America has long been as source of curiosity, excitement – and dismay – to Europe. That she so stubbornly refused to be just a mere extension or replica of the Old World - that, from the very beginning, her culture, economy, institutions and conscience were distinctly her own – was a challenge not only to the Old World but to history itself. A continuous flood of visitors – all with pen in hand - began to wash over the fledgling nation, and the seemed that almost every ship sailing into New York harbor unloaded an invading army of foreign observers and critic.