A Trip to America. By William Hardman. (Vickers Wood.)— Mr.
Hardman's book is, for the most part, characterised by sound sense and judgment. Now and then his views seem obscured by political prejudice, in what, for instance, he says about Mr. Chamber- lain, who, he intimates, would be roughly handled were he to pro- pound his views about "unearned increment" in the States. It is pretty clear that the American people, once persuaded that the public welfare demands it, will make any conceivable change in the tenure of property. The Homestead Act is one indication of this temper; the growing dissatisfaction with the large properties held by aliens is another. Mr. Hardman's observations on New York are particularly interesting. Some of the institutions of the State do. not please him, as he views them from the magistrate's point of view. Some, as, for instance, the arrangements for the re. ception and care of emigrants, appeared highly satisfactory. Some stories of Transatlantic " manners and customs " are amusing. Here is one of States life :—" One morning, while I was wondering what I should select [from the breakfast menu], a very charming American lady of our party sat down at the table, and scarcely glancing at the catalogue, knowing, in fact, by experience what there would be in it, she said to the boy,'—` I don't feel that I could eat much this morning ; but you may bring me some oatmeal mush, some tender loin-steak, some fish-balls, some chicken hash, some corn bread, some griddle-cakes and maple-molasses, and some
dry toast P " It would be interesting to know what she disposed of when her appetite was pretty good. If this kind of thing is general, the Americans will have neither teeth nor digestions left in a hundred years.
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