A Traveller from Altruria. By W. D. Howells. (Douglas, Edinburgh.)—Mr.
Howells is in his element in A Traveller from A/traria. A traveller from a continent whose inhabitants have reached the perfection of social life, and which is placed some-
. where near the fabled Atlantis, comes to America to see for him- self the products of those glorious principles of social equality and honour to the worker, which he had read in the Declaration of Independence. How he is gradually undeceived, and the sham equality, the giant snobbishness, and the universal worship of the dollar, brought home to him, is told in Mr. Howells's best style, and gives that writer opportunities for his own particular and graceful satire that he makes the most of. It is admirably done, and the successive shocks which the enthusiastic traveller receives, the irritating simplicity with which he asks questions, invents philanthropic reasons for seeming puzzles, and his pained wonder at the destruction of his American ideals, invite the facile
--pen of the gently ironical writer. The matter of the book is chiefly in form of dialogue, in which the host of the Iltrurian- who relates the story in the first person—a banker, a manufac- turer, a lawyer, a clergyman, and a professor of political economy take part. The dialogue, if apt to bore, is admirable in parts, taw utterances of the banker and manufacturer are particularly good, so characteristically brutal and expressive are they. Mr. Howells has a hit at everything and everybody, but all in the most graceful fashion. We have no doubt that it gives his real opinions on American society, and for this alone the book is interesting ; but it contains plenty of truths, and truths well put.
It is eminently readable. •
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