Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1889 — A CHANGE OF SENTIMENT. [ARTICLE]

A CHANGE OF SENTIMENT.

Ihe Stars and Stripes Now Greeted with Cheers When Displayed in London. ~ ‘ . -i Pittsburg Dispatch. There is a significant and remarkable change of late in thewttltude of Englishmen, and particularly of the English press, toward America. All the London dailies since the beginning of the centennial inauguration ceremonies in New York have published leaders commenting in themost complimentary fashion on American events. Particular stress is laid on the fact that the Samoan conference in Berlin is carried on in English, and this conference is looked upon as the debut of the United States in European diplomacy. Tlfe change in our favor in other quarters is decided. Last year about this time the comedians of the different.

theaters were unceasing in their satire upon things American, and they usually had the sympathies of the house with them. Now the American flag is waiving in a number of London theaters, and it is greeted in a fashion that is rather startling. At the most pretentious ballet that London has ever seen there is a parade of soldiers of different nations, and the audience expresses its sentiments as the flags are brought forward to the national airs. The British flag is of course cheered first; then comes the German standard and hisses and shrieks of “Battenberg,” after which there is usually a more or less riotous demonstration against the Russian imperial standard. At the tail end of the procession a score of Yankee middies bring the American flag down to the flont lights. It takes. Evreybody was surprised at the reception this flag received on the first night. Prolonged applause turned into cheering, and ever since the stars and stripes have played the most conspicuous part in the spectacle. In the Gaiety and Avenue theaters the flag is also produced alongside of the British colors, with an effect that is the more striking, Bince the flag is so seldom cheered in public at home. American slang, in its anglicised and incomprehensible form, is increasing its foothold. Ido not think anybody has a remote idea what it refers to, but it probahly hassomo connection with a switcKbaek road.