The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26
SOME NEW BOOKS.
A FrenOhman's Impressions OF EnEnshmer

Ever ainoe Voltairo wrote his Letters
From England and Montesquieu pro-
claimed the British Constitution the ideal
Of a balanced government, and Richard
sons novels furnished models 10 Gallo
seutimentalists. there has been in French
literature a stream Of Anglophilio tendency,
checked. Of course. and even driven back
ward. during tho Napoleonic epoch, but
later recovering momentum, thanks to
Victor Hugo and to Taine II takes a long
time, OF course for appreciation, born In
literature and filtered through journalism,
r. UNDERMINE popular prejudice and sap
ago long antipathy: but tho wholesome
work seemed 70 have been accomplished
the othor day. when the French and British
Governments agreed 10 settle number
~ International disputes, including tho
chronic quarrel over the French shore
Of Newfoundland and entered into treaty
whereby all differences not affecting vital
interesta ar national honor should be re-
fcTrrd 20 arbitration. The current OF
opini,1 whereof that treaty was the out
como hod becu gathering head for several
year, ns had been evident from the rels-
tivciv sympathetic attitude gradually as
sumed toward each other by London and
Paris ncwsrupors. Noteworthy among
many Rymrtoma Of determination, or, at
least. Of drawing ogcther-rapprochom
was a Gcric5 Of articles on the United
kingdom and the British Empire written
by a typical Frenchman Of tho best type,
tho Vicomte RoBERr D'HuMtEREs. These
Rrtic!r' have now been collected and trans
latoa into English by Mr.. A. r. de Mates,
andk.c pr0lSccd with a letter by Mr. r. d.
"A d Kip ilZ Doubleday. Page & Coz.
. After a glance at the preface we shall In
vito aftontion to somo OF the authors acute
and il.uminstiys comments on the people
and thing, that fell under bis eye IN Eng
land, commanding tho reader 10 the book
it4clf for what NJ d'Humeres has TO tell
hin about Englaud's outlying possessions In
Africa and Asia.
After recognizing TINT there are few
things moro interesting than 20 see ones
own country from without, provided the
aliens eyes are as penetrating and sympa-
thctic an thoss O the author Of volume,
Mr.. Kipling dilates In a bri Z PREDATORY note
on tho value Of a good understanding be-
tween England and France. with reference
not only TO tho need Of to-day but TO the
hopa Of tomorrow. In his judgment,
the two countries supplement each other,
In temperament and outlook, In logic and
fact. Mr.. Kipling adds that, even were
thia not the Gaze. It would behoove English
men and Frenchmen 10 remember that there
IL not 80 much Of liberty left in Europe that
tho two leaders Of freedom should dare to
dispute between themselves. we both
he says have to deal with the unfrer peo-
pies, the yelled and cramped lands where
The word OF a king IL absolute power. IL
y~gI Ia.
Middle Ages with the modern guns Isn't
{ hat tris7' Mr.. Kipling. Of course, could
not attempt. In the scope OF letter, to dis
GUS the many interesting questions mooted |
in the Viscomte's book He could not re-
fnin. however, from uttering a word Of |
protest against the French authors inn |
putation TO England's msn and women OF a
national GOODNESS Of temperament He |
declares that the chastity Of which Britons |
make 20 much In theory. II not in practice, |
Is not al cant, but. on the contrary. IAN
administrative necessity forced upon US
ty the density Of The population. Ina gine.-
10 continues, a land with four hundred |
pscpb TO the square mie-h they we're |
psnetrated tas France bl with a refined |
aud enduring sonsualityi IL would DO an
DrgJl L would imped, trafio Conse-
qusutly, We are brief and businesslilos
In such matters
What are tho reproaches which. time out
a. mir d. Frenchmm have aimed at the
English character? In his Introduction
or French author suggests that nearly
FL Of them are comprehended In the re-
preach Of egoism. Why should not. he
asks his contrynen. q nation show itself
sEDiStic? A quality which may be repsllant
In any individual may h dictated 20
nation by the instinct Of self-presorvation.
lima gtne. he says, a nation that should
~ 'meek and loviy IN heart. that should
love its neighbor as ITSELF that should
'tuTn the other cheek Also and practice
only tho elements Of Gospel morality He
Submits that toe picture is absurd; GER
tniIlJ it IL not presented, and never has
ben presented, by any country upon earth.
NJ d'amni6TeS, with obvious irony. pro-
oeeds 10 inquire under what form chiefly
the egois1n imputed TO the English people
~ whole odends gainst that pure model
u dfsinterestedness and altruism offered
By the French burgess OF the Third Repub-
lic7 Formerly. no doubt NJ. Prudhomme
ussd TO aocuss the English nation col
loctivety q 'disloyalty.' He was won't 10
oouplain Of having been dome, and 10
intimate a fear let he should be done
q gain. Touching this primordial but now
somewhat OutWorn accusation. our author
reminds us that 'perfdlous Albion Is a
phrase hTented by the pampheteers
whom Napoleon hired to besmiroh the
HSnoveTian dynasty and the British Parlia-
mSnt. There Is no doubt that at the time
and for good while sfterward the phrase
made a great hit. II covered all the
defeats due 10 the incapaoity OF improNi-
denoe Of our Governments in their relations
With England. One Of the most venerable
Sterootypes Of our newspaper press repre-
ssnts ne at different historical moments as
pulling the chestnuts out Of the fire. for a
greedy and faithless ally, whereas there
would have been more just grounds for
blaming our own inability to see In a given
situation the real advantages that escaped
us-in the Crimea OF Egypt, for instance"
In the judgment Of the Yicomte d'Hum-
tires the legendary British peridy appears
very harmless when compared with the
methods Of certain rival Powers He con-
siderB Albion an artless schoolgirl beside
Russia, and, Accepting Lord Curzon as a
type Of the new generation Of English states