Across Europe [excerpt]

     During the time of my visit came the demonstration in favor of America, in the benefit concert for the McKinley monument; but it was Sarah Bernhardt’s picture, and not [455][456] McKinley’s, that adorned the souvenir programme. The lady herself awakened enthusiasm which her reading did not deserve, for it was spiritless and perfunctory, and such as no woman would have ventured to present to such an audience unless her reputation had been made already. There were other noted performers, each giving an act or bit of an act, from some play then on the boards, and worth advertising at the expense of the United States. I shall not advertise them by giving their names, for they do not deserve it. The president of the French Republic attended, and remained in his box long enough to be seen by the reporters; and all the papers agreed that it was an overwhelming testimonial of the [456][457] warm feeling of the Republic of France toward her sister republic across the sea; and General Gowdy came home so loaded with flowers that there was not room for me in the elevator with him. But I will take my countrymen into my confidence enough to say that whatever good feeling France has for America cannot be proved by the willingness of Parisian theaters to advertise their current plays before an audience of Americans who pay four dollars or more a seat to see and hear not much of anything. However, the McKinley monument received some money, and the American girl who sang The Star Spangled Banner did it better than the French girl who sang the Marseillaise.