New-York tribune., 1902-09-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
NOTES OF ITALIAN TRAvEL-SoME Ll'IHi
VERSE BY Mr.. E s MARTIN-LoRD
RONALD COVERS LIFE OF
REYNOLDS

The interesting thing about Miss Katharine
HooBer's handsome volume Of travel notes.
-.Tvayfarers in Italy OCharles ScTibners Sohsl'
is that il carries the reader 10 many srnah towns
living off the beaten track and neglected d d
rule by all save the most enthusiastic ana eher-
eetjc of tourists. Pierza. COrtona. AsColl. brac-
ciano Narni and Nolterra are some Of the names
recorded in this book. and merely TO see them
- the page is TO be reused TO expectations OF
esteresting aiding. Miss Hooker does aot alto
-ether. dfsap ppoint US. Even the baldest descrip-
rions of some Of the scenes with which she
deals could not but appeal 10 those who have
enough feeling for Italy, in the first place. Tor
them to meet an author Of modest powers half
way and the descriptive passages in this book
are not raid But. on the other hand, they
are more rhetorical than they ought TO be. ana
fail somehow To give the really illuminating
impression that one wants. Of the cathe4Idi
al PerllSia we are told that it looks down as
sravelv and inmovably though its floor and
STEPS had not once poured with the blooo OF
q murdered family when thirty bodies o1 us
members. splendid stalwart youths. were ooFie
forth and laid before il after one slaughter
This does not tell US much about the catheorai
at Per1,gia nor does the context improve mat
fers. The truth is that Miss Hooker Is gwen 10
the EXPRESSION. in rather high sounding Ian
suage. Of naive transports OF more or less SEN
tinental ecstasy and the thing that she tries TO
,,lsce before us is constantly Gliding our vision
getting lost in pretty talk. She is at her best
when she is least ambitious and contents her
self with the simple statement Of ordinary fact,
rs in these lines:
The cheapness of living in Assist is a
marvel on seven lire a day 81 4o
family of three may live like princes, so
saws our little friend, illustrating il in her own
menage. They keep, she tells US. n1ald ser
want, and man comes in each DAY TO 90 m lIe
-ougher work. The wages OF man seIHdlll
ss 81 month and that of a woman 81 30 IheE
have horse and vehicle for driving about ana
yhe rent of their apartment is SO year. some
sdea Of the cost Of provisions may he gaIhvu
when II is known that eggs are ABOUT SIX ceicS
she dozen and green peas two cents the pound
Meals are arranged as follows: Coffee is taken
tn bed at about O'Clock IN the hioIiIllle- =. -
may he interesting no note here that IN ASSIST
this beverage is looked upon as pahacea, II
symptoms of Illness appear there is no PAM VI
uncertainty the proper means 10 aNalt
ones self Of Consgn the patient 10 bed at
once and administer cup after cup OF strong
coffee This will in the end Vanqu1Sh any ols-
ease.
Al S o'clock there is an informal meal, called
Sthe standing breakfast when something sup
etantial like eggs or ham. Is served. ana 49, AZ l.
comes coiazine the first important repasI
Of which the courses are apt 10 be soup naca-
roni and a dish of meat perhaps, OF coui ise.
eccompanied by bread and wine. instead ol
afternoon tea. at O'Clock glass OF VINE Is
salxen and dinner comes at $50. when perhaps
,here may he roasted kid and salad as features
of the repast. all of which goes to show that
living cFeaply in Assist does not mean living
,,oorly- and when ii is said that we saw a
pretty and well fitting gown for the making OF
which the dressmaker's charge was =" cents
little remains to be added
The illustrations. excellent half tone repro
ductions of what We take TO be the author 5
own photographs add a good deal 10 the book
We wonder by the way. what she means by
saying that one photograph mentioned in the
text was taken ''reverently- How can the
spirit Of reverence enter into the manipulation
of a camera?