New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-09

LOITERINGS IN PLEASANT PATHS. BY MARION
HARLAND. limo, PIP. 436. Charles Scflbners Sons
The versatile and popular novelist who presents
the experience Of a European tour in this volume,
has not much more of story to tell than had the
weary knife-grinder" in Mr. Canning's famous
SATIRE but she understands the art of making an
agreeable narrative out Of scanty materials and in
this respect has here done her duty like woman
and writer Of fiction. She applies a thick coat
of yarnish to tho lightest woods, but the
colors are always brilliant tempting the
eve with their attractive glitter but do not
challenge a closer inspection by the touch.
The book consists of n rapid sketch of the
European life of an American family who went
abroad in pursuit Of health for one of its members
On arriving in London, the first Sunday brought
them into contact with a drOll specimen of the
average Brton. He was rubcund and shiny in
complexion, SNUG and rotund In the outer man,
compliment in vision and waddling in gait. A
child, strictly modelled on the paternal plan,
trotted slowly on at his side. The good London
matron, attired in black silk and velvet hat with
white plume, was one of IawthOrne's British women,
who are irreverently painted as "pOnderOus but
not pulpy" massive with solid beef and streaky
tallow, looking as though made up of steaks
and srloIns." Her lord and master was
a veritable John GIpn; one who had attended
divine service in the morning: partaken of
roast mutton, pint of half-and-half, at an early
dinner; vino would go home after stretching his
legs, with n good appetite for " something com
Portable with his tea" and wind up with cold
meat, pickles, bread, cheese, and ale at o'clock
supper "Our old hoIuc," says the author " teens
with such Heaven send them length Of days, and
more wit" The visitors were near Whitehall, and
felt laudable American curiosity to ascertain the
precise spot where the martyr king" was executed.
:" Caput stepped into the path of the substantial
pair lifted his hat in recognition of the lady's
presence and apology for the interruption. Ex-
cuse me, sir But can you tell me just where the
scahold was erected on which Charles the First was
executed p The Average Briton stared boviney.
Be sure he did not touch his hat to me- echo the
sir nor yet betray how fatterngly it felt upon his
unaccustOmed Being short of stature he stared
at an angle of forty-fve degrees to gam his in
terlocutors face, unlocked his shaven jaws and ut
tered in rumbling stomach base the Shbboleth of
bis tribe and nation | really carnt say D
The question was repeated to several other intel
hRent LOndoners but with no better success
Eight Intelligent LOndOners said | really carnt
say !! more or less drawlinglv. Two answered
bluntly: Dawnt know ? over their shoulders with
out staying or breaking their saunter. Finally, we
espied youth sitting under a tTee-One of those
from which the melting snow might have dropped
mon the prisoners head-why not the thrifty oak
he had pointed out to Bishop JuxOn in nearing
Whitehall as the tree planted by my brother
Henry 2 The youth neatly dressed. comely Of
countenance and he held an open book. his eyes
riveted upon the open page. That looks promis-
Ing ? calculated Caput. There was genuine respect
in his address: beg your pardon for interruptug
YOU, bnt can Won inform me- etc. ccP ! he student
raised his head and looked at us with lack-mstre or
distracted eyes. Hey 2 Caput repeated the query
distinctly and with emphasis. Chawles the
First p Ycsv less patiently. The King whose
head was cut of by order of CromwelPs parliament
under the windows OF Whitehall in 1Gl0T Never
heard of him rejOned the corntryman of Hume.