New-York tribune., 1882-04-23

| THE AIIILD ARTS. by WILLIAM JAMES AUpsLEI
| H. Large octave. New-lork: G.. Z. Putiiam
Sons. London: Sampson Low, MaIsion, Scare
RivingtOn.
This is a popular" work as the title implies, but
so elaborate in plan and so exhaustive in treatment
as to merit the pretentous name of "encyclo-
pPdia rather than the familiar word dictionary.
| The third edition comprises twelve volumes, TWO OF
which have been issued while the third IS already
in press The aim of the authors IS TO 1urhish
architects, decorative artists, arch1ologlstS' ue-
sIgners, sculplors, painters. cergymen aud gencrai
readers with n comprehensive work of reference on
architecture as an art, and on all the allied ars'
Dedicated TO that great pioneer IN TINS Droau heii
of research, the late NiOllet-lc-Duc, 1t is WoIh
| which deserves place on the same sheli WIN HIS
| own volumes. The special American edition.
which is published for subscribers only Is subS'ah-
| italy bound. well printed and admirably Illus
tratcd Ii is work prominently adapted for prac-
tjcol use by architects and art-wcrkcIs generally
The orticles are arrar gcd in alphabetical ordeT the
greater nropotion of them being clear and concise
| definitions of terms used by architects decorators
| and artists or succinct explanations OF religious
emLems, NEUROLOGICAL pcrsonages, Christian
legends antique and medieval ait processes and
modes OF representation, and cOgnate topics. The
glossary and cyclopGdia IDEAS are most iudIclousiy
combined. The shorter articles are models Of precise
statement and compressed information. At the
same time the larger themes are the titles Ui essays
and treatises conspicuous for breadth OF treatment
and depth of research and eruditOn. In the first
volume 10 pages taken up with Apocalypse,
81 with Angel" and 90 with Apse" the last
article containing twenty-seven designs. Perhaps
the chief merit of the work is the simplicity and
directncss of the style. Technical words are
avoided far the requirements Of precise deiini-
zion and thorough exposition will permit, the needs
of general readers being kept in mind as constantly
! as the convenience of the professional class for
! whom it has been specially planned.
! cursory glance at these volumes affords con-
viucing evidence Of the excellence Of the literary
method and the permanent value of the stores OF
| information collected with such panstaKing effort
! and arranged with such systematic skill. more
critical examination discloscs the magnitude OF the
undertakings which exceeds in Importance any
work on Architecture and the Fine and Decorative
! Arts allied to it published during the present gen
! Grafton. We may refer to the publishers prospec-
tus for the special features of this ambitious work.
| Ii is represented as a Dictionary EasOnnG' of
Architecture and the various artistic details intro
duced in buildings of all styles the artistic articles
used in the furnishing and decoration of buildings;
! sculpture and carved OrnamcntatiOn ancient and
! modern painting, in fresco, oil, tcmDcIa; the deco
! rative arts such as mosaic working. enamellng,
glass staining embroidery, Illuminating and metal
! working in all its branches with concise general
treatises each art; heraldry; Christian icono-
graphy and symbolism; ancient and melava cos
! tune and arnor; materials and processes employed
! in antique and mcdiPval art works. the most i'm
portaut ancient NEUROLOGICAL personages with
their attributes and modes of representation in art;
the chicf Christian SAINTS with their legends atri-
butes and characteristic modes of representation in
art These elements of the general plan are inter-
mingled sklfully and artlstically, rigid sense of
/ proportion being scrupuousy regarded The Illus
/ tratons are conspicuous for accuracy and general
excellence.
4 third edition of Melville NJ. Bigelows treatise
Oh the Law OF Estoppel has just appeared. little,
| Brown * Coz This work was well received on its
publication, and Mr. Bgelow, by later lab0rs, some
/ of which have involved unusual historical research,
has advanced his reputation a thorough student
and trustworthy writer. In the third edition the
decisions published since the second are incorpo-
rated also the preface states, the older ones
have been reeXamined and the original text revised
once aud again. and feeling OF pride has been per-
mitted to prevent the change either OF mere Ian
| guagc or of immature Oyer-cOnhdent OpiniOn.'
! The work will now be almost indispensable to the
! active practitioner. Lawyers very well know that
the subject is one of comparatively recent rise and
of great ald rapidly growing practical importance.
This is especially true of the matters treated al Mr..
! Bigelow's third vsion-Estoppel IN pas. 1t is
now of frequent occurrence that the courts refuse
! TO allow a party TO prove his original rights or the
actual truth of the matter in controversy on the
| ground that lie has become estopped' from doing
so by his neglect to take action or make objection at
the proper time. The doctrine is one we'll worthy
the attention of business men, as they liable.
under modern rulings to lose important rights al
| l,-co 90
even by silence, on which another person has been
led to rely. familiar popular example is the
! question commonly put at welding: " If anyone
| knows any Just cause or Impcdimcnt etc. let him
now speak else forever after hold his peace Ii
guest had any personal right OF objection and did
not mention it, Judge would be apt to refuse 10
! allow his raising his claim altcIward but would
say Why did you not answer when the question
was puts man becomes married without mean
ng it, sometimes by Introducing a woman as his
wife until the courts say he is cstopped to deny it.
On similar grounds there a multitude of cases in
which tenant is not allowed to dispute that his
! landlord owns the house lot; OF one who has
/ taken charge of property for another--a railroad
| company which has undertaken TO carry goods. for
instance-is not allowed TO dispute that the latter
| owned them. The courts say that these persons
/ are estopped from denying the title under which
| they took the property manufacturer cannot
! take a license TO manufacture goods under patent
au6, when he is sued for the royalty, defend the
| ground that the patent is void. Perhaps it may be
defective; but his taking the license forbids lis
saying Many "estoppels" quite important to
merchants and bankers arise out of ordinary deal
! ings in commercial paper. II is not uncommon for
a tradesman to give signed receipt for money
which has not yet been paid. As long as the person
! to whom it was given still holds it, the merchant
! can prove that the money not paid and recover
the amount Notwithstanding the receipt. But if
such person should pass it to his employer as a
! voucher and the latter should settle accnunfs on