr, 49, 60, 121

Lords, House of, 124

M

Mackay, Clarence, 129

Margot myth, 195

Meighen, Mr 105, 106

Meyer, Baron 181

Military doctor 76

Minotto, Count, 74

Minotto, Mrs 74, 75

M. M. F 138

Montclair, 120

Montreal 99, 111

Moore, Heath 165, 168, 170, 186

Moore, Mrs, 149, 150

McGiverin, Hal, 108

N

New Republic 181

New York 177, 189 Architecture 24 female reporters 115

Niagara, 138

Niagara Falls 12, 139, 140

O

"Official Reprisals", 107

Omaha 157, 158, 177

Onondaga Hotel, 135

Ottawa, 105, 106, 108

P

Paget, F. J, 174

Parkes, Dr, 41

Perley, Sir George, 105

Petting Parties, 141

Pittsburgh, 81, 91, 96

Polk, Mrs. Frank 128, 129

Prince Bibesco, 22, 51

Princess Mary 12, 14, 120, 202

Prohibition, 95, 116, 124, 125, 127, 174, 190, 204

Providence, 120, 121

Q

Queen Mary, 203

R

Railway Stations 29, 30

Reading, Lord 148

Reed, Mrs. Hayter 100, 111

Reporters 21, 81, 117, 173

Richards, Dean 135

Ridgeway, Mr. Thomas 24, 45

Rochester 89

Rock Creek Cemetery 62

S

Sabre, Mark 84

St. Louis 147, 149, 171

Salesmen 189

Saloon League 125

San Francisco 177

Sargent, John Singer 34

Senate 130

Shell-shocked 77

Shields, Mrs. Edward 155, 158, 161, 170, 179

Smugglepupping 141

Speedway Hospital 75, 76

State, Department of 131

States, The 77

Stauffer, Rev. Byron, chairman 95, 96

Sullivan, Mr. and Mrs 172

Syracuse 135, 136, 177

T

Taylor, Sir Frederick 101

Tennant, Miss 22, 53, 62

Tennants 48

Thayer, Charles M 37

Toronto 91, 95

Trains 89, 90

Twain, Mark 96

U

Utica, 135

V

Vanderbilt, Mrs. Cornelius, 45

Versailles Conference, 61

Vining, Mr. C. M, 91

Volstead, Mr, 125

W

Washburn, Mr. and Mrs. W, 37

Washington, 130, 177

White, Mr. Harry, 24, 41

Wiers, Rev. Swan, 120

Wilson, Ex-President, 63

Y

Younger, Sir George, 60, 61, 116

End of Project Gutenberg's My Impresssions of America, by Margot Asquith