The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-24
Literary Notes.

Christmas is in the near distance NO CLASS lnaI
caters for the public good or the public enter
tainment, is quicker to prepare for the demands
of each season than the Publishers We have
winter books and summer books: we have Eas-
ter books and Christmas and New Year books,
without stint. This is all as it should be. If
we must be under the dominion of that frivolous
entity, Fashion, by all means let the republic OF
Letters gain whatever advantage may come of it.
Messrs A d. F. Randolph & Co., 600 Broad
,oay, New YORK;, lead off their Holiday List
this year, with a superb quarto Edition de lure,
of the immortal allegory which is never TO grow
old or obsolete, as long as there sinners in
the world to be saved or lost. Not to have
copy of The Pilgrims Progress in the house. is
the next thing to not havInga Bible; and never
since the Great Dreamer of Bedford Jail sent
forth his Dream, has it attained quite to the
popularity and Importance that it has at pre-
sent. Not year, but witnesses new editions
adorned with all the engraver's and printers
and binders art. 1t is found fully as often in
all the gorgeousness of mechanical luxury on the
drawing room table as in its plain binding on
the scant shelf of the poor. Macaulay saws that
when Cowper praised it, he did So without dar.
ing to name the author and that until late
date, 1t never was brought out in style beyond
the demands of the servants hall and that ." it
is the only book, which after the lapse of such
time, has forced the educated minority over to
the opinion of the common people"
We are glad, therefore, to see this fine edition
reproduced in this country by the Randolph
firm. 1t is printed on thick tinted paper, with
most generous margins, large, clear, well loaded
hundred wood cuts by Barnard, Linton, and
several other English artists, whose designs have
been most effectively engraved by the Dalzie
Brothers, Camden Press, London. There is
scarcely character in the allegory who is not
made real to the reader by portrait Giant
Gram, Old Honest, Prejudice Ignorance Mr.
Great-heart, PLiable, and scores more, all stand
out to the eye most admirably limned. Indeed
the whole story might be made clear to a child
merely through the pictorial presentments, and
tho is saying great deal for their value as H.
tuStrGttons: For see books now and then.
whose so-called illustrations actually mislead
and obscure the text These are wholly in
keeping with it: And besides, these pictures,
being designed by trustworthy artists, are really
study of the archaeology of Bunyan's times, as
to costume, manners, and many other points.
This Holiday Edition, then, we put before all
Others we have seen; and better Christmas
Book could not come into a household-espe-
cially household where there are children who
can be instructed in the deepest moral and rel
gious truths by means of such object. lessons as
these hundred pictures furnish. The cost of this
Randolph Edition is $5-by no means high,
when its quality is considered Are there not
scores of parents in Richmond, who will spend
far more that that. upon Christmas toys and
bOn-bOnS for the delectation of their home cir
Gle? A good book is a holiday present that
keeps fresh through years.
We have often sought among Publishers
shelves for a popular life of Jacquelne Pascal,
and have never been able to lay hands on any
in English, except a small Sunday School one,
put forth twenty five years ago by the Carriers.
And such a lack had we felt it to be- that we
had the presumption to settle it, that the omis
sion should not continueyand had begun to col
lect material towards such life, when the very
thing we wanted was laid upon our table by the
RandolPhs. It's title is Sister and Saint A
Sketch Of the Life Of Jacqueline Pascal Bv
SoPhy Winthrop Weitzel. 4. d. r. Randozp6
Co.
The lady who writes this biography Is we'll
known, especially among young readers, by her
maiden name; and this volume of over 300
pages, is prepared with reference to this class
though it is by no means, children's book
We would rather the author had omitted her
first title and called it life of Jacqueline Pas
cal. The first title is little suggestive of Sis
ter Dora.
Jacqueline Pascal, as every child knows, was
the sister of the celebrated author of the Pro.
VinciaL Letters-Blaise Pascal, the great opposer
of the Jesuits, as well as great mathematical
genius and scientist-one of the acutest minds
France has ever produced. There is a deep and
thrilling interest pervading Jacqueline Pascal's
history. Her lovely domestic life in Auverpne
Is most pleasantly sketched and glimpses of
the little prodigy are given, as she appeared at
Court. Mademoiselle de Montpensier, (known in
history, as The Great Mademoiselle) took a fancy
to the beautiful child, and when she was intro
duced to Anne of Austria Queen of Louis kin
she was required, on the spur of the moment. to
produce some verses. The little Jacoueline.
then only seven years old, jotted down the fol.
lowing:
1t is our noble Princess will
That Thou, my muse, exert tbv skill
n alnE tn -.