New-York tribune., 1884-12-05

,o.iv and In n more finished foxm than any OF the
,thers The u second Cnilliannpss A" can hardly be
considered rolicitoos IN point of dcsun. to begin
with. Tho heai Ia rrahcr that of Lear than ~
henile imhrcc. whiln the accrsaotrs are Tar more
auasrslive of violent slctm than of Tho hlahN
minilrsa tranquility IN which tho seventh Hlhse ni
human liso Ia sunroscd to ho rassp,t Tho Love, In
far uu,n "happy thought and IN Tact locks
moW like slender than an ideal mawo'a'o, hnt
there II IN all those illustrations amodoeriN ot oon'
eoption which Results Ia porVrtslan fathrf thah
realization at tho poets thoughl, and which despite
tho pains takon by tho publishers, rondeis tho ca
pertinent one oi little artistic worth
aThe Cathedral Churches OF England and Wales
,Casse Il Coz is an interesting and pfoinsry
illustrated volume, containing descriptions MS
torical and archaeological ~ well ~ pictorial vi
the English and Welsh Catholrals. The descriptive
papers are apparently IN nearly every instance
written 10y some of the clergy belonging to the
chapters of the various cathedrals and III mary
cases. they are written by the Deans or Can"hs'
This arrangement greatly enhances the authority
OF the statements for il is to be presumed that inc
narr ltors have consulted the documents III Ihe'i
imminent rooms wherever there may nave ooo"
! q douht "a to any historical point. Inc Ilus'ra-
tions are sometimes engraved after photographs and
| sometimes from original drawings None oi theh
are Of high order of merit though there are sever
al pleasing views, and the interiors are suiiciehtN
| clear and exact to elucidatc the text. An nitro
| dnction by Professor T. g. Bonney assigns the posi-
| ton held by the English Cathedrals i'll European
architecture. and contains enough information on
the general subject to meet the wants OF the secular
| reader Even superficial study of the old
catedrals is calculated to enlarge the apprehension
| as regards the significance and civilizng influence
| of the religious sentiment during the Middle Ages
! and books such this are well adapted to DIS
| charge so useful a function.
"The Land of Rip Van Wrinkle" " q. p Putnam 8
! Sons is handsome volume. by A. +. j. Soaring with
Illustrations by Joseph LAUDER. Charles Volkmar
and others, engraved by f. Iioinemann. The text,
which s much more than a thread on which to hang
| the iustrat ons, is descriptive of tour through
| the romantic parts of tho Catskls. and includes
the legends and traditions of the region, which are
! for the most part picturesque and entertaining
| az could he wished. The usual machinery
! of party of tourists to connect and har-
monte the scattered stories, and the beauty and
| number of the engravings give the volume value.
Many Of these engravngs are exceedingly good
| specimens of that delicacy and finish which nave
! come to be accepted as characteristic of the best
American work of the kind. We may instance
! Mnry's Glcn"" Haines' Falls."" The Cascades of
Hanes' Falls" Gloomy Pool" Black Chasm,'
Terrace Falls" "The He'll Hole" ~ being
| speclally charming though there are many other
| sketches which display equally conscientious work.
| We find but disappointment in the book, IN
fact and that is the omission of illustrations to the
| legend of Rip Van Wrinkle. which s printed
appendiX- wise. Tho opportunity was great. the
temptation should have been equally so, and there
can be no doubt as to the ability of the artists to
| do even hackneyed q subject Justice. But as II
stands. " The Land of Rip Van Winklc y is Ger
tainly very satisfactory publication
Cassoll & Co. have published Chatcaubriands
| Atala" with tho illustrations OF Gustavc Dorc.
the translation being by james Spence Harry. and
! Edward J. Harding furnishing mn introduction
"Atala" rather lends itself to Dorc's peculiar
| genius being % story the scene of which. while
ostcnsibly cast IN North America, might. far as
accuracy of description goes. be almost ~ well in
| the planet Mars. Tho imaginative line taken by
! the author naturally accords with tho bent of an
arIs, who was so fond Of scenery remarkable chiefly
for its unlikcncss 10 anything in the heavens above
or the earth bonoath tho waters under the earth
| For this volume however. he certainly produced
| several illustrations tho composition of which in
sufficiently pleasing. and his prediction for the
fsntas aud grotcsque was In some measure kept
under curb Perhaps u may bc said that he re
pcttcd the idea of broken water in tho form Of
rnpl IL too frequently. but that. apart from the
general Gnrcality Of all the scenery. IN the worst
fault of hs work In the present instance. M
illustrative of its era the most curious fact about
"Atala * that It's author thought Il necessary To
apologize to his public for having introduced
Christianity without ridiculing or dcnouncng II.
OF course this marks the dawn OF tho post-revolu-
| tionary epoch.