I therefore registered vigorous [dissent and damned all state governments very heartily. My opponent was broad-minded enough to admit the Justice of my contention, as he hhimselt found that whisky a very much more satisfactory medium for "getting on top of the world"
think that was the expression he used), "but nevertheless the Presid~ ent." But T have promised of to touch" on polities, and afraid T have already—overstepped. the "limits "I had prescribed. shall therefore not detail our inter= esting argument in which after a time the barman and some of the other customers joined.
all arose from my grumbling, when the barman returned me a handful" of tax tokens with my change. These tax tokens are pice of some light metal with a hole in the middle. What their purpose. is, Tnever properly discovered, for it is 'a complicated business and T never for the hang of it Some states have what is called a sales tax, An article may be priced say 20 or 25 cents, but when you get the bill you find it is 21 or 26 cents. Nor is that all, for when you' have Taboriously fished a "penny" (as they all a one-cent piece) out of your Pocket, you are handed back umber of these tax tokens, These tokens can only be used—whatever their use may be~in the state by which they are issued, and as in the course of my travels T hod passed through some half dozen different states, my pockets were full of them.
Vancouver "Americanized"
Vancouver is the chief port of British Columbia and is a part of Canada. "At least, that is what: the maps tel you. But otherwise you would searcely know it. For 1 heard the same accents, saw the some sprinkling of Orientals, watch ed exactly the same system of trame lights, paid the same flat rate carfares, Iunched at the same eafetarias, and bought my cigars at the same Grug-stores, as T had been doing in the country that T had just left. Everything was externally exactly the same; even the cars were all 'American' brands.
Tt came quite as a shock to me to see the Union Jack fying over a public building. The only" difference I noticed was that there were no negroes to be seen about, and that there was an unduly high perjeentage of Scotch names.
The citizens of Vancouver seem to be rather given to superstition. At most of the lunch-bars astrologers were in attendance who for a small feo were ready to draw up a horoscope while the hungry customer was having hig meal. "And in the tea shops. elderly and unprepossessing-looking females went from table to table offering to read your fortune in the tea-leaves at the bottom of your cup. I firmly but politely de-lined the invitation: without the tea-leaves it was sufficiently obvious that T was on a voyage and was going to cross the water where should meet the fair-haired or dark Isdy who would have a great me nonce on my life.
Personal Likes and Dislikes 1 will end up with a short list of 'Seattle q few minor things that I liked or not like during my short stay in the United States. It is incomplete and, T must insist, quite personal, Tand' is not intended as a" general criticism, nor is it to be taken asa orions comparison between English and American. ways.
liked the "hotels in America. Even those in the smaller places seemed fo me to be tin more smoothly and efciently than are similar "establishments at home. I liked: the provision of iced water everywhere, even in the humblest restaurants, I liked American food:
found it much more interesting and original, and there is much more choice than our own: and above all T liked the profusion of fruit and fruit juices of every kind supplied fat every meal, no. matter where you were, T like the cafeteria system, where you take a tray and utensils and bass along a long counter choosing. each dish as you go along and pay= ing cash for it before you sit. down.
much more satisfactory 0 choose your food from acwal per sonal inspection than "from "the perusal of an often" meaningless menu catd, T'like the cigars and tobacco in America, but. perhaps this is merely beeatise they "are #0 much cheaper than at home,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.