AMERICAN MANNERS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 59, 7 September 1926, Page 10

AMERICAN MANNERS

"NOISE FOR NOISE'S SAKE"

AN AMUSING COMMENTARY

BISHOPS AND THE "COMIC

STKIP."

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Bishop J. M. Liston, in an.address under the auspices of the Catholic Students' Guild, gave some impressions of the United States, gathered there during his visit to the Eucharistie Congress at Chicago. In criticising the mannerisms of Americans, he said that although America was a very exaggerated country, and everything in the country was highly artificial, the people were charmingly hospitable. The vast cities appeared to- him to be the product of a real estate speculator, the roadihg contractor, and the jerry builder. Americans loved noise for noise's sake, he said, and they seemed to make a noise with the same pleasure as did an African who beats a tom-tom in the jungle. One could not find refuge from the noise. Even when a waiting passenger settled down in a railway rest-room someono was sure to come in and blow hard on a saxophone. Then there was the i affic din all night—noise and jangle in fie streets, and the sound of countless loud speakers. But after a while the visitor would begin to like it all. Bishop Liston, referring to religion in America, said that many preachers adopted methods which were not considered compatible with the usual dignity of Gospel i struction. When in San Francisco he observed a type of discburse which was popular. The bestknown preachers spoke to thousands by wireless several times a week. However, the subjects of their devotional services were most illuminating. For instance, "How can an Economical Husband Eestrain an Extravagant Wife?" was the subject of one sermon, while another was "What do you Think of a Daughter Who Drives Her Mother out of, the House?" Bishop Liston said that he came to the conclusion that advertising was America's sport and religion. Advertisements told you everything, including the secrets of securing health, personality, success, and rest. The Sunday newspaper was bought on Thursday, and the comic section was read by all, although they would not admit it. Bishop Liston said he found that even bishops were well up in the fortunes of "Jiggs" and "Mutt and Jeffi" The speaker stated that similarity in dress and appearance was a striking characteristic of American men. All appeared to have been grey-headed from infancy, and when the President put on his straw hat the nation did likewise. Professors, stated Dr. Liston, had little time to spare for their religions, and the country seemed to' be becoming semipagan. Census returns showed that 60 per cent, of the people claimed no religion. Still, the Church of St. Peter, in the middle of New Tork, was always filled to capacity, the worshippers being in the habit of visiting the church at all hours. .