The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-02
SOME NEW hooks.


] ltlQulSillNt III bu'l IluNleTb lut lutNnt WOulu
probably divide itself into two branches. since
the measure Of recognition attained in London
drawing rooms and in continental salons Is
affirmed 10y indignant experts to be essen
TALLY different So. too. the social philosopher
might insist on n subjective distinction. seeing
that the place accorded to our fair country wo-
men varies according rs they belong to one or
tho other OF two classes. These catcgorcs have
been neatly defined by Mr.. HENRY JAMES, Jr..
AS embracing. on the one hand. those young
ladies who 80 out under proper escort. or those,
| on the other. who prefer to walk about the
streets OF European capitals in the fine freedoms
OF their native customs. or under tho question
able protection Of n courier In the recent con-
trbutions Of this writer to our information on
tho topic DAISY Miller and an International
Episode tIIarpcrsl--a typical representative OF
each class is made tho subject Of separate In
curry There IL so much acutcncss and pro-
cision In the authors observations. and his con-
illusions are propounded or hinted with SO
much grace or Hdronncss. and always with
such finished literary execution. that n good
deal Of attention will probably be drawn to this
interesting subject.
1t may be we'll to offer word or two OF pre-
misc touching u preliminary query why these
problems. Of which Mr.. james has been the
foremost. though not the only student should
deal almost exclusively with the social standing
allotted TO tho feminine eoiourncr in foreign
parts Why Is Il we hear 20 little about the
stntus Of American mon. and OF tho obstacles
lkelyto thwart projects Of marriage on their
part with ladies Of rnnk2 Can 1t be that the
wcll-groomcd. well-nurtured, and well-odged
young gentlemen who exhaust tho skill OF
manicure and pcdicure. and give the American
colony in Paris a distinctive seal Of lustro and
/ refinement, are yet condemned to ostracsm. 10
species OF moral isolntion-that these splendid
youth nnd themselves cut or 10y n wall Of cnsie
from tho noble JauLourg. and that like the Pert
at the Gate. they are forced to languieh out
their lives in hopeless worship OF sioric salons
they cannot entcrp such. we apprehend 10
he the case. Notwithstanding the sympathy
which we. as patriots. must experience. we are
bound. on a candid review Of the evidence, to
accept the fact. There Ia not single instance.
we regret to say. OF a matrimonial alliance con-
tracted between ayoung man OF Auglo- Amerl-
can parentige and a lady belonging to the Old
and vcrit,Dlo nobiities OF western Europe. We
do not. Of course, refer to the spurious creations
OF the arst and second empires In France. or to
those Russian AMI Polish titles whose mystc-
rous feminine possessors may be met with In
HomburE Monaco. AMI the artist circles OF
some Italian capitals. their manners certain
7 ~ evincing charming absence OF conven-
tionalty We have in mind only those sedu-
lously-nurturcd and cnrciully-euyironed wo-
men OF whom Mr.. James has given US type
in Claire de Cnirt. Now 1t is worth
noting that tho author OF The Amerl-
can" in order not 10 swervs from exact
ycrisimiliudc. could not let his hero marry
that young lady. although she had learned 10
feel an earnest and at last even n passionate
/ liking Tor his vre. loyal character. SIR. James
was doubtless right In representing such a som
timent as possible on the part Of n young woman
reared in the Fnubourg 81. German. although
It's object was "A man whose experience. like
that OF most Americans. had is raw not 70 say
rough sides. He was right. 70. n reason AT
which Wa may glance presently. and which will
explain why like close and tender sympathy
could not easily be awakened in a young Eng
lish maiden Of analogous associations and ira
ditons. For the moment va would but point
out that while Nine. de Ciutre's attachment TO an
American was conceivable anomaly. her
marriage to Mr.. Newman would. as
the novelist was vol aware. have in
vo.ved an un;hinkablo social catastrophe,
In all countries where the higher
strata Of society have kept m aristocratic struc-
turo hut prreminenty in France and Cor
many. Il has passed into an axiom that tho dis.
taft cannot rnnohe. By an unwr.ltcn law. not
to h' shaken by revolutions. n wife indisputably
rises or irreyo'aoiy sinks 70 the level Of her
husband. II il truo tina, her children will not
lose he countcnance. though they can mover
occupy the plnue. II their maternal relatives A..
| but this very tcoiing Of solidarity which ere
| ates reciprocal rights AMI obligations among
nil the oilshocis % II noble race. and which H.
Some OF It's aspects. may he 40 admirable
operates as n potent bar to tho contracting Of
plebean alliances Montmorenci is nota.cus-
toned to snub his nephews. nnl therefore ho
/ scans with wary and very natural solicitude
/ the social qualifications Of his sisters suiiors
/ \ RJhnn ID not ycrsed In tho eXpedlents with
which our Iatricinns OF a day arc said TO be no.
unfamiliar aud by which host 81 vulgar or
unreasonable relatives may be secluded from
the gnzs Of the cynical observer. From the
maxim that good blood cannot lie is deduced tho
practical corollary that good blood cannot dis
own lis Kindred and although French
gentleman OF ancient stock may have
no rcason 10 be- fond Of his brother laws
( family. he does not mean. II he can help It. TO
blush for any a. them. Tothe kocn-sightol sur
/ viyors Of the ducica regime there seems TO DO
flaw in the sumptuous gentleman OF the Amerl-
can colony. and that is probably tho latent
/ doubt whether his elaborate good manuers
could bc traced bncs for generation. ami how
faithfully thy might ba found reproduced in
his collateral kinll,k. The fact Mt all eyants
/ Is unqucstionable that the American soIourner
in Paris. however frequently he may be en-
; couutered NJ Embassy balls or in the pol, glot
drawing rooms Of Muscovite prncosses. is very
seldom suffered to cross a Lcgitimsts thr sn-
Old and since French m0ideEs of good family
must ho soon NJ home. II anywhere. TINT cir
cumsnncn sufficiently accounts for his failure
/ 10 secure the precious boon Oi adoption by mar
/ rlago IN the Faubourg st. Gcrmnin. His expo
/ rience. however. on the other side OF tho
/ channel has convinced him that his case would
/ be-. II ANYTHING. moro hopeless in England
Tor not only it. there no instance recorded Of n
marriage between an American and m English
lady OF rank, bUt the aspiring young men who
have had both tho opportunity aud tho hardi-
/ hood To contemplate such IN innovation might
/ be counted on the fingers OF one hand. There
is. indeed a legend OF II spirited youth who
ioreswore the raw and nppinG atmosphere Of
his native cline. and who, with the help ofsomo
6l0 600 n year. and OF the training and associa-
! tons Iudiciously acquired ut IN English uni
/ ycrsity. made shin 10 launch himself In London
society, lie is said to have been Il person OF
/ discernmcnt, who perceived that the only valid