New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-08

black looks and some rudeness from the ignorant
majority.
For the greater part Of the time. however, they
travelled in ideal responsibility. If not always
in ideal comfort. There some DRAWBACKS 10
travel over the great plains of Hungary, as LOT
instance a plague Of dust in the sumner Inc
monotony and Stiffness Of the great plans rcsempe
those of the Russian steppcs. There are snch
immense plains too, in the central region OF Can
fornia and they tince life III the far west, as
Mr. Hamlin Garand's fiction clearly Indicates.
But the true Hungarians, though they have tleir
moody side, are a race largely compact oil nre'
Oriental in the intensity Of their emotions onU
Occidental in mary of their most sterling quai-
tiles Miss Fletcher and her friend met OPP
portunites of observing Magyar domesicty s''cn az
have fallen to the lot Of few travellers ana d
charming picture is presented BY them. lheir
experiences ranged from ancient and maJes.'o
castles. centuries DID, and still retaining III ,nc
external aspects Of their life many traces OIL ieu'
alism. to humble dwellings, not much oetter
than those of the peasantry, but occupied py No-
pie of noble blood and lofty pride
Everywhere the salient traits which they Gu
countered were hospitality, courtesy anu gen
tleness Everywhere they wei> welcomed 10 inc
best their hosts could bestow upon them Every
where their desires and interests were maze para
mount. The travellers observed one curious
thing. namely that among the Magyar NODES the
men were better educated than the women. Inc
latter cleave to tho old habits and customs,
never caring to leave their ancestral homes Inc
mon travel far and wide, and the friction of
change and novelty polshes them and gives them
larger worldly experience. Both men ana
women are delightful in many ways, but the fin
de steele" English girls seem to have thought
tbe Magyar danes Just trlflc slow. Perhaps
they are, and perhaps even they are none the
worse for being So OF course the national dance
the czardcs comes in for plenty of discussion,
and Miss Fletcher is not behind Mr.. Biselow in
the expression Of her admiration for 1t, and Tor
the spontaneity with which the Iiungarians dance
it, OF course, too, the Tzisanes have TO be CON
sidercd but Miss Fletcher is not very sure OF
her footing in attempting TO explain the source
of that peculiar people. Thus She says vaguely
that they are Indians but what does she mean
by the term? People of India, or what we call
Indians which il quite different matter?
This tie reader must puzzle out for himself,
or pass the question over as insoluble. Inc fact
remains that the Tziganes are mysterious and
wonderful as regards their music. Through tho
latter they appear TO have a powerful hold upon
the ITungarians, who cannot, or do not Try TO-
break tho spell. Miss Fletcher declares that
both gypsy men ana women nave IL Hi'S' 'At"-
ordinary eye power and that tie women are quite
fatal in their destinations She also remarks
that the gypsy music can never be heard az lis
best out of Hungary, inasmuch az the sympathy
between PLAYERS and audience has a great deal
10 do with It's fluent evolution. Met by GOODNESS,
the Tziganes shrink within themselves, and their
plavinQ becomes perfunctory and mechanical.
BEFORE they can cXpand and lc themselves
perfcct rapport" must be established between
thorn and their hearers. 1his is always the case
in Hungary, but Of course not so in strange
countries. 10 which the passionate, undisclpllned
and strongly psychcal music OF the Izlganes Is
new. Miss Fletcher and her friend danced
often 10 the gypsy melodies ard enjoyed them
selves in a thoroughly healthy, cosmopolitan WAY
oenerollv is 10 the sketches with which Miss
Ie Oueene has illustrated this interesting volume
ncrhaps the less said about them IA" better.
For they are not strikingly artistic. ana they
are made with a pervading carelessn"ss ana IN
comnletnnces calculated rather 10 hgrfaNHr
roodors who like 70 know precisely what II J.
that they are invited TO look upon. Bat In I'll
other respects Miss Flctchcr's modest account o'
her travels in Hungary will bc found sehnln'F
entertaining. and presenting often quite ~"
views OF a highly attractive and interesting
people.