Life — August 24, 1899 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ANY ONE'S RACE SO FAR. Americans Abroad. E can go to sleop in London in the rain, And awako in giddy Paris-sur-la-Seine, We can dine with Madame Sara On the famous Riviera, And spend the night at Frankfort-on-the-Main, We can hurry on to Norway if we like, Or cross tho great Sahara on a bike, Thon, without a word of warning, We can spend to-morrow morning At Haarlem with a Ducch girl ona dike. We can circumnavigate the waters blue, And the Czar of all the Russias interview, And then, desiro unjaded, Seok a country uninvaded, Or thread the mazy streets of Timbuctoo, We can pienic underneath St. Peter's dome, Or play checkers in a chilly catacomb, Till at last the only places Where we haven't shown our faces Will be the great North Pole—oh, yes, and home! Robert Gilbert Welsh, © The Optimism of Mr. McCarthy. NY reader of Justin McCarthy's “ History of Our Own Times” A knows that bo has a delightfully easy style and a knack of ploturesquo characterization, The reader also knows that Mr. McCarthy has had a very active life as journalist, novelist, and political leader, Those three careers have brought him in contact with a great many eminent men, Recently ho found himself regaining his health at a quiot villago by the sea, and for the first timo in his life he had nothing to do. 80 he devised the pleasant task of writing two volumes of “Reminiscences” (Harper), His versatile career gave him abun- dant material; his geacoful style made the material inviting; and, moreover, the author had the felicity to be born an Irishman! Tho man and his carcer and his literary fluency have combined to make these Reminiscences extremely entertaining. ‘ * . . OW very much “worth whilo” is the life offered a public man in England! Mr, MeCarthy’s volumes show the “ open door” to all pleasant things for a man of refined tastes, The life First Lion: ANY CHOICE, OLD MAN? “Y'LL DAVE A LITTLE OF THE DARK IP YOU DON'T MIND."* is complex, and tho interests are so varied that the lifo itself is an educator, To an American, thero are mado plain several surpris- ing things about London life Along certain lines it seems very democratic. Men who “do things” meet each other freely, and tho statesman is glad to know the writer and tho commercial leader, Thero {s free trade in intelligenco of all kinds, . Tho money standard nover crops out in theso Reminiscences. Many holders of vast possessions aro spoken of, but it is because thoy are eminent for something else, Thero is no mention of meeting “ millionairo —” for the sake of his millions, Tho serious purpose of most of the men mentioned Is notable. A man is an orator, a painter, a poct, a novelist, a wit—and is glad to be known as such, and to cultivate seriously the accomplish- ment, These careers are considered worthy of thoughtful consider- ation by peoplo of importance. The atmosphere of the place lends dignity toan Intellectual pursult. The only thing approaching that atmosphere here is found in old university towns, But inour great cities the standard of admiration is commercial. comicbooks.com