A Parisian in America. S. C. de Soissons. Estes and Lauriat have recently published an interesting book on America by M. S. C. de Soissons. He takes up one side after another of American life, and devotes a chapter to it; such, for example, as the ones on American women, art, music, and newspapers. His point of view is that of the conventional French visitor who considers American men as mere money-making machines, and who thinks that the ambition of every American girl is to marry a foreign nobleman. He has been told many marvellous tales about our life which he has immediately written down as true.

M. de Soisson's book is, however, very readable and shows that he has a keen sense of humor. Occasionally, as in the chapter upon immigration, he betrays a good deal of originality and gives expression to ideas which are both fresh and surprisingly true. Altogether, although there is just a suggestion of Max O'Rell about it, A Parisian in America is rather better than most of the books of its kind, and serves to while away a pleasant half-hour.