AMUSING IMPRESSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1926, Page 1

AMUSING IMPRESSIONS

BISHOP LISTON RELATES HIS EXPERIENCES. AUCKLAND, August 18. Bishop Liston brought some very amusing impressions back with him from America, where he attended tlie great Roman Catholic Eucharistic Congress at Chicago. These be gave at a welcome social to himself and Monsignor Ormond. The Americans in Bishop Linton’s opinion were adepts as talkers, and the men were better—or worse— than the women. (Laughter)'. “They could talk for hours on the least provocation. We could never get a word in edgewise. They have expressions and customs all tlieir own. Some wo understand, and some we did not. Two we did not understand, although we heard them very often, were 1 bootlegger ’ and ‘ moonshine.’ ” (Laughter.) Bishop Liston mentioned that his colleague started his American tour by being arrested. (Laughter). “He

used a motor-car in one of the cities,” said the Bishop, “ and was arrested for exceeding the speed limit.” “ They say New York is owned by the Jews,” Bishop Liston continued. “It might be, but it is'run by Irishmen.” (Laughter.) Irish seemed to dominate the police force, too,

lie found. “There is a fiction in Boston, of which Monsignor Ormond was informed too late, that if a, priest wants to exceed the speed limit he has only to hang a Roman collar on the radiator. (Laughter.)

“ Tipping forms a big part of a traveller’s expenses. You have to tip everybody who smiles at you.” Experience at Ellis Island were ra-

ther humiliating. Tlie visitor was inclined to feel nettled when the order

was given by Customs officials, “Americans to this side and aliens to that,” irrespective of nationality. The order was followed by tlie herding of all not blessed with American citizenship, among a conglomerate and offensive collection of practically every race. As evidence of grit of New Zealanders, be had found that practically all lie had met were holding important

and responsible positions. Three whose acquaintance he had made were controlling concerns in which millions of

dollars were invested. Bewildering ns he found the hustle and progress of the United States, he formed the impression that Canada had a greater destiny. “It will he the great country of the world in the coming century,” he declared, “much greater than the United States. Its enormous wealth and the indomitable energy of its Frencli-Canadian stock is earning for it a sure place that will be firmly established in the progress of its trade with the markets of China and Japan, besides other important countries.”

One feature in which neither couu-

try. in his opinion, could excel New Zealand was the scenery. “We trav--1 oiled over the Rocky Mountains, and they were extraordinarily beautiful mountains, and the Jakes of North America arc much more extensive than ours, but not one whit more grand.”