AMERICAN TOURISTS IN GREAT BRITAIN
[To the Editor, of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I am a faithful and interested reader of the Spectator, and in the course of my travels frequently, as to-day, take it with me to (as the advertisement of an old stage company
said) "break the tedium of the.journey." .
On this trip I broke the cover after leaving Chicago, and
have just finished read' the article by Charles W. Stokes, 3-•
Esq., on page 174 (Spectator, August 2nd), relative to the attractions of Great Britain v. France and Germany.
It so hapriens that I am of Eugliih descent and an more
attracted to the British Isles than to any other country, and I have talked with many Americans who feel the same way. While it is true that there are millions in this country of Irish, German, Italian and other continental blood, it does not follow that they find any better service or hotels (outside that which cater especially to tourist trade) than in Britain.
Mr. Stokes referred to difficulty and delay in having a suit of clothes pressed at one of the hotels, and I can't help feeling that he has hit upon a striking example of what an American has in the back of his head when he makes a sweeping assertion about England. (Let me interject here that we think of " England," " Scotland," " Ireland," " Wales," just as individually as of " Norway " and " Belgium," and not of " Britain," or of " Great Britain.") At this point I have asked the coloured porter who is in charge of this Pullman, whether there is a valet on the train prepared to press my clothes if I so desire, and he has said " Yes Sir." The charge for this service is $1 for coat and trousers (summer attire) and $1.25 for three pieces. On the longer journeys it is not uncommon for the earnings to amount to from $75.00 to $100.00 per month, all of which is retained by the valet.
It must be evident that from an American point of view, a service that can be secured on many trains in America, as a matter of course, and for which he expects to pay liber- ally, should be provided at any hotel on short notice. Now I will tell of an episode in London that came under my own observation. I was in a shop for the purpose of buying some Kodak films (spools), when an elderly man came in to have his spectacles repaired. I overheard him explain that they had been shattered in falling from his hand and that he was away from home and that worse than all he had no other glasses and would be practically blind until this one pair had been repaired. In fact he added that his young daughter had come with him to guide him, which emphasized his trouble. " '
Without the slightest indication of interest or sympathy, the attendant replied that the regular time was three days and that his case could not be expedited. Even the cus- tomer's sad comment that he would have to stay in the house for three days,had no effect. I will not tell you the methods in this country, and I do not believe that the above is repre- sentative Of English tradesmen ; but I will say that it " stuck in my craw " for several years, and I suppose I have told the story several times.
Another thing I think is worth mentioning, and that is the practice of referring to this country as the States. Please bear in mind that George Washington almost always used the title America, and perhaps christened it so.
It is also a fact that the term Americanisms was applied to colloquialisms originating in this country long before there was any national spirit in Canada or in Central or South America. In other words the people of the United States are Americans, and as they are willing to maintain the name, they would like to have the appellation confined to them, and to be called by that title.
There has taken place, in the last twenty years in this country, a vast improvement in the hotels generally. Pro- prietors finally learned that " good wine needs no bush," and that the reputation of a good hotel spread far and wide without any expensive advertisement, and conversely, that a poor hotel was avoided. The chain system in the operation of our hotels, copied, I think, from abroad, has also helped, because it has resulted in standardizing the good features and, by pressure, eliminating the poor ones. The numerous conventions cannot be held except in cities where the hotels will be satisfactory. The business men of the community bring pressure also.
Coffee—coffee—coffee. We do' not, as a nation, drink tea ; but we do drink coffee.
President of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railway.
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