Page:Wilde - A Woman of no Importance, 1909.djvu/38

RhACT I. LADY HUNSTANTON Indeed? And when bad Americans die, where do they go to?

LORD ILLINGWORTH Oh, they go to America.

KELVIL I am afraid you don't appreciate America, Lord Illingworth. It is a very remarkable country, especially considering its youth.

LORD ILLINGWORTH The youth of America is their oldest tradition. It has been going on now for three hundred years. To hear them talk one would imagine they were in their first childhood. As far as civilisation goes they are in their second.

KELVIL There is undoubtedly a great deal of corruption in American politics. I suppose you allude to that?

LORD ILLINGWORTH I wonder. 20