McClure's Magazine, Vol 31, No 2, June 1908

In this candid memoir, a celebrated actress recounts the stirring moment when she first set foot on American soil in the early 1880s. She recalls the nervous anticipation of leaving behind familiar comforts, the emotional farewells in London, and the sea‑bound journey that felt both exhilarating and oddly comforting. Upon sighting New York’s bustling harbor, the contrast between her imagined “noisy, ugly” city and the striking, lively skyline leaves her nearly in tears, and she marvels at the Statue of Liberty’s majestic presence over the ceaseless traffic.

Beyond the awe of the arrival, she reflects on the challenge of understanding a country so vast and varied. Short stays in New York, Boston, and Chicago reveal just a fragment of the many social layers that compose American life, prompting her to acknowledge both the warmth of its hospitality and the limits of any single visitor’s perspective. The narrative offers a vivid glimpse into an artist’s first encounter with a new world, full of wonder, humor, and thoughtful observation.