New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-20
4 FRENCUiMAN IN AMERICA.
WHAT HE SAW HERE.

AMERICAN LITE. by Paul de Rouslcrs. Translated
from the French by a. j. lIcrbertson. evO PIP. 49,.
Dyrscn d Pfcfcr.
NJ. Paul dc RoIsierss book IS unlike the kind
Of works usually w ten by foreigners about America.
Instead Of spending few days weeks in some of
the larger cities and seeing the country by rafting
over some hundreds Of miles Of railroad. this traveller
applied himself honestly and labOriOusly much
| possible of the United : ates; carefully examined
the growth and development OF the principal
wherever be went took plenty Of time for his work.
aud, result. has produced book 50 fun Of In
formation that even welnfOrmed Americans MAJ fc-
| quently learn from it. VI. de ROusicrs adopted II
method VI his own In laying ont the groundwork for
his book. Instead Of beginning at the East aud work
ing ont to the West he reversed the usual plan and
made bis startIngpont at the West. lie begins with a
description Of territory and follows this up with
Interesting account Of the great Western Iii irbutng
centres, the and cattle towns the packing e-tab-
nshmcnts, etc by this arrangement he is able 10 pre-
sent striking picture Of the growth and development
Of the West, and Of the gigantic system by which its
products prepared and distributed in the most
economical, rapid and profitable manner.
He did not indeed 90 as far West rs lie might have
done the Rocky Mountains bounding his inquest II
is to bc regretted that so enerprsng and Intelligent
an observer should not have extended his researches
to the Pacific Coast for he would have found plenty OF
fresh and suggestive material in that region. aud his
OF the NlROf ana energy OF tHe kcpnDlr
would have been streng hencd by his far Western
experiences. Returning eastward, he visited the
manufacturing centres, which he writes Of with
much accuracy and no less admiration, and having
sketched the material aspects OF American life, cX
plotted Ncw-Yorh, Boston and Philadelphia, aud gath
cred from social Intercourse the ideas which he
ploys in describing social life and National habits and
customs II is quite natural that this should he the
weakest part OF the book. That which he has seen
with his own eyes he describes judIclousy and well
But foreigner in short period attain 10 such
knowledge OF American national life and social char
acteristics as likely to be Of much value. W. de
Rousiers has apparently pieccd out his personal oh
servaons with scraps Of information derived from
hearsay for aldo by side with statements Of fact. We
find I'm his pages assertions which, If true at any time
have long since ceased 10 be so, which refer TO
| conditions long since Outgrown and which, conse
quentIy give curiousy antquated mir 70 some Of his
descriptions The America OF Mrs. Trollopes era
somehow joined to the America Of day, and
| the effect Of the juxaposon is at times rather dro
The translator has made strange bundcr. calculated
TO bcwilder an unsophisticaed reader. He has made
the author assert that the people Of NewYork City
live chiefly in private ho,cs.7 OF course the French
word hotel should have been translated private
houses
| Among the Anticipated notions which appear in the
book that to the effect that all American fathers MAKE
| their sons support themselves that the richest men
any help from his parents after he has reached age
| when he can earn his own living. Perhaps VI. de
Rousiers exaPgeraes somewhat the elasticity and
l'hty OF Americans. In tile West doubt these
qualities much In evidence. bnt In the older settled
states the tendency TO run in grooves has been
marked with the increasing pressure OF competition.
must necessarily be the In the existing conditions.
| The following amusing anecdOie illustrates Western
enterprise: "The takes place In Western min.
Ing village Johnnie said prominent fnancler TO
his youngest son, I'll give you 81 II you'll break mp
| that plot OF ground. wish 10 make garden
for your little sister, 'All right answered Johnnie
who suddenly became thoughtful. but must ask you
10 advance % per cent OF the price fixed by the
bargain not that doubt your word. but need that
sum for working capital 'what do you say johnnie ?
Don't you see. father. shall bury the quarter Sou
give me in the ground then call the other boys round
ana tell them a pirate once hid treasure in this
place. After one Of them finds the quarter. guess
the Others will make the dirt ny. The plot viii be