New-York tribune., 1879-12-09

the invention ia founded and n description OF The
methods Of s practical operation II given IN this CON
prchensve monograph The author aceords iu cre''
Mr Edison for his improvements on previous systems
and the results of his experiments with the eiec'ro-"o
gra ph are referred among the hnest nvenuo"S
the nineteenth century With regard TO the PhohoE'"p
Cont Moncel remarks that discovery OF the prin
cipe IL no doubt due 60 W. Charles Cros but 1t ques
ton whether the described by him wouid ha''
been capable reproducing speech out ths mas oco"
Effected by the instrument OF Mr. Edison VINO ~ nere
fore the inventor of the phonograph. The various ap
pcatons the principles OF science TO purposes OF p
teal utility which are described in this volume give IL
peculiar interest illustration OF the progress oi
| knowledge and the spirit OF the age.
THE PORTFOLIO. An Art site Periodical Edited by
Phllin Gilbert IIamcrton NewYork: J. W. Bouton
The November number of The Portfolio is
more Interesting for its text than for its illustrations
The etching after Adopbc Schroyer, "Waachan Post
inc" although by Unger Is rather weak the fault pos
sby OF the picture itself but the account of schreyer
by Mr. Atkinson II interesting biography and a. cali
ing attention to the novelty OF the field IN which tho
artist works Mr. Hamerton gives analy Of Durcrs
Prodlgal Son which ia useful as far as 1t goes lie
might have mentioned the fact OF the strong resem-
blance the head Of the "Prodigal" bears to
that OF Direr himself; there can be little
doubt that, as Heller Gays. Diirer intended
IL for his portrait II this interesting in
the artists face In with this print may
make the observation that In the original drawing for
the pigs. which is In the British Museum. one OF the
foreground pigs has his foot In the shallow tub that Is
set for hcm but in the print they stand quietly by the
side OF IT, each with all four feet the grouLd. An old
farmer looking at picture by Morand criticised IT,
saying TO the artist, You never feeding at
trough bur OF them would have foot in IT," Direr
had noted this in making his drawing. but when he
to mako the engraving he either forgot it, or did
not think it of Importance. Mr.. Hamerton in
bis Notes E-theics has some ingenious remarks on
the subj ct of ''Idiosyncrasy" and Mr. Lucas has
entertaining OF Art Life in Belgium, in which,
among other things, there Is contrast drawn by the
writer which is without silent rebuke certain
OF countrymen. Mr. Lucas tells his readers about
an artist named Felu, native OF Antwerp, who was
born without arms. and yet became very skilful copy
lst of old PICTURES. holding his brushes and palette be-
tween his Feu sold his copies fast he could
make them. and Americans were among his chief sup
poIters. ." Yet" says Mr.. Lucas, there another
copyst. constant attendant at The gallery Ameri-
can OF the OF Copeland, who executed
the most faithful and beautiful copies Of the
old masters pictures. faithful, indeed. That
could almost mistake them for the originals. Yet.
strange to say he scarcely succeeded IN selling
one Of them, whilst his rival Fclu without a 1.-THE
of his talents had always got, not his hands but his
feet full OF comInssions This recasto us the name of
Mr. Copeland. who several years ago. brought OF
his copies this city, where they exhibited and
where. believe, they still in storage not OF
them having been sold at the time OF The exhibition.
And yet The TRIBUNE recorded at the tnet the copies
remarkable every not merely for their faith
uDess-they chiefly copies of Rubenshut for tEeir
baauty they showed uncommon sort OF artistic feel
lug as well skill. We doubt II better copies could be
made, and nevertheless as we have said. not one OF
| iEeni iCund purchaser