The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-18
"FRENcH AND BELGIANs.

"French and Begans" u. d. Lippincott Co.. is
the title of volume those peoples by Phebo Earle
Gibbons The book is written in the form of
diary. and pays considerable attention to little
things. The author. while in Paris during the OK
hiJition Of 1873. boards altogether among French
people, private families. for the sake OF perfecting
herself the language and to learn the manners and
customs of the nation they not learned ut great
hotels where there are many of ones own coun-
trymcn native inhabitants. If not MORE. Miss (
Gibbons style is light and easy. quite in keeping
with the diary from tho book. She goes into tho
kitchens and examines the pots and pans and in
quros into the manner Of cooking. She
describes o breakfast at her boarding house.
The table is dressed with oranges and apples
and radshes placed tastefully around the plates,
with the red heads in and the green leaves out.
The first is radishes. with bread and butter.
The next course is q piece of veal. roasted in tin
kitchen before charcoal crate. and trimmed with
. spinach-ke vegetable. covered with gravy. There
il alter this dish of haricots string beans, fol-
lowed by salad dressed with oil and vinegar. Alter
the salad the oranges and apples eaten and then
comes the black coffee. There two kinds OF wine
drunk at this meal-one red. the other white. This
breakfast is not the first meal partaken Of there
il slight rcpast consisting of a roll and n cup of
coffee eaten at rising. the deieuner being served
about eleven o'clock. This meal. by the way, was
prepared by the husband of the landady the family
not keeping any servant, and he. though book
keeper, capital cook. The taxes In Paris, she
says are extremely oncrous doors. windows, food
aud even handbills are taxed.
Tho writer only spent short time in Belgium.
She sensiby confines herself to domestic opserva-
tons does not attempt to discuss politics or re-
iigion. One may learn considerable from her book.
which Is very chatty withal.
''rHE LIFE or CHARLES JAMES MATTHEW'S"
Tho reading public. particularly that portion of IL
Interested in the annals of the stage owe u debt OF
gratitude to Harper a. Brothers for repriuting
Charles Dickens Life of Charles James Matthew'S
in their Franklin Square Library. In the English
edition this book was beyond the reach of most
pockets but in its present form IL Is within tho
means of every one. from the millionaire to tho
poorest ''supernumerary." being complete in one
volume for fifteen cents. Mr.. Dickens has done his
work of editing well, leaving Mr.. Matthews to tell
his own story wherever possible. This tho veteran
actor in that bright rafting style for which he
was conspicuous, both of and tho stage. Those
who have conversed with Matthews will recall his
peculiar manner in reading the photographer
portions of this book There is temptation to read
those parts as rapidly as one knows no would have
tence than most mon, and would fly OF parentheti.
caly in an exceedingly amusing way. The para
graph describing his birth shows how bright and
entertaining he could make a statement that an
other would give simply q bare fact. Not the
least interesting portions OF this volume are tho
letters OF Mr.. Matthews, who was q faithful and