Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-13
New Books.

Or'TpE-MER, IMPRESSIONS OF
AMERICA. By Paul Bourget Member
of the French Academy. New YORK:
Charles sScribner's Sons. 1875. PIP. 40
Richmond. Va: !. W. Randolph Com
pany. Price N.15.
We have been disappointed in this hand
some work. We looked for something
Ike another De Toquevllle. When its
author visited our country. in 1893, he
was already widely known as a writer
OF novels, crtlques. and essays. His being
a member Of the French Academy i'm
piled a good deal lie had also been an
extensive traveller.
He says: II am aware IN advance or
all that viii shock me in this country
where the poetry Of 4 past IS wantlng-l,
who have so loved Italy. Greece, syria
and their soil half formed OF the dust or
the dead. | know / shall not find among
them those Of my own heart and mind
Professor Charles ", Of Cambridge, al
vised him 70 call his contemp ated DOCK
american Shocks" by way Of contrast
to his Italian Sensations" Still he came
to study our country In three aspects.
which have not I'm them one particle OF
the poetry of a past"-her democracy
her science. and It's effects and the race
question, as throwing light upon the tu-
ture. only a small portion Of his work
IS philosophical, or analytical; part OF
Il IS cosby. and devoted TO the upper
society. into which he was admitted;
part that Of a mere tourist. ana over
forty pages are written about and by a
fellow-Frcnchman. who gives n fcH ac-
count c'The Cowboys StOry') Of himssi
and Of his establishment o. large ranches
20
pr.sed IN two chapters-one "In Georgia
the empire state of the South, and the
other IN Fgorida"-but the places ana
topics selected and their treatment are
not particularly gratifying.
Society at Newport. In New York. ana
some other places IS quite fully handled.
He says that after pleasure. as well az
business, Americans are too eager ana
too much on the rush. and that the rich
are too prodgal and lavish. He has an
exalted idea Of New England refinement
and civilization. Boston could anoFd 70
have "Outre-Mer' circulated as an adj
vertlsing medium. lie Is very deeply I'M
pressed by what IS done and given In
America for the haliowod cause Of educa-
ton: but in considering this great subject
confines himself almost exclusively TO
Massachusetts and her educational insl-
tutiOns.
As TO our democracy. he calls 1t I'M
mense, yet conservative. developing indl-
viluai enterprise, energy. and indepeh-
dence. and IAN ease In liberty, which IS
one Of the striking features In America.
Hence. he is more hopeful Of II here tnan
he Is for his own and other European
countries, and yet he seems to have an
exceeding horror Of universal suffrage.
He thinks that our science has con-
| a.. i. fr.f nd
stead of tending towards Nhil.sm. as he
once feared it was, IT is the friend ana
| olv of Christianity. lie AYERS Il have
seen at work an immense democracy
which has caused a scientific spirit to
penetrate. In the form Of Industry. into
| The smallest detail OF life, and in the
| form OF education into the soul or us
soul"
The race question causes him more APP
prehcusion; but he means the antdgo-
niams, competitions and landings be
tween the various natiOnalities when
compose the people OF the United States.
Win guides, he visited their slums and
separate quarters. and sought facts from
every available source. and he thinks
there IS greater danger lurking In this
direction than there Is In any problem
between the white and colored popu.a-
tons. lie thinks he saw signs pointing
u conflict between the West and East.
After all, however. he declares: 1t IS
truly with an emotion Of gratitude that
[ say ad.eu TO Americl-of gratitude, be-
cause have received precious, incompara-
bic teachings; Of gratitude because l teel
that France IS loved there; of gratitude.
finally. because IL exists. and its mere
existence represents for the future Of
civilization an immense possibility"
THE OLD SETTLER; THE SQUIRE
AND LITTLE PELEG. BY Ed. Mott,
author OF pike County Folks" etc,
etc. New York: United states Book
Company. 1875. Pages 9C2. For sale
by the Cohens. Richmond. Va. Cloth,
50 cents; paper. R cents.
Many OF this series OF highly dverting
backwoods yarns have had the approval
and circulation Of the New York Sun.
Others have never before appeared. The
author assures US that the Characters
and stories are taken from real lie.
The sketches are often original In the
turn they take. the manner in which they
are called forth. and the conceptions
which they present. How did anybody
get into his head such a notion as that
Of "the tushwobbler and bibsnook"?
The old settlers wife. Riar, takes a
hand in the storytelling. and delights
little Peleg" by telling him how She
when only months old by the strength
OF her baby lungs, scared away panther
which was overtaking her and her
mother.
The reader can have many a hearty
cackle over these "recomberances" OF
THE Old Settler" We have in our die
tionaries ambooze." 'buliyrag." etc.
but here we are introduced 10 bans
muzzleggged."
| GRANIA; THE STORY OF AN ISLAND
by the Hon. Emily Lawless, author OF
"Hurrish." "a study" etc. New York
and London. Macmillan & Co. 1880.
Price. so cents. Pages. 355.
This is a detailed account OF the Aran
Isles In Galway bay. on the west OF Ire
land. The inhabitants are ignorant and
superstltious, yet attached to their sterile
homes, where they make hard and scani
| living. There is paucity OF cultivab!e
| land. but an abundance OF sand ana
storm-beaten rocky cliffs and clefts.
one feature OF the work Is new: IL Is
IAN Irish story without any Irish brogue."
| The conversations OF the natives are
translated into English. which they de-
| spised. SIN IL is splrsely Sprlnkied with
| Gaelic. The work Is rather tedious. and
| vet not embarrassing. The chief story
| that OF the half sisters. Honor and