New-York tribune., 1874-08-12
tenon, Ninon de l'Enclos, Colbert Moliere kac'ne'

tenon, Ninon de liEnclos, Colbert Moliere. Kac'ne'
La Bruyere, Vatican, Marie Antoinette, &c, &c IL
would be too much to say that these copies are az
good AZ the rignals but in many cases they nave
almost the same value to the student, ana tney
have the merit of beng accessible and purchasapie
by libraries and collectors. For the orginais '"'
most enthusiastic amateur will sigh in VAIN
Out of the thousands of Americans VINO yearly
make their first visit to England, the number VINO
civo mart of their time to it's cathedrals is think,
steadily increasing Some of them Will be glad To
hear that Mr. Murray's series of cathedral hand
hooks is now completed by volume devoted 10 inc
cathedrals of Wales. The whole series is worth the
attention of those who take any interest wha'e'ei
in ecclesiastical architecture. There are seven No
umes in all, too many to be carried about conVe"i
emily in an ordinary travellers portmanteau ou hV'
at all bulky for the patriot who has hall uo~c"
Saratoga trunks with which to advertise his hatloh-
alitv-for the benefit of hotel keepers and railway
porters who WILL he may be sure, know n'in PC
fectly well without. In any case tuese 'o,"i'''
hear keeninp They are not SO good as they ought
70 be- but they are better than anything else ior 'o
nurpose. and perhaps that is as much as we can eA-
,,oot !, +bis world know of no other books IN
tbis compass or near it, which you can consult WIN
the cerrointv of finding fairly good historical
ecclesiastical. and architectural account OF each
cathedral in England and Wales. The architec'u-
raj mart is unhappily the least good PRECISION
order and symmetry of statement are qualitieS
which must not be looked for here III a very nish
degree. But by dint OF reading you Will at last
arrive at sufficiently clear notion OF inc essehi"i
facts in the structure of the building you are study
ing Mr. Ruskin thinks this an aye IN whlch no.
bodv can pretend TO much authority i'll such mat
ters. He would not have the medal the
British architects offered him. because, in
his opinion, there was 10 one VINO bad
RIGHT either TO offer or to receive testimonial OF
capacity in such matters. But Mr.. Ruskn has been
known before now to take extreme views. lie III Is
who indirectly perhaps, but none the less cer'aih'
has created public taste or interest when makes IL
possible for Mr. Murray to issue such books as these
cathedral band-books for popular use; and that is
one of the least of services which enttle MN 10 the
highest form of testimonial that could be devised for
him be it medal or other token. These volumes are
not published in the usual handbook style. They
are printed in large type on good paper, with aoul-
dant illustrations more than $40 in ALL aud no vol
ume is too big to be carried conveniently in the
nocket or the hand They almost too elegant for
rough USE were it not that their dainty whte-and-
gold covers can be replaced by more sold DIndlhG
for the library after they have done service III travel
shall be glad if they induce any American 10 give
more of his time to England and TO English catile-
drals Don't let him say he does not care for cathe
drals-at least till he has one till he has stood
beneath the noble west front of York, or lost himself
in trying to make out the mulform mystery OF Can
terbury or broken his hard heart against Wlnches-
ter's massive walls or seen Salisbury tower ana
spire from the windows and through the cleft ave-
nue. between the of the park that grts Wilton
House, and then gone back to the cathedral to I'LL
his soul with the finished and perfect specimen
of single type of Gothic architecture i'll England
If he will explore those four towns with their varied
beauty, and then say he has seen nothing to touch
him. give him up. But of men so insenslbie as that
believe there are few, and /; is not for them /
write. G' W. =