The New York herald., 1879-07-14
LIT E r AT U'R E.

1
A Afavorite pastime among Englishmen seems TO be
travelling through America. notebook in hand. the
result of which is u volume of less preten-
sions American manners and customs. Some
times Dickens Trolope finds amazement in
this sort of thing and makes many misstatcments
TO the chapter as there words to the page
The Engshmen who write about our country may
be divided into two classes-the good natured
and the bad natured. OF the former class is Sir
George Campbell. NJ. p. whose white and
Black in the United States (Chatto & Windus) will
be published shortly in this city by r. Worthing
ton. Sir George Campbell is favorably known in
his own country an Indian administrator and
writer OH the land laws of Ireland. From the
sketch of his life in "Men of the Time" we should
judge him to be man of some consequence but
from the volume before we do gain any
great idea of his ability for observation shrewd-
ness in drawing conclusions. Part of this volume
appeared in the Foraighty Reciep and part was de-
vered in series of lectures before his constituents
in the Krkaldy burghs; the latter part is
made up of pages from his journal, and is
often carelessly written and quite personal.
The msstatements in this book appear to be made
through ignorance and not in malice. Sir George
Campbell is apparently amiabc man, and he found
more to admire i'll America than to blame. He came
here last fall and remained few months.
but not remaining very long in any place. He
acknowledges that the Americans have been Carl
catured by the most popular English writers, and
confesses that he found them but little different
from his own countrymen. Like the man who
visited California Sir George thinks that America is
afflicted with ':too much climate" and wonder.
for some one told him that it was uncommon
thing for the thermometer to stand at ITO degrees"
in New York in the summer time. and to he Us high
in the night the day time Notwithstanding
that such great sufferers from climate, Sir
George admits that he saw ga great many men in
America who looked very robust and well. and
might have passed for Scotchmen.' The ladies.
he thinks. "becoming pretty beefy."
The English spoken by the body Of
the people he found good that
spoken at home." and it was only the
higher class of people. especially the lades--the
sort of fine ladies in foreign hotels the
Continent of Europe-who talk American" The
hotels he considers very peculiar American inst-
tuition. He finds them all on the same plan. and
finds that there does not exist either the comfort
able English hotel or the foreign cafe.
He complains that the American cities are too
bis-that is to say. "too many people come to the
towns who had much better 60 and work in the
country. was almost tempted to say that among
the Americans for every man who really works
with MS nandS tnere seem TO De TWO
who seek to live by speculation upon him. es-
pecially by insuring his l1fe-that to be the
great business now to which retired generals, gov
ernors and other great men devote themselves"
American women. he found them. he pronounccs
every nice people indeed" at is the Daisy Mil
lers and the Daisy Millers mammas who to some
extent have given the American women bad name.
See them at home aud they seem to be among the
incest Of their SEX. He surprised to find "real
ladies' working for their living and leading lives Of
independence But he rather likes it, In Sir George
Campbell's journal we find great deal about cost
almost too much think. He arrived in
New York in September, and the afternoon
of his arrival "'did' the Central Park which he
describes an 'immense place, many miles
long, and very well kept; called Central because 1t
is q long way off," Tho carriages he saw bowling
through the Park did not strike him being very
smart "wel set up. and the fine ladies gen.
orally content with coachmen without footmen."
He did not understand how the Americans could put
up with "trsmways," a1d thinks the elevated roads
much more keeping with their character. He ad-
mres these roads excessively and thinks them great
improvement ON London's underground railways.
The "dulness" Of New York oppressed him.
| There did not seem to be anything to do or
anything going on, and he thought the city
| very quiet. Then he started out his travels
and visited, among other objects OF interest.
Niagara Falls, of which he says 'they certainly
very fine and unique thing" The extra session OF
Parliament called him home, and he returned to
England without having half satisfied his curiosity
in regard to America which he hopes to revisit be-
fore long. 'while the steamer was hauling out for
the start" Sir George writes "I was interviewed by
q reporter Of the New YORK HERALD regarding Az
ghanistan," and 80 he sailed. There is spirit Of
kindliness running all through this volume which
makes the American reviewer dislike to handle Sir
George Campbell roughly. still he cannot but regret
that he had not moro time to verify the hasty jot
tings in his journal
NILE DAYS.
"Nile Days" u. B. Lippincott) is the rather mis-
leading title Of attractive novel, by e. Katherine
Bates From the title alone one would suppose the
book to be account Of travel. and the subtitle
Egyptian Bonds" would lead him to believe that