New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
NADAIS IMPRESSIONS OF LONDON SOCIAL
LIFE.

ApIIER PAPERS, StGtlfSItD ~ An ENNl''ii
RESIDENCE. BY 5 NADAI. limo PIP 22S scrlo-
neT, Armstrong, Co.
Mr. Nadal was secretary to the American legatioh
ia London for several months. during which time
he enjoyed unusual opportunities for observing the
social and literary aspects of the British metropolis
which he has turned TO excellent account III the
composition OF this volume. His book is singuiarY
free from the conceit, and pretenson, and super
fetal criticisms which mark the sketches of SO many
headlong American travellers who think tha' they
can exhaust the resources of kingdom in the visit
of week With the exception of the early travels
of Professor Silliman the elder whose letters writ
ten nearly seventy wears ago Si unsurpassed Tor
freshness and Vivacity and the more recent ESSAYS
of Mr.. X. w. Emerson few productions of this KIND
possess any permanent value, OF indeed ever created
much interest apart from the immediate occasion
which called them forth Mr.. Nadals volume Is a
work of more substantial value. II has the merit
Of acute observation, active sympathes, spirit OF
generous though wise criticism, and unsleelhhg
good sense. With no fdlsome oUlo-cS OF the british
nation. he is not blind 10 the rare intelligence and
energy Of her people, the soGy Of her civilization,
and the preGmnent advantages of her social life as
il is found among the moro favored classes. lie
writes without undue partality, and certainly with
out prejudice recording the impressions which would
naturally be received by man of culture ana III
sight upon a rapid survey of peculiar forms OF
national character.
Mr.. Nadal could have hardly failed to be struck
with the largcneSs and splcndor of London society
IL presente spectacle remarkable for its proiuse-
ness, its pomp of life, its beautiful women ana
famous men, In matters of opinion, he found great
latitude though as regards BEHAVIOR tlele was an
excessive respect of the individual for the sentiment
of the mass In the clubs. there rarely seemed ANY
abandon or heartiress. There was Ioseatc youth
Il, CO bouUfV with flower
the button-hole with fine raiment and sump'uous
living every day bat without the old physical vigor
and freedom of the British upper class, with great
seIfcop.ciousness and little enthusiasm FOR enjoy
ment There were symptoms Of contagious Weari-
ness like that which the author has noticed among
the agricultural population of Illinois and Missouri
the result Of fever and ague and long eating OF matt
baked bread
In the psrlors the narrow range Of thought and CON
versaoh noticeable than at the clubs urie
tbe adcs set the tone aud kind they usually are,
bright and pretty they often are, hcit n uniiS.th
narrow limits tna custom las prescribed iOf thtH Tue
freedom and gayety winch ar. no. uncommon Ia we Hti
the dgawinlTo0ns OF English iasil0naoies IhrN t"I
profes,edly Upon those common 'ol,s MICm f'oi'
among The brighter al them, kind Of WI and WSdol u
permitted that is APT To Zoe q Ia m1de ne WIZ s
BADLY wacrVd ON not sure, however tha' iashionao
wisdom and WatVIed Wit are peculiar 90 IohuoI. A..
socety-wit is somewhat o&scd Tae VT Oi inca ana
ille men is poor Ii IS curious that thcy " 10 nave no,hs
20 hIt 10 make jokes should udke such very poor on
There few recipes atOat ron, when most 81 tl Sc
fine things arc evidently p:eiloH dne ,sh,"na,e JC,
isUsnay accompanied ~ me i;siaoni9le s,s.u.t ani
an expression OF inward Illumination "hch te SEltc W
the mind hardly justlucs. Though as 10 ARTIFICIAL lat-
lgine aud yocai ihiclS, . e, nr rn n Inay
Ena Ish respectaDies ttll a1ots our V"I ~ no. mo-
seem 10 contradict this hut really does not Wlch say
That our own fashionable manners are borrowed rom ne
Iugiisl Ea.liSh people must speak IN some way, ana
their pecularice, ss rule are proper ana Natural Oui
thing adm ablt English alstucrdtIeal slJe, copy ING
accents and gestures lOEcIlIS tn1t tnet toq %"Hi"
A,a Tue. women English society are itln'.fHany
ua'ur,i-nsgativey natural, English girls are
p4rticul aih simple ana ulassumnS. 1hel are innocent
al an elOr, io IlHCs, or aStoulsh A. All W"hdhhihd
dos and sbouId de- obey make themselves pedy
fLeV can: nut as 10 personal supedJutics tncir educt
ions do moi y enough ul'on sich tings Ia maze
mem anlD ious rs excel way. Al young ladies
ceent ga lar a. goes chiei preccpt OF tne code
s0ei-ty, each yoWg lady must 30 as t"e rest.
move lists and the mas"@ine Darius ana at''S's e';"3
m.riS all the adgatVn she receives. Docs MOI a. .c
Worid know, is nj Almost an impeTu, nee I" saw ,h
80 dignity IoIcsty pro rety SENSE, ana cciIn sOi
sc posses, On she nd. 'rd! htr equal any WhrtcI La,
= Ioj &c Table 'H 1 ~, iH ,c I ,c5r,y
si,nhic II is very different from that prolley which
l. ,ue result elevation Oh character, GA CONCLUSIONS
intimately know anu eoisdnty pl,e'd,G' hsoio VINO
ad yer, ai,t to UnJuU crave recOeuton Ihdt We AK
10 be Thought superior shows least that p1z-
superiority When youu- are lett to neir own giOwto,
anu rcsuictlVc t.riH il IUt upon lnCNldGahty We
uBy expect ltile Nonsense. society VIII cef'%! 40
good tning IN young teaches them the luhy OF
desire onltion But ths society docs not do,
fear IL meIty istrlcs thcm noe 10 sk lor rccoghi-
ton, because 10y dong they maze Dad liDprcSsl0n
Ii mas done them s'ii more doubtful service H. III
GIVING ,iiem very good TRAIT, IT has also taught Them
enpnasizs less strongly the suelo1nes OF character
and conduct.
Mr. Nada found the English Sunday quite lntOl-
cradle The sight of the closed shops and barred
windows. with the ringing Of the iron cellar doors
along the dreary length of the deserted business
thorouehflres, was desoate in the extreme. There
in, nf American
where mice people walk up and down on Sunday
afternoons
The English Sunday is more somher than our own
Uele the day wears more of holiday aspect the people
in the streets look happier and are better dressed The
g,,ea Englisn THINK IL common and snobbsl To dress
much odn1ay. OF course Tie! assemble TINS nOuoh %
thin nicer sense of TOprey; but now much o. Is cue
10 superior sJnctity, and now much to tue ira
GitiOn that snOs dress on sunday because persons ot
moi pretend dec ie. one may SAY that the English as
rule, regard Sunday with rather more sobleiX and
,tay away from church and IT Is to taS chufeHf,
enc must co, ET 70 have SNays Lad Poric cmr
osity and interest in the churches and paIsoli-
ages Of England Tue decent church (LImtapie id
jective When, for the first time on tine road from Liy
eIpOOl 20 London sees II GROWING Mel!clPped,
humid hilltop. softly returns 10 the imagination as some
tug known IN infancy and forgotten. Ever since cld
hood ourmnIs have been hed Win innnnerdDe stores
and poems about The parsons and paisonases There 10
the Vicar Of Nakeiie.d and tneFe Is the c.efsy,
familiar with man! admIaDie or amusing parsons
parsons wives and Galsmeis on INC page OF
Miss and 1rOliopc. The clergyman seems 10 nave
virtue and geutty with tragical poverty On tie ohcr
jusi that yienup. earthly comfort wAiC is lurng :Or
the gentler oi literature just that happy balance OF
the ugiucss OF want and from Ire preons.on which Is
the peril OF too much success lhe I4tS0n has Tenciel
tie center OF English society," High aud low, rCh
aud poor al group themselves about blm aud compute
theif position reference 20 INN. lie touches the com
muniiy al every point he know everybody, though
his place If very VARIABLE ana accidental one His I'M
porancc OF course other thngs being equal, Is proper
his He J. greater man IN iic country