The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-08

leaf by leaf. fastened together with
gum, and then stuck on TO the
vase. which were made OF
what was called biscque china. /
used to watch the making Of taese.
They were finished and put on a table
in the drawing room. | saw them-te
was long sofa table OF rosewood. l
managed t. stand on a little stool 70
admire more closely. and then by slow
degrees picked every one OF the How
ers off with the greatest care and pains
and collected them ia a littlegup. l
had pearly finished this task. so happy
was. so industrious, when my mother
and her friend came In. Great were
the exclamationsl II was very very
naughty, mischievous child.' ! was
scoIded and punished. and then foupd
out that had done wrong.
About this time and for some month";.
perhaps for more than a year after.
had habit of attributing Intelligence
to not only al! living creatures the
same amount and kind of intelligence
that had myself-but even TO stones
aud manufactured articles. used to
feel how dull il must be for the pebbles
i'm the causeway to be obliged TO lie
still and only see what was round
about. When | walked out with .
little basket for putting flowers in used
sometimes TO pick up a pebble or two
and carry them on to have change;
then at the furthest point Of the walk
turn them out, not doubling that they
would be pleased To have new view.
This difficulty 10 attaining TO a clear
distinction in the understanding be-
tween dead matter--I will call it the
world-and the youthful spirit oDserv-
ing it is very much increased by grown
up people. They suggest and foster IL.
They teach the children TO kiss aud
fondle dclls. and TO pat the pictures in
a book, or to slap the naughty iloor'
when they tumble down and IL has
struck them.-Jean lDgelow. in Long
mans Magazine.
BHowNELL's FRENCH TRAITS
The language most depressing to the
Englishman Is the language OF the cul-
tured American. We find it, as Mr.
Brownell assured US the average Eng
lishman always finds the average Amer
lean upquestionabIy clever. but thin.
sharp. stridulous, eager and nervous
In this exasperatipg idiom Dir. Brow
nell has written an interesting book.
We doubt, indeed. whether SO thought
full. so valuable page of International
criticism has appeared since NJ. Tame
gave to the world his Notes on EGG
land Mr.. Brownell aims rather at
Emerson than,at NJ. Tame; the fnc-
drawn American phrase. the fine
drawn American sense. are part OF hts
inheritance, as are no less the American
virtues of candor aud reflectiyeness. A
desire to see clearly. to think precisely,
to Judge fairly, aud even III ethnolagy
would permit IT. to speak plainly. Is
attractively evident in his work. lie
wishes 10 see the French people.
not as others see them, nor
even precisely as they see themselves,
hut IA they might appear TO an IDEAL
spectator-iu fine. as they are. This Is
A high standard for an author to set
himself. Ii Is difficult enough 30 adj
vance TO the second stage-difiicult,
and often fraught with surprises. Tho
porcupine says % her young, ION, my
pretty. soft little child, softer than but
ter ~ SO the Afghans assure US. The
French opinion onthe French character
ia probat ly equally surprising tn the
Auglo- Saxon. But Mr.. Brownell rs
OF looking on France and
from their national point OF
view. He has probably lived long in
France. for his book betrays none OF
the rash inexperience OF the traveller.
He has a capacity for general ideas GER
tainly more French than English, and
shows throughout closenesso OF reason
ing. an absence of cant, more common
east of Dover and New York. Thus
equipped with virtues born ard made.
Mr. BrowDel attempts to give Us not
mere impression. but criticism OF the