BY THE SAME AUTHOR.' AN ENGINEER'S HOLIDAY; Or, NOTES OF A ROUND TRIP FROM LONG. 0° to oo. New and cheaper Edition. Large crown 8vo, cloth, price 7s. 6d. "Mr. Pidgeon's book has a special value from the fact that he has noted down a very great deal more than most travellers. He appears to be one of those happy persons who are born with eyes, and to have acquired the use of them for practical purposes."-Saturday Review. He "Mr. Pidgeon seems to have no prejudices and few predilections. studied men and manners wherever he went, and gives his results in simple language, without literary ornateness. His praise of California and doubts about the future of Japan have specially struck us."-Academy. "This is the most interesting work of its comprehensive kind since 'Greater Britain.""-Spectator. "It is agreeable, as it is unusual, to come upon a book of travel having so much that is fresh to say, and which combines so happily good sense and brightness."-Morning Post. LONDON: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & Co. AND NEW-WORLD ANSWERS BY DANIEL PIDGEON, F.G.S., Assoc. INST. C.E. AUTHOR OF "AN ENGINEER'S HOLIDAY; OR, NOTES OF A ROUND TRIP FROM LONG. 0° TO 。°" LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., 1, PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1884 2082.e.4. PREFACE. THE United States of America are a great alembic, into which the emigrant vessels of Europe are constantly pouring a vast quantity of unknown, doubtful and even explosive matters; the raw material of the American people that is yet to be. The "American," such as I would distinguish him, is a social alchemist, the inheritor of a philosopher's stone, bequeathed him by a pious, free and courageous ancestry, and competent, as he believes, to transmute national character from base to sterling metal. Democracy is his social solvent, the common school his crystallizing agent and intelligent freedom the shining product which he seeks in his laboratory. His arduous task is to separate obstinacy from English courage, superstition from French thrift, indolence from Irish shrewdness, want of enterprise from Scandinavian industry, shiftlessness from negro docility, and indifference from Chinese skill and patience. |