New-York tribune., 1900-12-15
Mr.. JAMES IN FRANCE.
A HOLIDAY EDITION OF HIS LITTLE
TOUR"

A LITTLE TOUR N FRANCE. BY Henry James.
With Illustrations by Joseph Pennell octave
ID xiii, Si5. HOughton, Mifhin d co.
II was early in the eighties that MI James en-
joyed the rambles OF which he then gave us
reeord in the shape OF A Little Tour in France"
He expected that his papers would be illustrated
bot the scheme fen through and only the text
appeared. The writing OF that text, he tells US,
WIS altogether governed by a pictorial spirit"
These notes" he further remarks. ARE i'm
pressions. immediate. easy and consciously linn
tied: II the written word may ever play the part
az brush or pencil, they are sketches on draw
ing paper and nothing more. From the moment
the principle Of selection and exception. with the
tourist, is not the delight Of The eyes and the
plsy Of fancy il should he an energy in every
way much larger; there is no happy mean, in
other words 10 hold between the sense and the
quest OF the picture and the surrender 10 il. and
the sense and the guest OF the constitution. the
inner springs Of the subject-springs and con-
nections social, economic, historic" Now reading
his pages over, after so many years. the author
regrets that he did not so deeper. that he had
not closed, in short, more intimately with
the great general subject" But il he had done
this he would we fear, have sacrificed much
that remains. owing TO his fidelity 10 the principle
OF which we have just quoted his account. This
hook is captivating for the very reason that the
author OF il did not make too profound a study OF
his material. but painted il just he saw IL. He
gives us in fact. vivid pictures where otherwise
he might have given US semi-philosophical dis
ouisitions for which we prefer TO go TO other
travellers. Mr.. James has moulded his talent 10
very different purposes in later years. When he
wrote "A Little Tour in France" he sought his
artistic effects with the technical brilliancy
which has always characterized him. but he did
him TOO far. He put his descriptions in simple.
flowing and spirited language We like him in
the mood OF which we get an illustration in the
following lines:
am shocked at finding tbs, ,n y.
little notebook which al that time I carried
about with me the celebrated city OF Anglers is
denominated a sell" I reproduce this vulgar
word with the greatest hesitation. and only be-
cause u brings me more quickly 10 my point
This point is that Angers belongs 70 the disa
greeable class Of old towns that have been as
the English say, done up" Not the oldness hut
the neWness OF the place is what stril-s-s the
sentimental tourist to-day as he wanders with
Irritation along second rate boulevards looking
vaguely about him for absent gables ''Black
Angers," in short, is a victim OF modern iunnrove
ments, and quite unworthy OF It's Admirable
nhme-a name which, like that OF lie Mans has
always had, 70 my eyes, highly picturesoue
value.
This is better than guide book description. - is
also better than the kind Of topogrsphioal nor
traiture in which we fancy Mr. James might he
inclined 70 indulge II he were allowed 20 reUrite
his book in the light OF his later ambitions vbs,
be does throughout tNis work, in fact is 10 tell
you no" ms city strY i'm. and he does this in
such a way that he YOU pictures as vel a..
IDEAS These page ave what the novels
of Mr. James soF eAs-atmosphera ~
was hAppy IN ~ spirit OF the
N1S fot into M IN his boo