New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

MANNERS AND SOCIAL UsAGEs. by MIS- JOIN
snSpwoon I6mo PIP. 325. Harper x Bro'hers
rhore 10 always a demand for books OF mstruc-
,on in the art of being genteel; and II some Oh 'o
rues laid down in the present treatise ana III OUTFITS
of the same scope seem curiously elementary no-
body who observes American society, either from
the drawing -room or the sidewalk Will deny thaI
they are all needed. The American young lazy anu
Young gentleman especially, or at least thoSe spco
mems Of the national product which are most con-
spicnous in public places, have almost everything
TO learn aud work on good manners VIII meet
their case which does not begin with the very rndi-
ments of propriety and lead them on by genu1
steps. from simple modesty good nature and hha'
respect TO the complex etiquette of dances dinners
and afternoon teas II il one Of the merits OIL MIS-
Sherwooa's little book that il lays broad iouhua'
tlon i'm the essential principles OF dccorun' "h'o"
are always the same for the fashionable ocSerN-
ances which vary in different countries anu ch""Eo
from time TO time. The chapters on TOO" anu
Bad Society," on "Chaperons" and on diheren' as
meets of the great question of dress. will illustrate
The fundamental sense and refinement whch us
tinguish the volume. The rules OF behavior pre-
.cribed by fashionable usage are presented WIN
,ficient Ininuteness and precision, and althoughu
NAV be objected that in some cases-as, Tor exam
rls in the essay on the dinner table-Mrs. Sher
and ostentation. she does not often make the mis-
take of confoundiug good usage with the extreme
Of STYLE In matters of etiquette she is rather lh-
chned 70 follow English precedents. This is rght,
for English fashionable customs are suitable In the
main 70 the American character; but she does not
fail 20 see that there many ahairs IN when We
must have a rule of our own, and that our mlNeo
and shifting society ought not to be governed
merely by foreign laws In word, her advice Is
generally sensible her experience is ample aud her
taste Is refined.
SELECTED ETCHINGs ny AMERICAN ARTISTS
Philadelphia: II. f. Richter Il Co.
This Observation-Disclosures by an illustrated title
appropriate in design and strongly drawn and
bitten, by Mr.. II. DeiPcndcsch-consists of twelve
etchings They are "On the road to Santa Fe
by Peter Moran; "Neapolitan Fishing Boats. re-
turning home" by r. Swain Clifford Feeding the
Sparrows." ly Hamilton Hamilton; g Gust OF
Windp by X Van Ellen; " The Apple Orchard
bv Thomas Morani ." The Night, serene and still.
fell on village vale and hll,' 10y Henry Farrar; A
Tramp by X. r. Wiscman; "A Family of Quacks"
by Charles Volkmar; At the Spinning Wheel"
by Otto H. Bacher; "Bacchanalian,' by II.
peigcndesch; "Washing Morning down South"
by j. NJ Falconer, and "Pont de Gand Bruges,
Holland" 10y Samuel Colman.
The skill Of American painter-etchers is consider
same elias, of etchers anywhere But we do not see
ANYTHING in this collection that gives MS a higher
idea Of that skin. There were at he start some
great difficulties in the way Of success, and notably
che size of the plates 1t Is well enough understood
that the same subject that will make charming
little picture will not make q charming large one
And nowhere is the truth more striking than IN
connection with etching These plates are all
large and many of them about eighteen by twelve
inches To manage such plate requires consider
able artistic skill and much technical experience
IL small plate technical mfelicitics do not make
themselves so evident, and rather quick and i'm
pul,ve piece of work is accepted for its intent and
NOT too closely criticised When one essays a large
rlatc the magnitude of the undertaking forbids its
being accomplished in the same spirit There are
then two methods open 10 the ctcher: he must
either treat his plate in a very large open manner
RELYING upon the value Of individual lines both rs
10 direction and force. and attempting very simple
effects Of hight and shade or else he must paint his
Mate with his point in other words, elaborate the
work 10 considerable degree. Anything short of
This will give result as if small point had been
marnifcd by a magic lantern. some such process.
Il Is not entirely fair 10 judge an ctcher by such
large work. and we doubt not that had the plates
bccn half rs large they would have been more than
twice as good.
Nevertheless several of the more experienced con-
tributols have escaped the disasters of magnitude
and have made excellent plates. These are TO our
mind Messrs. Clifford, Thomas Moran, Farrar Nolk
mar Colman and Van Elton The plates of Messrs
Clifford and Moran illustrate the open simple
method we have spoken of, and Mr.. Farrars the
elaborate method. This last Is one OF the best
plates we have ever seen by this artist Mr. Col
man has gained rich effect by the strong biting of
the organic lines" and light work between them
the result recalling mezzotint of Turner