New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-04

THROUGH ISLE AND EMPIRE BY sRe VIuomte
TeiXeira de Mattos. With a PREDATORY letter by
Hooyafa kipling Emo. pp. 500 Doubleday.
To volume OF Right. but incisively clever, i'm
pressions OF travel in England India and Egypt
che Vicomte Robert d'Humieres prefxes a seri-
Gus introduction advocating a closer entente
cordiale between France and England He ar
CUES that the two countries should like each
other because they different and could
help each other for the same reason. the one
cOmplementing the other each being strong
where the other Is weak. Tie possibilities OF
political union between the two historical rivals
and antagonists. something more than a mere
-utilitaTian compact" have quite obsessed him,
and he glows with Gallo enthusiasm over the
idea OF which he appoints himself the propa-
gandist. His travels have made him cosmop-
olite. but French one, and, while not without
his inherited prejudices and predictions. he
has come to know the English and 10 like them.
This does not prevent him. however. from
making many keen thrust between the joints
OF their armor. but. before they have time even
90 vince. with lightninglike rapidity he turns
and finds ar equally, il oppostely. weak spot In
the Frankish cuirass. demanding applause from
both for his impartiagity. and perhaps also for
his skin at fence. Pre-prefXed. by way Of a
preface 20 the English edition. is a letter from
Rudyard Kipling. who agrees cordially with the
author in what he says of the value OF good
understanding between the two countries. and
who is sufficiently a critic OF his own people TO
enjoy the Frenchman's commendatory apprecia-
lions and TOO grateful for them to cross swords
with him over his less. complimentary illusions.
The book VIII not fail 10 appeal 10 Americans
who win impartially derive pleasure from the
authors sharp stabs. matter who is hurt
Delightfully."- characteristic is the reflection with
which he closes chapter containing his OBJ
serya1ions OF British soldiers returned from the
B0er war:
one remains more and more thonghtfu before
oi5 he infeI@oTif az he adxersa TV@seemed TO
Facilitate Englands triumph that campaign ~n0se
enjoy the fruits % their reverses with calm digni
zens and The enthusiasm of their victims!
In London he visited the Wallace collection.
and watched the people and the pictures they
preferred. among which was The Swing" the
charming libertinisn'' OF which. he observed
greatly attracted them. They think it very
French That word explains, conciliates and
absolves. When one goes TO France or TO look
at French things one is prepared The express
sion shocking implies a shock" He believes that
the false notions that the English have formed
Of French home life are due TO the fact that they
are SO seldom invited TO admire it. and derive
their idea OF it institution for the con-
venent practice Of the domestic vices from the
% fr. 90" novel. The Latin Quarter is where the
''serious investigators" install themselves, among
future druggists and pettfoggers OF Paris, to re-
write Murger and the out of date follies Of La
Vie de Boheme": while when they venture 20
describe the middle or upper classes they pro-
duce results conical a those OF THE Visits
OF Elizabeth" 1T is true" he adds that If
we ventured upon a picture OF country house
life in England it would perhaps be quite as
funny"
The vicomte has visited at England country
houses. and HIS own impressions not with
out interest, IN view OF the foregoing. He asks
himself by virtue OF what mysterious law do
English think themselves. after the
evening meal. Obliged to sit down in front of
q plano and TO emit irregularly spaced sounds
with the look OF people who would rather be
somewhere else?
Il have It," he cries at last:
It's another case OF sport They do not sing
10 express something, the trouble of their heart or
the aspirations in their soul; they delight in a
difficulty overcome in the exercise OF their lungs
a note Is thing that you catch. like a ball. Do
you take them for play actors. that you ask them
Tor sentmentg That IS not manly for a nor
6eoent for woman. These things that one
doesn't show IN public But the agility Of ones
outlet the rlgor OF ones bronchial tubes, proofs
OF q sound constitution, for which one Is entitled
70 claim respect and the musical composers are
AneIe 10 asslst you It's q function. There
sou are. Their pleasures are al functions.