Year: 1871

SNlItllaUu, MulhtUs Nltlllds f1uE y Journey oNtI
the Semmering Pass TO Venioo winding M with
Florence Pisa, Genoa, Turr. and back to Paris, over
the Mont Gents Pass, Tho interest of his descrip
tions flags; he must have hundred pair of
eyes TO all that be saw and memory like iron TO
retain the particulars; while his unpretendng good
sense and his freedom from ailectation, pomposty'
and forlorn attempts at humor. which are the bane
of no many popular books Of travel make HIM an
agreeable, as well a singularly instructive COM
panion. No yirtuous American, with the hope OF a
Partisan heaven before his eyes should fail to re-
member this volume while packing for the voyage
WESTWARD BY RAIL: THE NEW ROUTE To THE


EAST By ". r. RAE. l2no pp. J9l. d. Apple'oh


&Co,


Mr. Rae is one of the most intelligent and fair
minded English travellers who have recently visited
this country with view 20 publishing an account
of their observations. He evidently aims at just
and impartial statement Of the results of his expe-
rience and equally free from bitter prejudices or
frantic zeal in regard to American society," furnishes
a simple uncoored narrative of his extensive tour
from the Atlantic TO the Pacific. Although his re-
ports are designed especially for the information
Of the English public they cannot fail to interest
curious readers in this country who may fancy
seeing themselves in the mirror that is held up to
nature by shrewd observer.


On entering New-York harbor. Mr.. Rae was struck
with the beauty of the scene which fully came up to
the glowing descriptions of previous travellers. The
luxurious foliage and the dark green vegetation re-
minded him of the richest ndmost charming grounds


in Kent The white beach and rows Of neat houses
on the shore of Long Island formed pleasant back
ground for the steamers and sailing vessels with
which the water was studded. When he first
NewYork, it did not appear to him foreign city in
the same sense Paris or Frankfort, or Milan But
upon nearer view. the impression was changed. He
was reminded quite as much of Paris as of London.
What seemed to be English outdone by what
was unmstakably French. while many things had
neither a French nor an English aspect. The cOnfu-
sion of the New-York architecture, of course, at
tracted his notice. His eye was panied by the want
of simplicity and repose and the odd freaks in build


ing which expressed every variety of personal taste
He was charmed with the good looks Of the ladies,
and found the men dressed with a regard for appear
ances which is more common in Paris than in Lon
don, though with no approach to a monotonous
uniformity He could not fail to observe the con-
trast between the different portions of the city, the
business quarter finished and substantial bearing the


impress of money y-Inaking the fashionable localities
built up for show with the legible stamp of the
cessful millionaire; the fine mansions of the rich in
close proximity with the shantes of the Irish squat
ter; gorgeous carriages rolling along at end of
an avenue, and at the other geese feeding among
the grass. Another contrast was that between the
splendor of the buildings and the wretchedness Of
the pavement. The rutS in the streets did no credit
TO the City Fathers but as the author somewhat
naively intimates they can afford TO bear the dis
grace so long as they permitted to hold Office and
to deal with the public funds at their pleasure. On
the whole he is led to form a highly favorable |
opinion Of New-York. Its advantages more than |
outweigh its drawbacks The man Of business finds |
II as good center for his operations as London |
The pleasure-secker can amuse himself as well as in
Paris while men of letters and students of art feel
themselves more at home in New-YoIk every day.


In his visit to Boston, Mr.. Rae was not so much |
impressed as many English travellers have been !
with its resemblance to an English city. He found
the similarity purely superficial, and confined to the
irregular arrangement of the streets, and the form
and color of the houses In those points which really
distinguish one city from another, Boston seemed to
him unlike any other city either in the Old World or
the New. he considers the BostOnians as well en-
titled 10 the name of the Athenians of America
They are members Of the select and glorious COM
many which makes 10 account OF wealth and ma


era prosperity in comparison with the treasures OF
intellect and the pursuit Of lofty IDEAL They are


i'm the front ranks of that form Of civilization which


is distinctivey American, showing that the most de-
cided Republicanism tends rather 10 elevate than to
yugarize to quicken the pulse of generous selfsac





nature, and enshrnes in mems minds as the only
idols to which homage 61y be paid, the highest
form of social breeding and the most finished pat
terms of mental culture"


At a wide extreme from the old City of the Pill
grims, Mr. Rae found the Queen of the Pacific Coast
rejoicing in her newborn splendors, and fully per
shaded of her prominence the face of the earth.
San Francisco made a deep impression on his mind
as he walked through the streets ON the morning
after his arrival. They were lined with handsome
shops the pavement was crowded with pedestrians,
and everything bore the marks of abOundng
wealth and prosperity The activity which pre-
vailed in every department of industry was remark
able There were manufactures Of steel which ryal
those of Sheffield; blankets and fannes superior to
those turned out by the English mills, and cOmpar


ing with the delicate handiwork of Shetland; boots
and shoes which had passed through every stage of
preparation from the tanning of the raw hides loco
motive and steam-engine works with arrangements
as complete those of Philadelphia and Newcastle.
In the manufacture of silk, Mr.. Rae surprised 10
learn that California had entered the lists with
France and Germany, with Italy and Asia Silk
raising has been proved to be possible throughout
the entire State. from the mountains OH the East
to the sea shore on the West and from
Arizona Territory the South TO the State
Of Oregon on the North. The climate


il favorable to the process that one person IN Cal
fornia can do the work of six in Europe. Everything
tends TO confirm the prediction that California will
become the largest silk-producing region in the
world The cultivation Of the tea-plant is still an
experiment, although the author was informed that
no fears were entertained to the result The man
ufacture of wine has become one of the most remu-
nerative industries of the State. The land devoted
10 the grape has not been withdrawn from wheat
but resembles those patches of soil on the banks of