New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
,,Os ,nn ocKs FAIR FRANCE.
MISS MUlOCk'S fAlh iiLn-' W -
n.n,Cr IMPRESSIONS OF A TRAVELLER Iy
tAih h.Nor Of "Iobn Halifax, Gentleman l2mo
w - q

rge &
TIL ad,nirers of Miss Muloeks vigorous household
.orals viii find no disappointment in these lively
II ,,r,cofil sketches Of foreign travel. They are
a. unit Of three successive visits to Paris, Nor
mandy and Brittany, the last in the Autumn OF 1907
touching lightly the usual experiences OF the
tourist with many piquant original side giances anu
suggestive reflections the pictures Of French NE
and character which were presented in The course Oh
her rapd journeys. II is only little more tnah
three years since the auhoress left her native SHORES
for the frst time. Her first impressions OF 4arl8
were received IN the sober gray, comfortable shauoW"
Of the ancient Rue ST. Honor6. Its quaint, old
fashioned dignity had kindly effect on her lmasina-
fion and in the minds eye, she saw her French an
eestor who once haunted its shops, buying brocades
and fans and high-heeed shoes, fullbottomed wigs,
rapiers and swords and perhaps shed few drops OK
honest Hueucnot blood in the terrible days OF 1t.
bartholomew Plungng into the gay current of
Paris life on one Of the SOFT warm Spring evenings,
which are among the delights of the brilliant capital,
with the gttering shops of the Rue de Rivo on one
hand and the dim glow of the Tuileries gardens on
the other she found entirely now sensation IN inc
,pectacle of the French crowd All so bright so
pretty SO gay, it felt like scene in play The wo
men in their neat. spotless white caps even the
poorest and plainest OF them looking so clean, the
men acute of face tidy in dress and with so pohte
manners afforded sight of "sprightly peasantness
in striking contrast With the gTuf ways and ta"uy
dress Of the populace in the streets OF London
The shops hcrc-an wiudows-with half the available
stock exhibited thoErin;ne ne9t on G pt alone We're
pleasant sight especially with madame me
sitting behind-Wei dressed, wtL-ooIhs7HSF ~ IaSS
ended the day Hiting or sS|iGS %c me- &c Win
what across the Tweed We should Cai Do re,SintlooI
btref In uubIic, OF course-evcrytn lining IS Gone
IN pubic in Pais-and Ghcer lhe N.43 prjvac( of
sy sirt OF bind is apparently neither expected nor de
sired ina this curious country, WiicI, WIN - a-
Ine of sea between seems in many things the very an
tpodes Of our own.
Miss Mulock relates the account Of her hrSt Visit
20 Normandy IN the familiar, chatty style which at
once calls forth a feeling of conpanionship and
makes us listen oher story If she were talking with
Us face TO face She is absolutely as free from pro
tension in the recital of her experience as II she
were recalling its events to her family circle, and Ii
she now and then wakes little pTCsy and duh 1t Is
no more than takes place in any natural converse
zion among friends Thus she tells of her suIprseat
the infinite civility with which she was deprived OF
her liberty on the French railways. Her baggage
was spirited out Of her sight, and small piece OF
crumpled paper given in its place. In another minute
she was caught up. and penncd in double COM
parmeut for FIST and second class passengers ~ If
tbev had been superior and inferior animals, where
she had TO STAY till the doors opened by dla-
tory official She took the occasion to study her
fellow-passengcrs. They were OF all sorts ana
classes One was an artisan with pale young Nle
hanging on his arm, and the keen, dark "iscon-
tented look, which is so common AMONG the french
wJrkmen. suggesting the terrible red liberty cap
over his thick black hair fierce eyes, and long mus
tachc. There were peasant women i'll short petit
coats. wooden shoes and the picturesque cap into
which the high Norman hcad-dresS has gradually
dwindIcd. There were several nuns, or Sisters of
Charity communicating women. but fresh, lat, ana
comfortable and anything but interesting except
in their costumes The priests whom you al
wacs meet With On the French roads wore the
rccnlation dress, the shovel hat, the round black
canes and the wOmanish black petticOat, with It's
long tail tucked up behind They were evidently
men taken out of the peasant ranks, with warm
feeling for the class from which they sprung but
with very imperfect education and little originality
or grasp of mind. They did not look at all like
rayauinR wolves as they are sometimes represented
by the EO-pOpcTy alaImiSts but more ike silly old
sheen whom only the warning bell round their necks
could distinguish from the rest of the flock good
fellows in fact as ever breathed, who were glad 10
come and dine With you, whenever you asked them,
making no difference between Catholic and hereto
Apropos of dining the authoTess descants leanedly
on the character of that meal at the dJo dhote IN
the little Norman city of Cacn.
The saHe e man0eris large, square room with glass
doors-not windows merely, but doors opening on TO
y,c,tT 81 mirrors Fvcrywiere we noticed that what
ever else may deficient in French hotels one is sure to
ma abundance Of mirrors and oTmou clocks AT hrst
me room empty but gradually come alGping ~ apG
you might take them for stout Yorkshire suits or Man
chester manufacturers. Few are bearded none cigar
secuted: indeed. here beg 10 mention that IN all my
wauderings through france was never oHCe a. .S i
by smoking which appeared much less gen, RAJ imam IN
England Presently more guests appeat-lales, alSo
who hang up their IOnAgs on tAe PCSe Di,4.I "l In
their places uncOncerncdya az the table a. u were ler
and begin conversation; but mostly the table is very
quiet aud everbodys attention seems concentrated on
~ an inc fHT
word here on these French dinners. own. ct first,
they 70 deep mystery. What could De tho use
of taking twelve different mouhfuls Of twelve successive
dishes Why earth could not eat tue meat and
potatoes together, instead Of gazing hunriy az small
plate to be followed, at long int yals, by bite OF fricd
potatoes and two teaspoOnsfu OF sorre or spnach IL
seemed such awful waste of time and appetite will
deny, there have been moments when good slice
of roast beef and two honest potatoes or even sun
stantial piece Of bread and cheese and glass OF
have been a state of things quite paTadisacal. But
shortly there grew be certain charm in these lengthy
como pext and what II was made OF when il did come
NJ domestic and culinary spirit began 10 have secret
admiration for the way IN which French cOOs e0ntrNe
10 make something out OF nothing-to evolve the fastest
OF dishes of the most ordinary materials also Tor
certain refinement Of feeling, very pleasant III It's way
mo greasy nastineSs Of stews gigantic, ilcOoked
FONTS no swilng, during dinner, and after of heavy
ale and porter or we-brandied wines Undo!3tedy asa
nation, neghbors are more temperate tan VEN
eating probably, most decidedly IN drinking. Mlile
a. beady@ vines Frenchman lives upon dainty dishes
chiefly composed Of vegetables and drinks the ghtesJ
Of living and thinks it the best way st comparing
The two one inclined 10 believe that The chances Of
and sound stomach, rather IN favor Of Monsieur
One feature of French life which left most
agreeable impression on the author, was the habits
of industry which prevailed among the women both
in the cities and the rural districts They all help
TO make the pot boil, which is pretty certain way
to secure the Sunday chicken in IT. Honest labor is
counted no disgrace and there are few idle hands