376 THE FAT OF THE LAISTD 



could not feel unhappy that beautiful September 

 morning as we steamed up the finest waterway 

 to the finest city in the world. Deny it who 

 will, I claim that our Empire City and its en- 

 vironments make the most impressive human 

 show. There is more life, vigor, utility, gor- 

 geousness about it than can be found anywhere 

 else ; and it has the snap and elasticity of youth, 

 which are so attractive. No man who claims 

 the privilege of American citizenship can sail up 

 New York Bay without feeling pride in his 

 country and satisfaction in his birthright. One 

 doesn't disparage other cities and other countries 

 when he claims that his own is the best. 



We were not specially badly treated at the 

 custom-house, no worse, indeed, than smugglers, 

 thieves, or pirates would have been ; and we es- 

 caped, after some hours of confinement, without 

 loss of life or baggage, but with considerable 

 loss of dignity. How can a self-respecting, 

 middle-aged man (to be polite to myself) stand 

 for hours in a crowded shed, or lean against a 

 dirty post, or sit on the sharp edge of his open 

 trunk, waiting for a Superior Being with a gilt 

 band around his hat, without losing some modi- 

 cum of dignity ? And how, when this Superior 

 Being calls his number and kicks his trunk, is 

 he to know that he is a free-born American 

 citizen and a lineal descendant of Roger Will- 

 iams? The evidence is entirely from within. 

 How is he to support a countenance and mien 



