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rate dinners and separate breakfasts in his own rooms； but by this little is gained and much is lost。 He or she who is so exclusive pays twice over for such mealsas they are charged as extras on the billand； after all； receives the advantage of no exclusive cooking。 Particles from the public dinners are brought to the private room； and the same odious little dishes make their appearance。 But the most striking peculiarity of the American hotels is in their public rooms。 Of the ladies' drawing…room I have spoken。 There are two； and sometimes three； in one hotel； and they are generally furnished at any rate expensively。 It seems to me that the space and the furniture are almost thrown away。 At watering…places and sea…side summer hotels they are； I presume； used； but at ordinary hotels they are empty deserts。 The intention is good； for they are established with the view of giving to ladies at hotels the comforts of ordinary domestic life； but they fail in their effect。 Ladies will not make themselves happy in any room； or with ever so much gilded furniture； unless some means of happiness are provided for them。 Into these rooms no book is ever brought； no needle…work is introduced； from them no clatter of many tongues is ever heard。 On a marble table in the middle of the room always stands a large pitcher of iced water； and from this a cold； damp； uninviting air is spread through the atmosphere of the ladies' drawing…room。 Below； on the ground floor； there is； in the first place； the huge entrance hall； at the back of which； behind a bar； the great man of the place keeps the keys and holds his court。 There are generally seats around it； in which smokers sitor men not smoking but ruminating。 Opening off from this are reading…rooms； smoking…rooms； shaving…rooms； drinking…rooms； parlors for gentlemen in which smoking is prohibited and which are generally as desolate as ladies' sitting…rooms above。 In those other more congenial chambers is always gathered together a crowd apparently belonging in no way to the hotel。 It would seem that a great portion of an American Inn is as open to the public as an Exchange or as the wayside of the street。 In the West； during the early months of this war； the traveler would always see many soldiers among the crowdnot only officers； but privates。 They sit in public seats； silent but apparently contented； sometimes for an hour together。 All Americans are given to gatherings such as these。 It is the much…loved institution to which the name of 〃loafing〃 has been given。 I do not like the mode of life which prevails in the American hotels。 I have come across exceptions； and know one or two that are very comfortablealways excepting that matter of eating and drinking。 Taking them as a whole； I do not like their mode of life； but I feel bound to add that the hotels of Canada； which are kept I think always after the same fashion； are infinitely worse than those of the United States。 I do not like the American hotels； but I must say in their favor that they afford an immense amount of accommodation。 The traveler is rarely told that a hotel is full； so that traveling in America is without one of those great perils to which it is subject in Europe。
CHAPTER XV。 LITERATURE。
In speaking of the literature of any country we are； I think； too much inclined to regard the question as one appertaining exclusively to the writers of booksnot acknowledging as we should do that the literary character of a people will depend much more upon what it reads than upon what it writes。 If we can suppose any people to have an intimate acquaintance with the best literary efforts of other countries； we should hardly be correct in saying that such a people had no literary history of their own because it had itself produced nothing in literature。 And； with reference to those countries which have been most fertile in the production of good books； I doubt whether their literary histories should not have more to tell of those ages in which much has been read than of those in which much has been written。 The United States have been by no means barren in the production of literature。 The truth is so far from this that their literary triumphs are perhaps those which of all their triumphs are the most honorable to them； and which； considering their position as a young nation； are the most permanently satisfactory。 But though they have done much in writing； they have done much more in reading。 As producers they are more than respectable； but as consumers they are the most conspicuous people on the earth。 It is impossible to speak of the subject of literature in America without thinking of the readers rather than of the writers。 In this matter their position is different from that of any other great people； seeing that they share the advantages of our language。 An American will perhaps consider himself to be as little like an Englishman as he is like a Frenchman。 But he reads Shakspeare through the medium of his own vernacular； and has to undergo the penance of a foreign tongue before he can understand Moliere。 He separates himself from England in politics and perhaps in affection； but he cannot separate himself from England in mental culture。 It may be suggested that an Englishman has the same advantages as regards America； and it is true that he is obtaining much of such advantage。 Irving； Prescott； and Longfellow are the same to England as though she herself had produced them。 But the balance of advantage must be greatly in favor of America。 We gave her the work of four hundred years； and received back in return the work of fifty。 And of this advantage the Americans have not been slow to avail themselves。 As consumers of literature they are certainly the most conspicuous people on the earth。 Where an English publisher contents himself with thousands of copies； an American publisher deals with ten thousand。 The sale of a new book； which in numbers would amount to a considerable success with us； would with them be a lamentable failure。 This of course is accounted for； as regards the author and the publisher； by the difference of price at which the book is produced。 One thousand in England will give perhaps as good a return as the ten thousand in America。 But as regards the readers there can be no such equalization： the thousand copies cannot spread themselves as do the ten thousand。 The one book at a guinea cannot multiply itself； let Mr。 Mudie do what he will； as do the ten books at a dollar。 Ultimately there remain the ten books against the one； and if there be not the ten readers against the one； there are five； or four； or three。 Everybody in the States has books about his house。 〃And so has everybody in England；〃 will say my English reader； mindful of the libraries； or book…rooms； or book…crowded drawing…rooms of his friends and acquaintances。 But has my English reader who so replies examined the libraries of many English cabmen； of ticket porters； of warehousemen； and of agricultural laborers？ I cannot take upon myself to say that I have done so with any close search in the States； but when it has been in my power I have done so； and I have always found books in such houses as I have entered。