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| OF A BLACK BEAR," ETC. |
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| The Chautauqua Press |
| CHAUTAUQUA, NEW YORK |
| MCMXI |
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COPYRIGHT, 1908

BY

G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS

The Knickerbocker Press, New York

TO

THOSE READERS,

WHETHER ENGLISH OR AMERICAN,

WHO

AGREE WITH WHATEVER IS SAID IN THE

FOLLOWING PAGES IN LAUDATION OF

THEIR OWN COUNTRY

THIS BOOK

IS INSCRIBED IN THE HOPE

THAT THEY WILL BE EQUALLY READY TO ACCEPT

WHATEVER THEY FIND IN PRAISE

OF

THE OTHER.

[Illustration: The British Isles and the United States.

A Comparison (see Chapter IV.)]

PREFATORY NOTE

There are already many books about America; but the majority of these
have been written by Englishmen after so brief an acquaintance with the
country that it is doubtful whether they contribute much to English
knowledge of the subject.

My reason for adding another volume to the list is the hope of being
able to do something to promote a better understanding between the
peoples, having as an excuse the fact that I have lived in the United
States for nearly twenty years, under conditions which have given rather
exceptional opportunities of intimacy with the people of various parts
of the country socially, in business, and in politics. Wherever my
judgment is wrong it is not from lack of abundant chance to learn the
truth.

Except in one instance--very early in the book--I have avoided