New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Tn the preface of this luxurious volume Auetn
n hson writes in felicitous Phrase; WIN
Iorrck we become spectators OF countly-hlo /
which time has softly moulded IN the hmy
I,ue' of douOtfullest rcmotencSs. and over whiIh
lis poetry has cast its inahonable IT'S impcrsHape
charm With him We walk ABOUT our
.Ounc dclr bounds
Not cnyylug others larger gr0nnus''
and watch
- prcsent God-lke Power
Imprinted in caoh Iieibe and Flower;
Aud smell the breath ~ grcat-ey'd kne,
sweet as the boss0mos of The Vine
Vc ara never tired Of hearing him sing Of JuHos
dress ana It's brave Vibration Of her handsome
Anger OF her Lauues and Tianies,' her halfe
fl;d with Dew ana her 'Quarelefs Of 'a'i wv
is II any defect in tins deilgbunI N"s' '"',
fas Horace before hiEil he sings with equl' gus
Of Diauene and rcrenua, OF Electra AID Anthea, OF
of tine three dainty Destiries who weave MS
.Armjlet.' And now again We take part in tha'
sairv service OF King Oberon-or We assist at those
,,cfty PAGAN hvmnlets where he vows Datodiis
"a Racchus. OF a peacock TO Juno, or a broad
fact Owe to Minerva
In these extracts from Mr. Dobsoos t'hociv up
preciatiye prcfac, can b. seen something VI '"'
TASK set the artist who would transform one af' 10
another by catching the subtle spirit OF Heirc6
musical hrmulets, and placing That very hpi.'
fire IN embodied form before our eyes o"''
here is a fhoavy draft not merely On ',0
versatility OF the artists talents, but on l1e ''""
,ess and ecnness of his sympathes, on al the sen
sitive faculties which go 10 make mp the plNc' VI
,,,t,r;ng into a poets moods and making thHr III
o,,.nco fIt through a different medium. 1t Is no
Tbt nraisc 70 say that Mr.. Abby has proved hHi-
self ,ouol TO bis task. Aided, NOT harpcco'
Lv III, historical studies and his sealch iol
local color.ng IN the lanes aud mradS OF Defo"-
shire Mr. tbley decks his creations WIN ""lh'!
grace or elhsh piquaucy pecui arly their own
while the disraet;vely human quality OF the poe
verso is ne yer lost Every reader OF harper H"g"-
zine has felt the charm of Mr.. AbbeSs iroilcsome
SWANS and rustic Gnuds, his Joyial unheIS' coy
ny,npls and bold ea1r,nts; hut to some the iaid-
scanes on pages 3 81 % and 1870. and the es, sat
;sfactorv work Oh pages 81 and 100, will present
new, pbasc Of the artists work Who can look upon
Tho peacefnl. lovely English landscape depicted on
roge . and doubt the strong hold that Nature has
ucon the artist or who can fail TO admire the skill
which not content with mere literal rendition, hes
o craftllv seized the best vanagcerOund Tor true
ricture In the two figures placed on the sunny
elope of the hillside reads a keen PERCEPTION or
artistic fitness They break up the sanentSS o. 'he
slopr. at once attract the eye which Wa"deiS
from them to the shady grove above, and al'hongh
not the central point of the picture, form an ac-
eessory without which the sense OF harmony would
Lave been lacking 1t would be better stili had the
ougrayer acceutuat d the hood OF the woman WIN
tbe basket by leaving it clearer white, although
he was probably prevented by fear OF ignoring the
cottages whose chiinneys seem to be the keynote.
Then turning the page We come 10 perhaps the most
delightful dvl OF pastoral life that Shall see.
Herc arc the ncatherds TOusing from their lOUDElng
Oh the grass As they propose
WAGER who the best shall play,
or thee, or l. the Round'l0y,
while buxom Lalage leans against the stile to hear
tbe contest Then we see her pcrched upon the
upper step with arms akimbo AMI attentive eX
preston. as BELTS critical judge. Again she
softcns at the sound Of the pipes so far unbends as
10 seat herself upon the grass and listen, chm III
palm with all her ears; then rising i'll exquisite
pose interferes to prevent dispute, and finally Dig
nity thrown to the winds, joins the neatherds III
merry dance Less careful work is shown
in the illustration of "A Short Hymn to
Venus which must have been executed III
the artists idle hour; and less attractive, too is the
Iank. short-waisted virgin on page 20. But there
Is no danger of being coyed with oaten pipes and
rose gardens. Mr. Abbcy's skill in tIansfXing
movement is well shown in the spirit and action of
the Two figures. Delight in Disorder and His
Cavalier" He has indeed placed before us
-" that man that dares bestride
The aetv t sf1 5S e G9S Of w wadrs rdc
rs in another scene strikingly wild and impish for
SO hackneyed n subject, his fancy depicts the reck-
less chase that goes on when
"The Hag is astrde
This night for 10 ride;
The Devil and shee together
Mr. Abbey shows admirable power to convey the
serious sentiments as well as ability TO express
bumor. There is a pleasant flavor in the iustra-
tion of the songof the Thinkers, whose faces so plain
" show their gleeful content, and subtler sense
Of humor is evinced in "a Ceremony on Candlemas
Eve" in the sOddeu figure Of B" Blanchs Husband"
md in "The Asse that carried the Spur p; the last
two have n tartness that adds relish. Something
might be added TO the expressive poses and admira-
lie treatment of tho "Frolick Virgins" of THE
Bride Cake" Upon an Old Woman" Julia"
"Susanra." "Amaryllis,' aud the wild pathos of
"The Mad Maid" But enough has been sand, per-
hans TO show the salient qualities of Mr. Abbeys
work which may be characterized as grace,
an originality, quaint humor, ana
keen eensbity TO erayer moods and spirited action
Az to technique Mr.. Abbey proves himself not only
n finished draughtsman, but ne reveals keen eye
for situations aud truly refreshing sense OF pro-
nortions and Of grouping. There are bits Of draw
LAG which are erroneous. there ere vacant faces
which Nigh: be frightened, there errors Of uGg
nent or Of haste hut they are few aud 1t would be
invidious to dwell on minor flaws when the work
os whole touches SO high degree of excellence.
Mr.. Abbey is fortunate in having been 80 ably
secopded by the engraver, and fortunate, too In
having his work appear in so sumptuous form.
With Its pictures 10y the Old lyric bard so happily
brought before US by the poetry of brother artist,
with its preface by one of the sweetest modern
poets its type also from across the seas its ryulet
of text meandering between broad, delightful mar
gins Of richest creamy paper this volume Is one to
covet Only unfortunate is 1t in its covers. which
On a back ground OF sckly mustard color, sOiling
at every touch, display the sun III huge guided
blot with beams which, like the antonne of a
crushed spider. struggle awkwardly hitler and