New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-02

but DON'T Mtnf nly."-Anotnef VOluulc VI thS
series is Edward Gbbon" by James Morrison, giving
the essential parts Of Gibbons Memoirs and Letters
in a condensed, but singuary interesting narrative.
The merits and defects of Gibbons historical style are
tersey set forth by the author whose admiration ior
the Roman Empire {" does not blind him to the snort
cOmings in its execution No oDe ne remarks can OVER
look its frequent humidity. its lack of suppleness'
ease, and variety II is not distinguished by happy
selection of epthets and to ignore all delcacy III
the arrangement Of lights and shades OF meaning ls
prevailing grandOquence easily slides Into POM
posity. But GibbOn is often truly eloquent ana
then he rises without effort into real grandeur
He is fitted, however, TO inspire admiration thah
love sympathy. Even among educated persons II IS
not common to find those with whom he is familiar
fayorite Superior women seldom take kindly TO him.
IF we admit that less capable than mascu-
line scholars of doing justice to the strong sde OF
GbbOn we may also acknowledge that they are better
fitted titan TO appreciate and TO be shocked by his
defective side, which is prevailing want OF moral
elevation and nobility Of sentiment His cheek rarely
ushes in enthusiasm for good cause The tragedy OF
human life never seems 10 touch him; glimpse OF the
infinite ever Gains and the reader of his pages
Like nearly all the of his day. he was OF the EARTH
earthly, and it is impossible to get over the fact"
GREEK yIGNETTEs. BY JAMES ALBERT HARRISON. lsmo,
PIP. 25S. HOughtOn OsgO0d q Co.
In a light, tOuch-and-gO style, the writer
this volume relates his pleasant adventures on Voy
age among the Grecan islands and an enchanting VISIT
in Athens in the Summer OF 1877 His stories have the
freshness Of travel and seasoned with su
cient spice egotism call forth personal interest
A fine flavor of Greek literature, without trace Of
pedantry permeates the narrative, Detrayng the nc
eompshed scholar in the guse OF an almost rOlcking
traveller The author dsclaims all preensions to deep
thought wise reflection, but his comments what he
sees, and fully enjoys show prevailing habit OF
keen observation and intelligent inference. His sugges
tons as to the condition Greece, and the character
OF her people only the more acceptable as
they are presented In the spirit OF smiling
frOlic, rather than Of learned duness. The
Greek cuisine among other topics OF rational inquiry
to have made great impression on his mnd and
often calls forth remarks of tOobsOme character that
viii be the taste OF his readers generally than
any discussion Of the Greek accents the Greek
metres. FOrinstance IL would take another Athe-
to chronicle all the curiosties of Greek cooking
This morning. descending gayy to IL o'clock break
fast greeted breakfast mind you'll, as the first
course with apateful Of rice saturated with grease and
tomato This delicate stomach rendered al
most morbid by long sleepl Then came a dish Of raw
tomatoes which have myself introduced 10 the knowl-
edge OF head waitera dish prepared in our favor
lite American fashion, and thousand times more pal
atable than oil their connections and CONNECTIONS Then
the waiter brought in with an artistic flourish n
plate of Undesirable stuff, sort Of sausage covered all
over with thick white and garnished with what
tasted ike boiled cucumbers Then-bnt Heaven only
knows what he would have brought next! After the
shrnps with olives that succeeded the soup at dinner
yesterday, prepared for anything. But TO our
infinite relief he brought in dish Of delicious aprcos,
which with the rim de PaInes somewhat counteracted
the propylaa Of grease which introduced the break
fast Greek cooking is mixture Of Italian, Turkish,
Albanian French English and native customs. The
thick sweet unsettled black coffee that succeeds every
meal-mOre a CONNECTION than cofee-is Turkish. The
mountains Of maccarOn dressed with tomato sauce and
cheese souvenir of Naples. The frightful combi-
nations of okra beans, and tomatoes I'm which they en-
yeOp their lamb and veal must be purely and diabol
ically Greek for have never seen anything similar
elsewhere No wonder the Greeks are SO slender-mere
silh0uettes OF people Such food would an Occi-
dental to knitebade. 1t seems however, TO have had
the contrary effect the women who at certain stage
of their existence resemble bladders. They are human
cucmber that have lain too long in the sun and gotten
yellow"