New-York tribune., 1879-12-17


modern poet been put forth with such costly APP
pointmeuis of finest paper. careful preSs-woik ana
encravings in tuil measure, pressed down, shaken
together and running over, as has been done by
Nessrs Houghton 4 OsgoOd in their new edition of
the poems Of Longfcllow. Fifteen numbers have
been published thus far, completing half the work,
and these bound M into 4 single volume are now
offered TO he public. The book is quarto in form,
following the nomenclature of the eye, but the
signatures mako il an octave, and ii con-
tains tour hundred and cighty-cght pages Of text,
not counting the table Of contents and the list
OF illustrations. The latter gives the titles of the
three hundred and fifteen woodencTaviugs which
illustrate the poems. with the names of the forty
fonr designers aud thirty-foar engrav4s who have
united to produce them. /! the same generosity Is
shown In the second vonme-and as generosity III
dealing with the public is second nature with Mr.
Osgood and Mr. liOughtOn. we suppose they couldn't
help making the coming volume good as the first.
IL they were to try-therc will be contained in the
work when completed, over SIX hundred more engrav-
jngs. a profusiOn that might almost be complained
of as out of proportion large even for so large
book. But the public of our day cannot have too
many pictures offered il, and nobody knows the
public pulse better than the house that has pro-
dnced tins imposing volume.
We have already alluded TO the paper and the
printing; both are exceptionally beautful the
"
white, and wc are thankful for this concession,
since. 10 our thinking. nothing can ever be better
than clear white paper with good black ink. The
'ypcrhOsen large and clear and the river OF text
flows through the traditional meadow u margin.
The designs have been drawn 10y artists OF all
shades of orthodoxy. and If the field from
which the cngraycrs have been chosen Is not 50
catholic. at least II may be SAID that we have here
the work of neaSy artist of what 1t is the
A. Ill ~, ,..1l g1.,.l Nv ~
and Mr.. I. Juengag. of the new men, appear swim
ming like stray fish in the vast whirlpool of tie
talent that gave all Of us pleasure till yesterday
and that VIII lOug find world ready to bc delighted
with rs common sense. Its drectness, and It's free
dom from ali artistic vayares. Mr. w. j. Linton
sill leads in this c0ngTegation--by his name. at
least. and by virtue of old achcvemontS-but even
Lo 10 have been kept from sleep 10y the laurcs
ol tac coles and Kings, and in his large fuil-pase
engraving of Mr. L. A. Abbey's "Eyangcline." tries
conclusions with the Scribneitcs in style that must
be considered complimentary. His other important
block. Mr. W. Wbittrcdgc's Kingdom of the West
Wind" may suggest that the old methods of wood
engraving not always meet the needs OF new
methods OF painting. They conventional aud
admirably suited to conventional treatment OF land
sCape-to Claude. To Canaletio, to PouSsin, Wilson
and the rest-hUt the more varied and scientific way
OF looking at nature makes 1t necessary for the in-
probation. Nh. WhIliredge Is allied in his way
of painting to the older schools but his landscape
suffers from this square system of Mr.. Linton.
However we have 10 intention OF saying any
thing that may tend TO open the sluces
of controversy IN regard to the respective
merits of the two schools. IL would be-
ungraciOus TO do so when considering
volume which the old favoritcs of the public have
done their best TO make worthy Of their reputation.
T,,I of
in this volume, and We find those the best III which
the cngIaVcrs have been content to work within
the limits Of the older methods. And we think be-
sides, that If the maker-up OF the book had been
content with the simple and natural arrangements
of his cuts on the page that were in
In AL books until lately, he
might have even heightened their already
admirable effect The new way of so dsposue
the cuts the page to give the whole sketchy.
vgnctte efect-suits perfectly with the style of
craving which " Scribner has done so much TO
bring into favor where the sparkle of the execution.
tie bizarre shape OF the blocks, tie coquettish
variety in the designs, absolutely demand that the
cuts be not set upon the page in orderly and SYM
metrical way. IA sweet disorder IN the dress does
not 90 witn PurItanical garb.
Another criticism that many may make, and that
may think unreasonable is that all the figure
illustration for any poem should have been
made by the same hand. In the Spanish Stu
dent this has been done. and Mr.. A. FIedericks.
in a series of sketchy designs, most of which
are very pretty Though we will say nothing of
"The Duel y gives us reasonably consistent types
all through of the different characters in the drama
In "Evangelne." however are not so fortunate
aud are Obliged TO choose the portrait of hero
me from the widely varying assortment offered us
by Mr.. L. A. Abbey, Mr.. G. :. Reinhart and Mrs
Mary IIallock FoOte. And we mention Mrs
Foote'S name may say ia passing that by mis-
take in the List of Illustrations. the full-page de-
sign for the lines. 81 woocd the blue-cyed maid"
opposite page 80. of which Mr. L. A. Abbey is the
author. is attributed to our country mis-
take Mr. L. A. Abbey will doubt willingly for
give seeing that he gives place for the moment TO
one OF the most skilful and poetic designers in
the whole circle of the new school. Indeed
we have very few designers of figure subjects equal
10 Mrs. Foote and she is often greatly successful
with her accompanying landscapes as well.
IL would be idle to attempt to review this book in
detail When the reader considers that besides the
attention such review would make II necessary TO
give to the engraving by so many weil-known hands
Linton and Anthony. Andrew and Davis Bobbett
and Orr slnithwck aud Richardson. TO choose only
few names OF engravers out OF the thirty-iour--
we should also have to examine the designs of art
isis like j. ID. Smie, W. L. Sheppard. X. S. Gift
ford. Samuel Colmsn. c. :. Reiuhart. +. A. Abbey.
A. Hoppin A. Fredericks. Thomas Moran.
j. o. c. Darey, T. :. Church. w. Whittredge.
George H. Boughton, II. ID. Martin. W. ii. Low.
+. Dielman. Walter Shirlaw, w. j. Hennessy and
T. W. Wood-it must be plain that the task is
not TO be entered upon lightly. OF in any but the
amplest space. We must, however not fail to cali
the readers attention TO the fact that this is almost
entirely an American book. Not only have the pub
fishers consecrated their efforts to the worthy