New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE NEW PARIS.

PARIS OF TO-DAY. Translated from the Danish OF
Richard Kaufman BY Miss Olga Finch. Iilns-
tFated. vO, PIP. POS Casseii Publishing 'on-
pany
MANY hooks have been written about Paris and some
very entertaining ones. This handsome volume, now
ever cannot rank among the best OF such productions
and without the numerous and highly amusing Illus
t,at,ops which adorn 1t, might be thought almost be-
low pars Not Justly indeed. for contains great
deal OF highly interesting information and matter cal
oulsted TO be Of real value to foreign visitors to the
French capital and. moreover it Is written well up
10 tho present day. recognizing end recording ue
changes which have passed over the JOYOUS city, sweep
ing away some OF her venerable institutions ana INTRO
dncing new ones. Where change has been most radi-
cal perhaps Is in the Latin Quarter The student OF
Murger's Bohemia surely would not know the quarter
today for IL has actually grown quiet and cohVeh-
.onal and tie etudlant7 has learned TO i've IN peace
amity and dec0rOusness. side by side WIN an
etndIantes who has nothing in common with the old
fashioned female dcnizen Of the quarter. The girl
students of Paris are OF not at all like girl stu
dents in other countries. The Girton and Newman
girls would consider them stin shockiney Bohemian
probably. Many arc quite poor fun Of enthusiasm
theoretical scOrncs Of conventions; bat they are IN
effect sufficiently harmless steady and innocent Young
creatures whose widest alterations are limited to the
wearing OF uniform class caps and the smoking OF
cigarettes. As many OF them are Russians. moreover
this last practice can hardly be regarded as uhcoh-
ventlonal from their point of view
The arrangement OF the book is rather hsplazaid'
but the varous Sketches though often infelictously
placed, are generally interesting I'm themselves. The
attempt OF the author has been 10 describe Paris lie
in all or most Of It's aspects Thus there arc chapters
on cafe and street life cabs and cabmen. omnibuSes
the newsmen pedlers. the octro service modern
Partisan reporters nurses and children the Partisan
ousne, the water supply, Partisan dinners sorees'
funerals etc Under the general head of theatres
there are chapters on the ticket spectators the Theatre
Francois and biographical sketches of actresses
and singers. The volume concludes with The Triumph
OF the Exposition" IT, which sufficiently viVid
panoramic view is given, with some insight to the
architectural and other devices which were invented
for the occasion. and interesting details about the
stranger exotic shows in the great exhibition In his
chapter on the modern French reporter Mr.
Hartmann gives credit TO the enterprise
and audacity Of these young newspaper men when
shows that his acquaintance with American journalism
is OF the slightest; the fact being that as vehicle
of news The Paris paper of to-day is undeveloped and
crude as compared with American Journals. or even
with English ones. which in their turn are below
the American standard in this respect
Tho chapters on rhe Partisan cuisine arc dsap-
pointing the subject being barely touched In its most
interesting features, and information being afforded
which help the stranger in Paris VINO wishes 10
dino we'll The whole broad question of the
restaurants. in fact is maccOuntaby Sighted, While
fetal aspects Of bouvelard life The Paris "fakirs'
As thew would be called here differ so little from
the same classes in London and New-Iork that II
was not worth while to eXpend so much space upon
their lodges and devices. Another feature mys'
terlously omitted altogether is that of shopping IN
Paris a matter in which women at least are certainly
as much interested as in cabs and omnibuscs Mr.
Kaufman is well informed on things theatrical, and
particularly on the abuse Of ticket speculation, which
las reached great magnitude, and which constitutes
a very grave imposition upOn the public. Before
writing his chapter the Paris water supply the
author should have consulted the statistics Of other
modern cities. He would not then have fallen mo
so many in dpportionng the relative importance
Of the Paris system which in fact, while never more
than makeshf has long been outgrOwn BIZ the
needs Of the city. The chapter on Partisan nurses
NAV be founded on fact. but we suspect its general
tenor TO be apOcrypha The French people are
thrifty as rule and it is not credible that they should
submit quietly TO the impositions alleged TO be
practised upon them by the "Nounou." PROBABLY
these stories ought to be taken with considerable
allowance.
Tho sketches Of Dancing In Paris' and Working
Parisp are lively and entertaining, but the first Is too
sketchy TO convey Just idea Of the subject and the
second is inadequate In its treatment. inc an'hoi
has succeeded however in representing the alternate
breathless hustle and air OF leisure when characterize
the Parisians and in conveying clear impression OF
the more insisten Partisan attributes. But tho best
feature of the book is It's Illustration Why the name
Of the artist should have been withheld is mcompre'
hensible for the designs fun Of humor, ana arc
spirited and good in other ways. So important are
these Illustrations. that it seems at times a. though inc
text had been written up to them rather thah 'ia'
thay were taken from the text The publishers nave
cot the book ont handsomely, the paper being thick
and smooth the impression careful and the cover at
Inactive and picturesque. With all It's SHORTCOMINGS
If Is we'll worth reading, and the American who in
tends TO spend his in Paris misht do worse
than 10 put this volume in his trunk when he SETS oue