-^5 E 168 .C85 Copy 1 AMERICA PAST AND PRESENT OR SIMPLE AND STRENUOUS LIFE. MANHATTAN - NE^W YORK BY PROF. E. COULON de JUMONVILLE. nBr PUBLISHED BY — D. V. WIEN — 14 E. 42D STREET, NEAR 5TH AVE. 'You proi)ably know that I do not "care very much for the cowanl "or the moral weakling." President Roose\'elt, Nov. 20. •There is no occasion to despair "for the future of the Church in "France or the French nation." Archbishop Ireland. Nov. 20. AMERICA PAST and PRESENT OR SIMPLE AND STRENUOUS LIFE. PROF. E. COULOiN de JUMONVILLE. COPYRIGHTED. AMERICA PAST AND PRESENT OR SIMPLE AND STRENUOUS LIFE. It is not given everybody to recall the '50's; and, gentle reader, it is with as much reverence and pleasure for the past that I can retrace my steps and tell what I saw, felt and experienced. Imagine to j^onrself that in this age of wonderful ac- tivity and kaleidoscopic changes advancing civilization is rooting out every vestige of what was so dear to our land, fathers, ideas and habits. We have stripped the old man and become a great nation whose voice may be heard in the concert of the most advanced and powerful nations of the earth. It would not be amiss to speak of America as it was, and of America as it is at the present day. In the earlier times there were no such men as politi- cians, carpetbaggers, lobbyist and millionaires; the latter could he found only in Brazil, Cuba or Spain. American ambition was limited to her own shores, to develop the vast inland resources of this western world that required more arms than brains to unearth them. In those days of '*Auld Lang Syne," the recollection of the struggles for freedom and liberty were then vivid and prominent to such a degree that militarism was considered a useless, hurtful dangerous old worn out European institution tliat could have no chance of ever being grafted into the American. It was the promised-land, the Eden for the hard pressed and dependent European, where he was received with open arms. Immigration then was encouraged, even courted to the utmost; and it soon tilled the vast regions of this continent with a continuous How of people glad to esca]>e the military duti**9 that were imposed upon them. The dislike for anything niiiiuiry was carried so far mat almost as a boy just leaving a Kuroi>Hun srhool wImmv a uni- form was not only the craze and fashion, but a fad, a necessity to impress the youn^ ^Ceneral ion with a martial spirit, 1 had to experience the aversion that was then alive anntn^'^ youm; Americans who naturally retlected their parents' ideas. Dressed in a woidd-be military (■o*«lume, now so dear lo American youths and college boys, 1 became on my arrival It New York, the cynosure of crowds, and I was happy to escape the jeers, and, as it were, the deprecating stare that followed nie until 1 had disajtpeared from ihe public gaze, with a tacit resolution never again to don that uniform of mine. Alas! what a change I How weh-ome that same tunic would be now, and what a strong personality and distinction would it not give me, if I could revert to yjars jiast when I looked so young and so martial. The manners of the people were also dilTerent in many respects: a greater cordiality to nnd regjird f(»r foreigners, specially for the French who were r»-meiubeivd as the -tauncli, lirm and independent friends and allies of those who had shed their best blood for the liberties of this country. Home-life was also spent in one's own <-ottage: hotels ;nid Hats were the exception; the latter custom so prevalent among Parisians. Houses and lots could l>e had for little money, and family ties, marital life were also more closely, more Hrmly bound together. There was the common sense and simplicity of dress and cordiality of manners that worked like a charm, giving Kurojteans a lofty <»j)inlon of that pure life that rt>cked or bngau the American Republic. Nowadays, allmighty dollar has put its heavy iron hand u{»on everything and everybc)dy; and the struggle for ilear life has become here as bitter and as hard as if was in the old ontinent. America, while enlarging her sphere of action, seems to recede from the old standpoint of offering everyone a chance to feel at home or bettering his condition. Immigration is no longer looked upon as a boon, but rather as a burden, a neces- sary evil that endangers a good fellowship among foreign and home laborers. Riots, strikes are in the air and have at times caused mortal strife when the lowering of wages was the upshot of general competition. The legitimate political and national influence of America remains whole and even greater by the institutions and constitution that framed the country, rather than by her naval or military achievements; in so much the more as Euro- peans are fully imbued with the idea that America is " par excellence the land for the brave and the free;" and no sane foreign government would ever attempt to excite their people into an estrangement with this Republic; she has nothing \\ hatever to fear from forein aggression or interference. The immense, stupendous accumulation of wealth may later on threaten the very fundamental, social or even po- litical liberties of the nation. Rome and Greece never enjoyed more liberty and happiness than when the sturdy and simple manners of their people were predominant; and they never fell so low and with such a crash than after they had been loaded with riches and military glory. ''Chi va piano va sano'' the Italians say; and if we pre- judge the ambitious strides of Americans with their quick luncheons that cause so much dyspej)sia, in the same strain it nuiy be said that an?emia must eventually follow the feverish activity which reminds one af the lazy man who became la- borious in order to later on enjoy a complete rest, "a far niente" so dear to those French shopkeepers whose ambition is to retire from business after ten or twelve years of incessant, tireless industry, in which wives and husbands take an equal share, in order to became rentiers or people of leisure. But, what's the use of clamoring, some would say, about what people know so well? Verily, verily I say unto you, time, experience and his- - fi — 1 1 > 1 \ .II'' w I i 1 1 1 • > -^ , . 1 1 1 * 1 > I i n • • 1 1 ■ i '• • I 1 i 1 < 1 1 1 . . I > I u ' ■ * ' ' ■ I i 1 1 . 1 i 1 .^ ••^i I j» . I •■> tilt* Motli«'r of Know led i;t' '*\\uHU'rlu»lun>r i«t die Mutter der Wissensfhaft," it is always useful to be reminded that the Italian ni(»tt4> remains tru»' at all times: "Chi va piano va sano." Y«'t, and so far lias that gival develojimeiit of ri<'hes benefited only a small minority; and the working? classes of \merica fare no bett^-i", aft«'r all. than have the Kurojtean ones; indeed, it mi^dit he added with a «ertainty that the American working-man with his dollar or two a day has a lesser show to get a (jiiiet, independent old a^e than a> is the rase in France and likely in Germany, wheie emitloyes and employers are bound by statute or law, to lay by a certain portion of the iionies ])aid and received, to secure a pension sulHcient to en- able the worn out old man to end his life in i)eace and security. This wonderful, mi«rhty activity of American cities has level()i)ed into sky -.sera j)ers which, if not models of ele/^ance, are undoubtedly of comfort, solidity, clever engineering and linancial success, since a small i)lot of land can bring from its liigh building a rental that a dozen ordinary ones could hardly dream of giving. l?ut there again, if that is the end for which they were built, it must be said tliat owing to their colossal proportions, rhey give the surrounding houses a poor, a niggardly appear- luce, which is far from being attractive or prejiossessing. This leads me to speak a few words ab(»ut the Statue of Liberty that ad<»ins the Harbor af New York, but whietter lighted than niany streets, or know which t-ar tublic in general and the good lame of the United Stales of America. NEW YORK - MANHATTAN as pictured in 1900. New York, empire and gigantic city, Seated thou art in splendor and beauty; Thy name, a name for greatness and riches Hath won thee fame that far out reaches. Thou art a living proof of what freedom Is capable of bringing to her bosom . That greatness and power thou hast attained, France is the more proud, for she was ordained To aid in its birth thy nation new To which ev'ry lover of freedom flew. Thy port open'd to the weary travelers, Who from European yoke and jailors Escap'd the chains in which they were detained, As the timid dove is often retained In the murd'rous talons of the vulture That would prey on her and seize to torture. Manhattan, thy name so before it was, Should indeed have remained, for York has Recall' d thine dependence and obedience To England that would force thine allegiance. Thy statue Of Liberty that rises in full view, Is the gift of a nation whose scion Was the friend of immortal Washington, The son and the hero of thy land That rebell'd against unjust England. It was enough, indeed, thou didst retain That language that for thee was then a stain; But the pure minded Puritan pioneers Soon replaced the dishonest bucaneers. For the Pilgrim Fathers left their birth-place To worship in their tongue God face to face. riius, with almost more than a prodigy Hast tlioii bei'oiiie by thine own energy, The rival of the proudest of cities That adorn the oUl world's older counties. What a bustle, what a stir, what a country ! What hath enabl'd thee by sheer industry To enlarge man's power and usefiilness, Develop his genius and thy richness, And open thy arms to ev'ry nation Of every creed, clime and condition? Thy wire and suspended Hrooklyn biidge A marvel ! thy sky-scrajiers^ 1 abridge: Thy electric and elevated tramways That relieve the horse in so many ways; Thy Colleges and millionaires' mansions Are so many samjiles and so many reasons Why Europe should look with attention To America's strides and and)ition; For, Euntpe with her .size and population May be threatened, such is my notion. To see her products and trade limited Before two hundred vears have existed. If Columbus hath added a new sphere, Steam an