Statisticians, I believe, estimate how many Americans cross the Atlantic, and calculate how many million dollars they "leave" in the Old World each year. Some of these travellers are of an enquiring turn of mind and go abroad with the definite idea of enlarging their knowledge of men and acquiring new ideas. Very few, however, of these explorers, as far as I can judge, except the business man whose thought rarely strays beyond the tariff, of set purpose, ever study the great industrial community north of the Trent. They would doubtless reply, if closely questioned, that their interest was in London, the historic centres and that fascinating semi-feudal countryrural England. Industrialism they can study well enough at home in Pittsburg, Lowell or Philadelphia. They may go a step further and plead the example of Franklin, Irving and Howells. It certainly is a curious fact that, while the counties of the Red and White Roses are quite as characteristic as London, the Trossachs or Warwickshire, few if any foreigners have ever studied them philosophically, as every year, the scenery and life of the former are weighed and found wanting, or otherwise, by distinguished Frenchmen, Germans and Americans. As far as I know no Britisher has ever attempted such an estimation. Perhaps it is an impossible task. We have novels with local color, from Shirley onward, in abundance; careful ethnological studies; and, since the Chamberlain 'gospel' was proclaimed, a formidable array of economic argument; but no calm detached valuation of the heart of industrial England. such as its importance warrants. Every aspect of life in this northern community deserves attention by students of comparative sociology, paidology, etc. Many of the most important problems which are pressing for solution here are being worked out there in an intense form which admits of the elimination of irrelevant factors more readily than in the New World. The political importance of this district may be gauged by the common saying, What Lancashire thinks today , England thinks tomorrow. Its economic status is high. An American has recently stated: "Manchester is in my estimation the most remunerative centre in Downloaded by [Nanyang Technological University] at 06:00
