New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-08
ARNOLD BENNETT ABROAD.

PARIS NIGHTS. AND OTHER impress
SIONS OF PLACES AND PEOPLE. by
Arnold Bennett. With illustrations by
E. A. Richards, F. r. l. Il. a. Svo, pp'
xi, 3s4. George II. Doran Company
Mr.. Bennett is an exceptionally in
teresting, profitable and entertaining
travelling companion. Profoundly IN
terested himself in all he sees. acuteiy
observant, open-minded, he apphes
with moderation to Continental life and
customs British standards and view
points; then, returned home, proceeds
to see the life and the ways of his own
country with the wider vision foreign
travel has given him. He is on holl-
day-on many holidays-in this booK'
In Paris and Florence. at Monte Carlo;
I'm London, Manchester, the Midlands.
at Blackpool; and, having visited a
French Mr.. Smith in an early chapter
he ends up by comparing his home lie
and its conditions with those or an
English Mr.. Smith in a London sub
urb. He is soundly sociological, but
lightly. not ponderously so, for he is
on a holiday, and it is his first pre-
occupation to see to it that you, his
reader, his companion, shall have a
holiday. too. 1t may be added here,
once for all, that, as literary artist
he is at his best in these pages.
The humor of the account of his first
experience of an artistic evening IN
Paris is pure delight. The converse
ton was just as if they all five had
learned by heart one of Landor's
lighter imaginary conversations and
were performing 1t. Well convinced
that they were absurdly wrong. fanci-
full and sentimental, l nevertheless
stood silent and barbaric. Could l cut
across that lacework of shapely, ele-
CANT sentences and opposite gestures
with the jagged edge Of what in Eng
land passes for remark" Some one
across the table asked him what he
had recently finished, and he answered,
a play. Everybody agreed that il
must be translated into French. The
Paris theatres simply could not get
good plays. In a few moments it was
as if the entire company was beseech-
ing me to allow my comedy to be trans
lated and produced with dazzling sue
cess at one of the principal theatres on
the boulevard
Mr.. Bennett visits the Paris Opera,
which, being state institution, is, ac-
cording to him, the quintessence Of all
the intrigues, all the corruption of the
bureaucracy Of the republic. Then,
after witnessing a performance of the
Russian ballet, he draws a striking
contrast:
hnd all this a by-product Of Russian
politics. If the politics of France are
mostly corrupt; IL anything can be done
in France by nepotism and inmuence: II
the governing machine of France is fatal
" vitiated by an excessive and unlmag-
NATIVE centraliZation-the same is Tar
more shamefully true of Russia. Inc
fantastic inefiiciency Of all the great de-
partments Of state in Russia is notorious
and scandalous. But the Russian ballet;
where one might surely have presumed
an intensifcation of every defect (as IN
Paris), happens to be far nearer perfec-
ton than any other enterprise Of IT'S
kind, public or private. The pity IS
that the moujik can never learn that one
AT any rate of the mysterious transact
tions which pass high up over his head.
and for which ne is robbed, is IN Itself
honest and excellent
Our leisurely tourist visits the opera
i'm Florence, and marvels at the opera
manners of the Italians, which have
some of the qualities Of the Roman
multitude enjoying wild beasts in the
amphitheatre." And he also marvels
why SO many of his countrywomen
elect TO live in the city Of the red lily.
why do tn come? 1t cannot be ont
Of passion for the great art of the
world. 1t cannot be out Of love
of history for they never unseal their
lips without demonstrating an entire
lack Of historical imagination. 1t is
impossible that these excellent Great
ures can ever comprehend the beauty
and the significance Of their surround
ings. They have not the temperament
What deep malady of society is 1t that
drives them out of their natural frame
into unnatural exile?" At Monaco he
dares the gamester's passion, and is
bitten; in London he watches the
changing crowds, attends public ban
uuet, where the-enthusiasm is so much
greater than the occasion warrants