Overworked Americans. 151 



attributed to necessity. With freedom to choose, one 

 would think the rush would be the other way. The 

 working classes in England do not work so hard or so 

 unceasingly as do their fellows in America. They have 

 ten holidays to the American's one. Neither does their 

 climate entail such a strain upon men as ours does. 



I remember after Vandy and I had gone round the 

 world and were walking Pittsburgh streets, we decided 

 that the Americans were the saddest-looking race we 

 had seen. Life is so terribly earnest here. Ambition 

 spurs us all on, from him who handles the spade to him 

 who employs thousands. We know no rest. It is dif- 

 ferent in the older lands — men rest oftener and enjoy 

 more of what life has to give. The young Republic has 

 some things to teach the parent land, but the elder has 

 an important lesson to teach the younger in this respect. 

 In this world we must learn not to lay up our treasures, 

 but to enjoy them day by day as we travel the path we 

 never return to. If we fail in this we shall find when 

 we do come to the days of leisure that we have lost the 

 taste for and the capacity to enjoy them. There are so 

 many unfortunates cursed with plenty to retire upon, 

 but with nothing to retire to ! Sound wisdom that 

 school-boy displayed who did not " believe in putting 

 away for to-morrow the cake he could eat to-day." It 

 might not be fresh on the morrow, or the cat might steal 

 it. The cat steals many a choice bit from Americans 

 intended for the morrow. Among the saddest of all 



