Among French Inns. By Charles Gibson. (Hodder and Stoughton. 6s.
net.)—Mr. Gibson conducts a company of travellers over certain regions of Normandy. The travellers, we are given to understand, are types, not persons; the inns are real, though the reality must not be taken too literally. An American millionaire, with his wife and daughter, an Italian Count, a Frenchman, and an English Lordare the travellers, along with the American guide. They have, of course, to be con- ventional. The millionaire carries his financial business along with him; his wife has all the talent for management and the daughter all the beauty which we expect; the three cavaliers do and say just what may be expected from them. The daughter ought to marry the Lord, according to the rules of the game, as it is commonly played; but Mr. Gibson is too patriotic to allow this; and introduces a very eligible young American at the proper time. The book is entertaining, with many good things in it,— probably the joke about the traveller who, wishing to have his fire kept up, gave instructions to the innkeeper that "le fon " was not to be allowed " sortir " has only recently crossed the Atlantic. On this side it is a very old story indeed. Mr. Gibson gives some excellent advice to intending travellers, though these will do well to supplement his directions with the more matter-of-fact in- formation of the guide-books. One thing we may venture to say, —that the Normandy cider may be " hard," but it is a great deal more wholesome than the sparkling cider, " almost like champagne," which is sold in America.
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