New-York tribune., 1879-04-11

with those who keep domestic pet purely from the
"fororn cussedness OF what Hamerton calls q " ooe
less hfe" The illustrations OF the volume are uhcoh
monty faithful and spirited. presenting several attrac
tive specimens OF canine nobleness and beauty
DRESS BY Mrs OLuHANT l2mo. PIP. l03. Porter coates
In this oppOrtune essay the popular Scottlsh
novels. leaves the domain OF imagination ana ncuo"'
and passes to region Of awful realities she commences
her discourse by remarking upon the change I'D .hc gu"
ject OF dress which has taken place wlthih 'no ie'
twenty years. What cOmpacently worn Ill 'no
early part OF that period would now awaken only a"r
and horror The new impulse which has Transformed
the arrangements OF dwelinGhouse has invaded tuo
mysteries OF the toilette II has Affected not ony o
cut but the COLOR the kind, the fabric OF issuonauo
garments The fine full tones OF blue ana green' 'ne
bright pinks the orange-yellow. which were once
spore ed in happy ignorance, have faded away IKE 'ne
boseess fabric OF vision" The colors Of our SILKS nave
gone ont with the rainbow hues OF youthful fancy the
world has grown pale since those days OF prlgh'ne'
even the vaporous taretan Of the ballroom mas suh
into softer tnts and in daylight no color that Is ho'
neutral arons the eye of Heaven The dress OF women
has become one Of the fine arts. The artist has become
a tyrant IN matters of taste. We make our homes ui-
comfortable and our rooms dark at his bidding, SAYS
Mrs. Ophant, and young women are changed INTO
cotumed models for his pictures The correction OF the
evil is discussed a series Of reflections, setting forth
certain sound principles OF costume as well as OF con
duct but they vague and general character to
have much practical value. The historical notices when
occupy considerable part OF the volume are more to the
purpose describing the changes OF dress in different
countries in different ages, and furnishing lesson OF
national customs. instead Of study of the fashion
plates.
ARTISTS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AND
Renee HUTTON. vols i2mo Houghton. osgood. & Co.
The comprehenslve design of this dictionary
OF art favorable to variety Of subjects than to
thoroughncss OF treatment II contains more than Two
thousand names in different branches Of art with brief
Biographical sketches and critical notices selected from
a variety of sources, and a1ordng a fund of informa-
ton III regard to the artists OF the century and their
principal productions. In their choice Of names for
treatment the editors have always confined them
selves TO those of eminent Distinction but in many cases
have included persons OF ability and promise, Who nave
yet to win the artistic fame that entities them to per-
manent record. Among the critical authorities OF when
liberal and judicous has been made are Tucker
mans Book Of the Artists" Professor Wer's Ohcal
Report Of the American Centennial Exhibition" Jar
ves's Art Idea and Art Thoughts" Ruskins "Modern
Painters London Art journal" and several European
periodicals from which translations have been made
The work great diligence in the preparation OF
materials familiar knowledge of the history Of mod
ern art aud, ,Or the most part sound Judgnenrn the
expression OF opinions II not possessing very high I'M
porance as an original authority 1t opens many valu-
Of information and will be found useful
book OF reference for students OF art
The volume Of Mr.. LOngfellOw's Poems of
Places devoted TO the Southern states" contains an
impartial selection from the poetry OF Northern and
Southern writers, with various shades Of political
patriotic and local sentiment. Among the character
istic Southern productions are my Maryland" by j.
B. Randall, "south Carolina" and Georgia." by p II.
Hayne. "The Fishermen of Beaufort" by F. d. Gage,
1.-THE River RappahannOck," by John +. Thompson, "A
November NOcturne shenandoah Valley by Margaret
j. Preston, Charleston" and Magnolia Cemetery" by
H. Timrod, and others. The contributions by Northern
poets include Brown OF OssawatOmio" Charlestown.
Val, by j. G. Whittier, How OLD Brown took Harpers
Ferry" by E. G. stedmsn. The Cumberland" (Hamp-
ton Roads, By II. ". Longfellow, and "The River
Fight (New-Oreans by II. II. BrOwnell. In many
respects this volume may be regarded as one OF the
most interesting OF the series.