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REVIEWS OF BOOKS. 
March 81st, 1885. 
«THE GREAT REPUBLIC,” by Sir Lepel H. Griffin, K.C.S I. 
By JAMES LANCASTER. 
«The Great Republic” is the title of anew book from the pen of 
Sir Lepel Griffin. It is mainly a criticism of the American people, 
American cities and American institutions. The Author im- 
presses upon us the importance of the study of America, by 
prophesying that before children now born shall have grown grey 
there will be but three Great Powers in the civilized world :— 
the Greater Britain, Russia and the United States. Mr. Griffin 
makes us aware at the outset what kind of criticism we are to 
expect from him, and justifies his opinion by telling us that he 
thoroughly disapproves of the idea that some people have, namely, 
‘that it is necessary and desirable that our criticism should be 
uniformly favourable even though the praise be undeserved,” and 
adds, ‘‘it becomes of the greatest importance that when failures 
and blots appear they should be exposed.’’ ‘‘ The importance of 
this becomes more manifest’ he continues, ‘‘ when we consider 
that American ideas and American remedies are being recom- 
mended for almost all our national disorders.” 
Mr. Griffin has a great fear of our becoming Americanized, and 
the evident scope and design of the book is to guard us against 
being deluded by the apparent success of the Great Republic. 
There is a humorous chapter on the ‘‘ Big Things” of America, 
the love of which, Mr. Griffin thinks will guide her into fair 
pastures if kindly assisted by Mr. Matthew Arnold with his 
“Sweetness and Light.” The lack of the sense of beauty pos- 
sessed by the Americans is deplored. Proof is instanced that the 
loveliest scenery is allowed to be spoiled by vulgar advertisers, 
notifying their respective swindles, together with the statement 
that the beauty spots of the country are seldom visited by 
Americans. 
Tne Author does not agree with Lord Coleridge’s opinion of 
female beauty in the States, and says it is extremely rare, the 
average of ordinary good looks being unusually low, and as to 
the important question of physical health and hardihood, he 
considers the English man and woman better developed and 
stronger in every sense. 
The interesting subjects of Culture, Literature, and Art, and 
the Administration of Justice are next discussed, and the Author 
concludes with an interesting chapter on the question of Races, 
and the Foreign Klement in the States. 
