PORTS OF FRANCE. By Herbert Adams Gibbons. Jonathan Cape. 16s.)-This
ought to be a more attractive
than it is. The ports of France are indeed a fascinating object. From Dunkirk to Toulon the French coast is studded ith strange, beautiful and romantic cities, richer in history rhaps than any other seaports of the world, and to-day many them alive and fascinating with a world-wide commerce. hers again, Pornic and Aiguesmortes, have now been long lent, but their charm remains. Alas ! Dr. Gibbons and his dist, Senor Petrina, have made little of so rich a subject. lost of the author's descriptions have an clement of the !oldish, which spoils our whole enjoyment of them. Yet e does at times give us interesting pieces of information, r instance about the neolithic remains at the mouth -of the Ire. In most parts of France, such monuments. were vert hrown in the ninth century, " when Charlemagne in his pitularies ordered the destruction of all remains of the Stone ge in order to combat superstition and persisting pagan atoms." But until quite recently, in a village near Pornic, was the custom at the August moon for the jettnes filles dance round Druid stones and try to push one another to be e first to touch the menhir. The unlucky girl was whipped ' the others, and was destined to have no husband that r."' The drawings are pleasant enough, but of no great
atinction.
Previous page
