BETTER AMERICAN CONTACTS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—Granted that the relations between Britain and the United States would improve out of all belief, if more Americans could be brought to appreciate what the land of their forefathers has to show them and to teach them, the only real problem is how to bring them here. Perhaps 60 per cent. of our people are of British descent, excluding the Irish, or at least the Irish who prefer to be excluded. Our people of other descent than British are disproportionately prominent in public life. The higher professions, commerce, trade, industry, and above all, teaching, are largely in the hands of those of British extraction, allowing, of course, for political influence over public schools in the great cities.
Here, then, are available, or at least potential, some 20,000,000 Americans who might visit England with advantage to themselves and to tell what it has to offer to their children, or to those they teach, in after years. It is true that the fast liners of the Cunard and the White Star decant the passengers with the most spending money at Cherbourg before the vessel reaches Southampton. But there are slower and less expensive boats plying to other British ports. To adapt a recipe which belongs to both nations we may begin with " first catch your American." It is assuming a good deal, but let us suppose him caught. Give him what he wants and not what we think he'-' ought to want. Food, as everywhere, is important. He 'likes fresh fruit which has been kept in a_ cool place all night. When he speaks of fruit he does not mean stewed prunes or even apples. He likes citrons fruits where local supplies are not available, as for instance grape fruit or the humbler orange. He likes ice water with all his meals and he eats butter at dinner. He does not greatly care about tea, but he likes coffee and he likes it strong. After a visit of over a month I am still wondering if percolators are known in England.
'Because an American tolerates a gross overcharge it is not to be assumed that he doesn't recognize and resent it. I have noticed a bad habit of overcharging in this country, which has actually grown in the past nine yeti's. It is .a
Mistake to suppose that every individual'Anierican who Visits England is responsible for the Allied debts. It is not merely a mistake, but an act of dishonesty to charge an American more than anyone else Would be asked to pay. It is fair to Charge him for sPecial ticeommodatiOnsf when he asks for them; and he has strong prejudice in favour of a private bath for his bedroom. All Modern hotels in America are rib* built with a bathroom for practically every bedroom, except perhaps where two rooms in a ante can share the same bathrobm. If the American desire's to rent an English country house for the summer, he expects much more accommodation of that kind than English or Scottish country houses usually offer. He does not merely think that "ten bedrooms and one bath" is a poor proportion. He thinks it indecent.
Some good work is being done by the railroads in the encouragement of tourist traffic, and I am assuming that the great majority of American visitors would travel by rail rather than by expensive touring car. The guidebooks of the Great Western Railway are specially good. The inn accommo- dation everywhere should be brought down to date. There are two almost tolerable hotels in Edinburgh, but even those would be considered ridiculously antiquated in any consider- able city in America. The tourist Wants to see Scotland but, taken as a whole, the hotel accommodation leaves ik great deal to ha desired.I am, Sir, &c. " WILLIAM PETER HAMILTON, Editor, The IVall Street Journal.
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