New-York tribune., 1909-12-25
CLEFER FARCE.
Il Burlesque of French Ideas
on 1merIca.

Paris. December Is.
There Is keen sense Of humor shown
I'm "EnQuete sur lie Monde FrItur." by
Jean Julien. Just published by Fssquelle.
Needless 20 say. the world Of the fut
ure" is the United States. The author.
whose fertile imagination is suggestive
of the Arabian Nights. whose logic is OF
the Jules Verne order. and whose dry.
matter-of-fact humor. with dashes Of
Nontmartre piquancy. seems 10 have been
melted and blended I'm Mark Twain
mould. is bitterly ironical toward those
OF his colleagues who have written books
on America.
NJ. Julien relates the adventures OF the
reporter OF a Partisan newspaper. LIN
formateur Universal" who has been sent
on a mission TO interview and make
original investigations" among Ameri-
can leaders Of thought. industry. science
and politics. We have description Of
the "Milner Institute" an establishment
where marriages are arranged on pure
~ scientific basis. a candidate Of either
sex fills up blank form setting forth
1T5 qualities that are required for his or
her ideal husband or wife. BY process
Of automatic slips and devices. somewhat
of the "pari-mutuel" order. the desired
life partner may he discovered other
chapters deal with bankers. railroad
presidents. physicians. surgeons. divines.
professors and statesmen. A remarkably
ingenious tale is that Of the Chicago
billiOnaire. the king OF Hogs" who on
further acquaintance turns out 20 be a
Montmartre poet. IL seems that through
the inquisitorial criminal procedure Of
the French code he was condemned 20
death for a murder that he had never
committed. but after an extraordinary
series Of adventures he is saved from
the guillotine by a wealthy American
widow, who marries him and carries her
husband OF 10 Chicago. The epilOgue 10
the "Enquete sur lie Monde Futur' re-
yesls that the reporter never crossed the
Atlantic. but wrote his articles in a re-
aired literary rookery in Paris. The only
genuine features are the quantities OF
letters addressed 20 his editor asking for
further information about the marvellous
Establishments. notably the "Milner In
stitute." which are described in detail
and in glowing colOrs. The book is a de-
licious satire upon FTenchmen who have
made researches in the United States.
From the Librsirie Fasquelle mum
ber OF excellent books appear this week.
among which may be mentioned ''Des
Hommes. des Femmes. des Betes." COL
lection Ot short Partisan stories by
Charles Henry Hirsch; Aimee GU La
Jeune File Marier." a romance based
upon the best way 10 select a wife. by
Albert BOissiere: "Heures dItalie." fleet
ing impressions OF a man Of letters I'm
Northern Italy. by Gabriel Faure:
"LItalie Nouvelle," a thoroughly up-to-
date book on Italy from the points Of
view OF art. literature. society and poll
ties. by Albert Dauzat: En- France" A
novel Of sentiment and observation.
dealing with young men and young
women Of the French bOurgeoisie. by
Maurius Ary Leblond. and lie Passion
de Claude Bernier." a daring bit OF fc-
tion by Jean Vignaud. narrating how
French Cabinet minister is politically
shipwrecked by his devotion TO a young
provincial governess.
The Librairie Emile-Paul brings out a
new edition Of 'Du Sang. de Ia Volupte.
et de la Mort" a collection Of short
stories by Maurice BaTres. These stories.
most Of which were written in 1894. we're
inspired oy travels in Spain and Italy.
One finds in them the aggressive viril-
ity OF the author OF Les Deracines"
and "COlette BadOuche." agreeably tenn
pered by pleasing descriptions and alert
observation. We are shown the Maurice
Barres OF the Academy rather than the
Nationalist Deputy of the Chamber. and
the former is much more pleasing than
the latter. cir.