The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
SOME NEW BoOkS.
Anofher Hook ON America.

Monsieur GUsrAvE DE MoLINARI Is con-
sidered to be a superior sort of man. He Is
political economist OF repute. corresponding
member Of the French Institute. professor at
the Musee de rIndustrie OF Brussels, n con-
tsibutor to the journal des D6bdts and the
author OF numerous works, including a com
peto COurs deconomte polutQte. lie is Belgian
by birth, and man Of about nfty I've years OF
age. but writes with the verboseoess and vola-
tllity OF young French scribe. he passed a
few weeks In Russia, and produced his Lettres
sur IL Russie he spent three months In
this country, and now sends us his Lettres sur
les Etdts- Unts 81 ie Canada Q.ettres on the United
States and Canada, published by the Librarie
Hachetto. Strictly speaking. neither Of the
two iast-named works are books. They are
merely collections OF letters which N. de Moli
mari wrote to the Journal dcs Dtbdts. We doubt
N he even revised them for republication, as
they embody repetitions and errors which could
have been easily corrected. The volume on
America has nevertheless a genuine interest for
Americans as containing the impressions which
our country. manners, and Institutions produce
ON an intelligent foreigner.
The writer's soiourD In America was OF about
twelve weeks duration. lie arrived at New
York on June ~. and resm barked on the 30th OF
september. The ocean voyage seems to have
made one before and was 40 delighted by 1t That
he is even disposed to make fun OF the Europe
ans who are afraid to venture upon a similar I'M
dertaking. He depicts the transatlantic journey
as something about as easy as trip In an
omnibus from the Madeleine to the Biste.
Further on he figures out the cost Of the voyage.
and 1nds that board, lodging and tralsporta-
ton included the expense IL rldioulously small.
81 do not understand" he saws, now people
have not yet conceived tho idea OF spending
their holidays In America" By and by. how
ever, when he becomes acquainted with the
prices of living In this country, he seems to
have somewhat changed his views on the sub
ject OF cheapnes-.
His arst Impressions OF New York arc very IA
vorable. lie devotes to them two letters. aud
seems to be highly pleased with everything he
saw, including the stock indicator, the ferries,
the district telegraph boys, tho street cars. the
Battery, the pilot boats, and even the pictur-
esque aspect OF Bedloe island. The only excep-
ton he makes refers to Custom House officers:
1t took me an hour to get through with tito
Custom House tOrmalities. The officers showed
themselves very severe with reference to gloves.
anu somewhat more merciful toward CHAR.
lhero was, however. PASSENGER VINO ID u
discreellv slip four gold pieces into the pocket
But do not let us Interfere with other peoples
business. Everybody has to make living. ami
the prohibitive system OF this country exposes
ITS custom house AGENTS. numerous and badly
paid. to temptations which only angels could
resist lne Am iican custom house officers
are not dnEels-and that Is all.
NJ. do Molinari displayed surprising activity
during the two days he spent In New York, or
rather In Brooklyn, at house Of a friend. lie
speaks OF many things he saw here. but Of all
OF them specifically, OF course, aud In very
few words. lie devotcs little more space to u
of = ha har m of N
| dressed 10 hot haste. and found myself
among some hundred and nflv gentlemen H.
wbie neck ties. assembled Ia the great nail Of
the celeorated rest. urant, dc rated with
various nigs. among which motto ID the French
tricolur. and the green with a golden nafp on II.
represen ing Ireland. In Il little ADJ plnibe room
With selections from g La File de Madame
Angot." The nltnu u the banquet Is IN French.
Ike AL the menus Of the ciyiiz portion Of the
world. Delmonico's chez, however, does not
seem to have any sesius Of Invention; for the
crabs d Ia Centennial. The or b, an animal who
" lks backward. l. thus made to symbolize the
progressive republic Of the United States.
Whether he enjoyed the after-dinner speeches
| OF that occasion Is not mentioned. Probably he
49, 49, for ne asSnow Wedges his acquaintance
Win the English lansuage to be very poor.
When he alishted from the train at Pniladel phia
ana wanted TO take a carriage, he could not
make the driver understand the name Of Brow n
street. he wanted to 20 To. Il varied my into
nations as much as | could. n, ade II sound
Bronze street, Braun street, Broone street. No
use. Finally l cried out John Brown. The
driver was an abolitionist, aud Understood me
az once"
Philadelphia prod ced but an Indifferent I'm
preston on the winter. He describes the Quaker
| city "a monotonous. when you have seen one
street and one house you have seen them ALL
| IL Is all red brick. Even the sidewalks are Of
al lrt. las and ~ a 4.
dust 1t Is, and what tropical heatl The only
other color to be seen Is the white OF the marble
steps. The torchiiRht procession and the IRE
works VI the Fourth of July have evidently
| mo surprised than impressed MIN. lie Is as
| tonlshed that 80 few accidents were record ed
| from the indiscrminate nrng all around. The
| fusees were bursting by the dozen under his
| horses LEGS. but the animas did not mind that +:
they seemed to be accustomed To this extraya-
giant expression Of the national Joy.
The money spent on this memorable day In
fusees, or ckers, waeels. and what not, would
the .tional uebt. The fathers OF the national
incerendence must nave heard from their clio
rious graves the noise OF the festivities, OF which
they were the heroes. Lot us pray that ul AIM
similar ones may follow this.
II is surprising to ind that a man Of ~ de
Molinari's Intelligence. and an economist into
the hagaiD had so little TO say OF the Exhibit
ton, to see which, II we are not mistaken, was
the Urinary object Of his visit to tins country
lie deyotes to It only one letter OF about fifteen
pages. After giving description OF the Main
Building he mentions a few pictures IN the Me
mortal Hall, the glasses Of 81. Gobain, the cera
mics Of Limoges, the exhibits OF French book
Publishers. the laces Of Valenc,ennes, Gramon.,
and brussels, some heavy-looking furniture Of
domestic origin, nrany's Thousand and One
Nights" annexe. as he calls IT, and stands lost In
admiration before the China and Z. pan depart
ment. Ofthe Machinery Hall anu Agricultural
Hall (of both OF which NJ. de Molnari Is sup
posed to be able to say something interes,inc)
he barely speaks at all. The most space IS de.
voted by him to the description OF "a queer curl
osily-the exhiOition OF Centennial collins and
Baskets by Messrs. Schuyler & Armstrong Of
Philadelphia.
And what Baskets Ebony and nah oQanv
trimmed with satin, and ornameuted with gold
ana liver. DO sou want a serious coffin a
CONN Tor politician, a clergyman, a LAWYER or
stock brok"rf lake this M site casket, saw
eiei win black satin, aud adorned with silver
handles DO you prefer white satin? Here Is
something OF the most exquisite taste. You
my perhaps incline to a fancy coffin. In that
case there are two OF them, one In sky blue mo
other IN dark blue. notn trimmed win pink nnd
embelllshed like glove boxes. The visit
ors 40 not seem disposed to dwell long i'm I'M.