Journey Through the American States, Continued. The People. Summary and Analysis

From the physical description of the new country, Bowen turns to the foreign view of the Americans as a people. Americans have a sense of equality that many Europeans find shocking, Bowen says. One is amazed to find a congressman riding in a public stagecoach, conversing with a workman.

The people are friendly and open, visitors note. They do not respond well to being told what to do, however. Foreigners are surprised to find retired military officers running inns and other businesses. In Europe, officers are from the noble classes. Americans all dress in similar fashion, they observe. These observations are of the Atlantic coast towns. In the interior life is rougher. There are few schools and young men of 14 are considered responsible adults.

American speech interests...