imply incomprehensible that an author of so much literary
merit in his preparation of guides to European countries should
make the absolute failure that he has in the building of a guide
to the United States intended for European travellers. As a
guide, it is a monstrosity, fully as deceptive and misleading in
its aims as it is ridiculous and unworthy in its criticisms of
our people, our customs and habitations. It is not a guide in any
sense, but a general tirade of abuse of Americans and their
country; a compilation of mean, unfair statements; of presumed
facts that are a tissue of transparent falsehoods; of comparisons
with Europe and Europeans that are odius (_sic_). Baedeker sees
very little to commend in America, but a great deal to criticise,
and warns Europeans coming to this country that they must use
discretion if they expect to escape the machinations of our
people and the snares with which they will be surrounded. Any
person who has ever travelled in Europe and America will concede
that in the United States the tourist enjoys better advantages in
every way than he can in Europe. Our hotels possess by far better
accommodations, and none of that "flunkeyism" which causes
Americans to smile as they witness it on arrival. Our railway
service is superior in every respect to that of Europe. As
regards civility to strangers the Americans are unequalled on the
face of the globe. In antiquity Europe excels; but in natural
picturesque scenery the majestic grandeur of our West is so far
ahead of anything to be seen in Europe, even in beautiful
Switzerland, that the alien beholder cannot but express wonder
and admiration. Baedeker has made a mistake in his attempt to
underrate America and Americans, its institutions and their
customs. True, our nation is in a crude state as compared with
the old monarchies of Europe, but in enterprise, business
qualifications, politeness, literary and scientific attainments,
and in fact all the essential qualities that tend to constitute a
people and a country, America is away in the advance of staid,
old foggy (_sic_) Europe, and Baedeker will find much difficulty
to eradicate that all-important fact.

I hasten to assure my English readers that this is no fair sample of
transatlantic journalism, and that nine out of te