The New York herald., 1869-06-21
BOOK REVIEW.

Mines,n &C., &c. New York: Harper Brothers.
Mr. William A. Bunum, brother OF the late Mr..
Edward Gould Buffum, has presented In this volume
judicous selection from mass OF letters, sketches,
studies, &C., left by the distinguished Journalist,
whose untimely death in Paris few months ago
spread grief throughout widely extended circle Of
friends. The preface gives q brief biographical
sketch OF the author whose individual cast OF mind,
as well as his varied experience a traveller and his
long training as Journalist eminenty qualified him
to produce just such book as TINS, book at once
entertaining and instructive. The Harpers have
published IL not only In their best style, but at
most opportune moment. The demand for summer
reading is now at It's height. The thousands OF
fashionable tourists who are leaving this port for
trip to Europe will find Mr.. BufYum's "Sights and
Sensations in France, Germany and Switzerland"
delightful and servlceabe travelling companion
At the same time the thousands who are to spend
the summer at home, either in town, in the country
or on the shore. may, by the help of this little
book, and by making believe hard" enjoy many OF
the pleasures Of foreign travel while they cape all
its annoyances.
The very titles OF the twenty-five chapters which
compose this work revive the most interesting
Citations IN the minds OF all Americans who have
been abroad. To enumerate them may best indicate
the range Of topics selected by the editor-The
Bubbles Of Champagne; Treate et Qttarante at HON.
bourg; Tramp IN the Bernese Oberand; The Mont
Cents Tunnel: The Quarter Latin; What the Paris
ians Eat; The Hospitals OF PARIS; The Closerte de
LtlaS; The Founding Hospital of Paris; Chamber
Of Horrors; The "Spectdltt6 de Pumpkin Pie" (Mme.
Busquel; What and How Much the Parslans Drink
A Flying Trip In the Country; Partisan Theatres;
Distinguished Negroes; Learned Institutions and
Lectures; Down Among the Dead Menu (The Cata-
combsl; The ChiGoners OF Paris Visit to the Chapel
of Of n Claise.
Religious Freedom in France; Rouen and Its Ro-
mantle "reminiscences. Here ls certainly an attrac-
tive variety.
striking merit OF these pages is derived from the
fact that they do not record the hasty confu sed and
often erroneous impressions of traveller who has
Just landed in Europe. On the contrary they are
the fruit of close, careful observations during pro-
longed transatlantic residence. No more accurate,
condensed and complete account of the champagne
district can be given than that in the first chapter
Of the gambling at Hombourg, In the second, OF
the Mont Gents tunnel in the fourth and so we
might 60 on specifying almost all the other
chapters The authors ''healthy love Of see
ing" and his quick and broad sympathies
with nature, and particularly with human
nature are revealed alike IN the Bernese Oberand,
in the Alps and In Paris. His vein of tenderness is
disclosed in the touching simplicity with which he
tells the story Of "My Neighbor, Little Aga6 the
Flower Maker" Throughout the work he exhibits
the tact OF the practsed journalist, who must learn
to write about precisely what the reader Is inter-
ested to know. He does not hesitate to give
information whcn some writers too readily take
for granted is already familiar to everybody.
Moreover, he always gives his own impressions
instead Of retailing those Of others at second hand.
Many books Of European travel can be interesting
only TO their compilers, and should not have been
ptaA vriva ctrau lafin vuf Nr
Bufum's volume bears resemblance to such
books. 1t will doubtless be more heartily welcomed
by the public than any similar work which has ap-
peared since the publication OF the late Mr.. Sander
sons american In Paris" M. jules Janin thought
so highly OF that clever book to take the trouble
10 offer it to the Continental public in complete
French disguise. We append few extracts from
Mr.. BuIum's "Sights and Sensations:"
SONG AND STORY VS.. REALITY.
Song and story have thrown SO much romance
about vine-growing regions ana their inhabitants
that one who gathers his ideas of them from song
champagne district, for example, III which the un-
tnated and enthusiastic lover OF nature and Of ro-
scapes, broad and smiling plans, verdant river
banks and green and sunny hlllsides, all covered
peopled with o hardy. happy race whose
principal occupation after the labors OF the
day is to dance and make love, and, In
In the reality. The soil OF this whole district Is
white and chaky, aboundng In carbonate OF lime,
which makes it very disagreeable to the eye.
'Thislcalcareous soil seems particularly adapted to
the growth OF the vine, the culture OF when is more
easy as the earth Is light andlwithout compactness
In fact. upon these light calcareous soils nothing
but the vine will flourish.
people in the vne-growing regions are not only ex-
eeedngly happy. put exceedingly vrtaous; in tact,
tuous and you will be happy
SO far as the female portion of the lahorng class
Of the residents Of the Champagne district Is con-
cessity Of dispelling this illusion. Is it some
peSullarity L., IN the climate, or the shalky
wine, that makes ReiIns, the great commercial cen.
operation for the labors OF the Moral Reform Society
that have ever discovered IN France out Of III
who nave left left their fathers house, and the aSor
in the vineyards, and come to Rems TO work at
dressmaklng or to tend shop or labor in
with little bundles In their hands, neatly
dressed. with their rich, luxuriant growth
OF hair unconlned by cap or bonnet. may be In
great numbers skipping the uottotrs about
eight O'Clock In the evening" on their way home from
work. These young you ladies although apparently
is said make claims TO being "virtuous." The
who oflciates IN the splendid cathedral, whose
tall, heaven-polnting towers ought to direct
the attention Of these young wome1r to
higher things, Is said to be called upon
much more frequently to baptize infants VINO
IN the worldly wisdom or knowing their own fathers
profoundly lacking, than he Is OF those begotten
and born in accordance with the strict rules OF pro-
priety. virtue, law and the Church. These mel
anchoy facts, and may furnish interesting subjects
of consideration TO moral chemists ana analy zers.
What is the OF ity 1s 1t the wine, the chaky
soil, the burning sun, or the cathedrals
THE VALLEY OF AARE.
All, through this wild and beautiful valley the
scene rendered still more picturesque by numer
Gus mountain torrents falling In eecy, sheety clear
ness from the heights above us, aid scattering their
spray around US as they fell. Warer, who had once
made trip 10 the Yosemite Valley In California,
had during all the former portion OF our tramp.
whenever l had expressed particular admiration
for any grand feature OF the scenery been
IN the habit OF dampening my ardor by
giving hts nose an upward infection and say
Ing that "lt was nothing to Yosemte.n In fact
little childish petttshness had grown up In both OF
us, and /, I'm revenge, whenever / saw anything on
the route particularly unintcresting retorted by
asking If he had seen anything In Yosemite equal
to thatfu However, during that day In the Has
ltha, this beautiful valley OF the Aare, we dropped
ln.ain In fhn Of Iaall