The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-03
Recent Narratives Of Travel.

Mr.. ANDREW CARNEGIE who gave US q
readable account OF his journey in . four-in-
hand through Britain. has followed up his FIRST
essay In literature with tho description Of a
far moro extensive tour. Round the World
(Scribner). 1t may be questioned whether the
second book. however. had an equal claim to
publication. The notion Of traversing England
and Scotland In . private carriage BY the old
post roads was happy ono. although It was
OF course suggested BY Mr.. Blacks Strange
Adventures Of . Pnaeton." Tho aspects OF
English scenery and life with which the writer
became conversant BY rsvertinR to the old
fashioned mode Of locomotion were new aud
interesting to the readers OF the present gen
Grafton. and the recital Of Mr.. Carnegie's ex-
periencss was therefore welcomed. although
not commended by much literary skill. But
there was nothing In the least degree remarka-
bic In . steamship journey over the beaten track
from San Francisco to Japan. and thence to
Europe by the way Of the Straits OF Malacoa
and the Suez Canal. Tens Of thousands follow
this great highway OF travel. or sections Of It.
every year. and all the stopping places are
familiar. It 10 only they who divergs from the
stereotyped route for tho purpose Of visiting
southern Sumatra. central and eastern Java.
or tho district civilized by RaJah Brooke In
Borneo. who see anything worth telling Mr.. Car
negie Ii by no means one OF those persons who
can reconstruct achapter of biology from Ash
scale. or history from an inscription. He Is
not a trained observer; he possesses the equip
ment neither OF scholar nor OF q scientist He
knows apparently nothing about botany. COOL
ogy. or natural history; for him the wonderful
past Of Asia seems to be represented by q
few random allusions In guide books. Indeed.
according to his conception. culture would be
limited to the power Of interlarding his text
oS Atrv Svh oh N mai thorp
ticularly fresh nor ~ remarkably relevant In this
volume OF $50 pages we have not been able to
discover IN atom OF information which was not
current in the ordinary guido books. nor are
the differences and suggestions profIered OF any
originality or value. We presume 1t cost the
author pretty penny to bring out this book.
and that method OF expanding money 10 cor
tainly harmless. but We really cannot advise
any well-informed and Intelligent person to
buy 1t under the impression that the writer will
show himself In this instance capable OF Afford
ing them either entertainment or instruction.
The fact that the present volume offers. neither
in respect Of the experience chronicled nor OF
the comments made. any reason for Its exist
snce confirms us In the opinion that the
measure Of success attained By the writer's
preceding look was duo entirely to the novelty
Of the subject. and 10 the happy thought OF
working the vein which Mr.. Black had opened.
The differences between the narrative lust
mentioned and the notes Of travel published
BY Mr. EDWARD PIERREPoNT under tho title OF
Fitth Avenue to Alaska. lies in the tact that the
latter Is not entirely superauous. that part OF
1t which deseribos our possessions In north
west America supplying q good deal Of much
needed information. Tho author IL evidently
very young man. aud the first part Of his
book. which recOunts his observations and ad-
vantnrAa IN the rOtitA from Na.v vNrk tn On