Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-13
LITERARY NOTES.
SOME HOLIDAY BOOKS AND sPEcIALT1Es.

than does the tempting array Of fine books ETC.,
on the booksellers tables and shelves harbinger
the ever welcome holiday season. Their name
is legion, veritably; and in the infinite variety
presented the pecunary means of all conditions
OIL people can be suited and the taste Of every
one save those whose want of taste Graves the
really unattractive can be gratifed. 1t were
ioie TO undertake to give q full list Of the good
and pretty things of this kind now offered. or TO
point out the special charm of each Neither
time nor space will permit more than brief
mention in any case. but certainly some of them
deserve all that can be said in their praise.
Whether quality oftext or beauty ofillustration
be considered it will be no easy task to find more
charming volume than that containing selec-
tion OF some thirty odd ofthe choicest poems of
DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes, (received from Robert
Beall. through Houghton. Mfin & Coz The
poems chosen range from grave to CAV. inciu-
ding humorous. pathetic and patriotic. and il
lustrate in striking way the remarkable versa
tility of the author, as well the winning grace of
his style. The paper is Of the choicest and the
Typography is marked by all the excellences of
the Riverside Press" while in the matter of il
Illustrations. some of these leave nothing or very
little to be desired. The finest perhaps. is the
frontispiece portrait of DR.. Holmes. etched by
Schof which is regarded by his friends as the
best likeness of the witty poet yet produced.
Although specially adapted for the holidays.
this is really book for all sesons.
"Beacon Lights for Gods Mariners (pub-
lished by S. E. Casino & Co., Bostou.) will
make suitable gift book for one of the Younger
members of the family circle. 1t is selection
of poetical readings. from various authors ar
ranged for each day of the month. illustrated
with appropriate nautical emblems and designs
and accompanied by a suitable text from the
scriptures. The letter press is open to the OBJ
lection OF not being easily read, and not very
pretty In itself. but in general appearance the
little brochure is quite attractive.
Tennyson's Lady Clare" has been selected
by Porter & Coates as one OF their Christmas
books for this year. Like all the publications
of its class published by this house. it is an ex-
quiste volume. as the reader will readily under
stand when told that the twenty-five illustra-
lions are by such capable artists as Alfred Fred
ericks Granville Perkins. +. S. Church. Fred
erick Schell, E. H. Garrett and Harry Fem.
The same publishers issue in similar style
Bishop Heber's famous and popular hymn
From Greenland's Icy Mountains" with 90
beautiful illustrations by Schell. This gives a
fine picture for each verse and each engraving
admirably illustrates the particular lines to
which it applies. and gives to the popular mis-
sionary appeal new and greater charm.
Singularly enough, Lee & Shepard have
chosen the same hymn for their flexible back
and fringed-edge Golden Floral' series. with
illustrations from designs by Thomas Guilfoye
and Edmund H. Garrett. Some Of these are
very beautiful. and to the hymn il added a brief
biographical sketch of its distinguished author
and short account of the circumstances under
which it was written.
As companion to the missionary hymn. in
the same series. Messrs. Lee 4 Shepard also
publish rhythmic version of the Beattudes by
William c. Richards, author Of 1.-THE Twenty
Third Psalm in Song and Sonnet" The illus
trations to this volume by Miss l.. B. Humph-
rey do her great credit.
"The Nutshell Series "isthe title happily chosen
for half-dozen dainty little volumes. bound in
gilt cloth and enclosed in pretty box. (sent by
Putnam's Sons. through the Brentanos, )devoted
respectively to Wisdom Philosophy Epigram
and Epitaph, Sentiments Proverbs. and Wit
and Humor. The selections are made from a
wide range OF authors. with excellent Judgment.
and in appearance they are as attractiyely garb-
ed as their quality deserves.
After all, it may be questioned whether It is
easy to find more acceptable holiday token
than handsomely bound up twelve-month
issue of one of our high standard illustrated
magazines. such as The Century, The Magazine
of ART and st. Nicholas all of which are now
sent out in that form at the close of the year by
their respective publishers. Certainly for q
friend residing at remote point. where the
IA.
nothing better could be selected. Each is I'M
surpassed in Its own field and in hardly any
other form would it be possible to find so great
variety OF fresh. entertaining and useful read
ing, nor SO many beautiful illustrations,
engraved expressly to accompany thete For
younger readers. Baby World. the pretty annual
compiled from the reading matter in ST. Nicho-
las specially adapted to the nursery, will prove
to be wonderfully fascinating.
Pretty little souvenir volumes are 'sThe Cabi-
net Birthday Book" and 'Queries and Confess
sions," received through Ballantyne, from the
publisher. Thomas Whitaker, New York The
first named has a couple Of proverbs, a QUOTA
ton from some standard author and short
moral sentiment grouped together for every day
In the year; the second is sort of mental pho
tograph album, having sets Of questions with
spaces tor answers, which when filled up be-
come q sort of index to the character. tastes
and propensities Of the respondent. An added
value Is given to each volume by the fact it has
marginal illustrations of 1913 varieties of natural
grasses, thus making 1t sort of text book in
that department Of botany as well as literary
companion.
Coming fairly within the domain Of ''curlosi-
ties in literature" is the collection of scripture
passages and parallel selections from the writ
ings of Whittier, arranged in the form of a text
and verse for every day in the year, which
reaches our table from the publishers. Hough-
ton. Mfnln d Co., through Robert Beall. The
connection or significance is not ALWAYS clear,
but the quotations. as they stand, make pleas
ant and elevating subject for daily contempia-
ton, not alone for the holiday season but for
''all the year round"
most suitable souvenir for young Miss is
my Lady's Casket." very attractive volume,
in which the unique idea of symbolising the
Christian virtues and graces by objects OF every
day use Is very happily carried out. both in the
literary selections and in the colored plates
illustrating the thought. some of which are
quite beautiful. 1t is published by Lee Shep-
ard. and for sale here by J. D. Free, jr.
One Of the prettiest things yet sent out In
flexible paper back and fringe dress is the sweet
child's poem 'Jack in the Pulpit" published by
R. Worthington, and received through Brentano
Brothers.) The history of the mixed authorship
OF this dainty fancy Is given in a characteristic
fac simile letter from Whittier, who pronounces
1t "a good and pleasant thing" 1t certainly is |
all that, and its charm Strengthened by num- |
Der OF colored plates which are beautiful in |
themselves. and of practical use in the pretty |
object lessons they teach in flower lore.
Those who seek to unite information with en-
tertainment will find Hezekiah Butterworth's |
Zig Tag Journeys in Acadia and New France"
and Mrs. Champney's "Three Vassar Girls in |
South America estes d Lauriat; through W. !
H. Morrison and J. D. Free. jr.,) worth their at |
tention. The former is q continuation of the |
popular Zig Tag series, of which it is said over
one hundred and thirty thousand volumes have |
sold