New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
cup1s1u,s ROCKS FOR CHILDREN.

CHRISTMAS BOOKS FOX CHILDREN.
In Rose Raymond awards" (Porter.% coates
Margaret Vandegrift has written one OF the most
beathful and helpful-books that can be offered to
voung girl The lessons of selfrespect, OF honesty
in heart and SOUL and of unselfshness are enforced
With simplicity and animation infinitely refresh
inc The story moves bT ghty on. and with no drag
cling and there is not a sensational line to mar lts
breezy purity Rose" is an admirable eXempIlr-
frank true-hearted and womanly as all girls ought
TO be.
There arc gathered in Mss IIealey's book on the
Painters Of the Italian Renaissance lBeHoru'
Clarke a. CO.. nearly fifty biographical shetches'
with twenty-five inadequate engTavlngs by NJ De
Maro This is one of the attempts, of which the
present age is so prolific to sugar coat information
for the benefit of children. The writer's object has
been q TO make my youthful readers understand as
clearly as may he what is meant by the vague term
art" .,..-
But il does not seem TO us that this compilation
from the material afforded by standard works IS
likely to enlist the interest of children. single
interesting biography, written with UNCONSCIOUS
simplicity with adequate knowledge, might De maze
10 impress upon the minds of children certain clear
and sensible ideas in regard to art which wouid DC
remembered But no healthy eMld even III tnis
ov when chi dren are educated" todeath, can llIlu
any genuine pleasure in porting over one plo9rapH{
after another, from Cimabue to GhTlahdaJo' anu
from Iippi to GuercnO, with the telling Oh each
life STORY mitchell IN the same key, without variety
81 ,ritbont the impressive prominence of impor-
tant noints. Here the writer's tone Is monotonously
S;dactie throughout, and didacticism IS fatal
error She has aimed at simplicity of STYLE Out
hor abort TO let herself down to the level OF her
readers is too apparent and her anecdotes are
spoiled by prevailing flavor OF nambypamoylsh
Criticism of the book as serious WORK upon "rt
,vonld he obviously out of place although students
of art might find much to crlticise. Some grown
readers with a sciOst's fOndness for hand-Dooks
and helps to learning might find this compliatloh
convenience but as a chlds book we canlot r"te IL
highly. Few children would read 1t through FEWER
still would be able to digest any clear IDEAS a1ter
swallowing this great unseasOned bulk of iniorma-
ton. The writer must be held responsible 1or
newly coined adjective" whose bulby sic) nose IS
not battered page 40. On another page 100
Paris is printed without capital.
Mrs Ewtrc's beautiful little tales, "Jackanapes'
aDaddv Darwin's DOvecot," and /" The Story OF
Short Life" have wisely been included by Roberts
Brothers in one pretty little volume Here are
stories which stir the springs OF sympathy pn'
never drop into sentimentality-which 60 far 10
teach that the bravest are the tenderest' ana
that clean soul and a belief in God are good Tor
man and child alike.
no improve ones mind, and to be amused NJ 'hc
same time is condition not unpleasant TO the
juvenile Amercan-and IL Is one when nc can
secure in the reading of a Family Flight Through
Mexico I'd. Lothrop n Co.. by the Rev. I. f. Hale
and Miss Susan Hale Judging from the character
istic story part of the book the former has contrib
uted the fiction and the latter the fact
There may be literary infants who would Ike 10
find in a Christmas stocking History Of Ireland
in Words of One syllable George Routledge Sons''
lrt good average hoy would undoubtedly prefer
"Robinson Crusoe' Nevertheless, the history Is
not bad thing the calmcr moments that come
after the holidays 1t is written from the holhah
Catholic point of view, and il has for 1ohtISpece
= formidable portrait of Bran Boru. Another
history for young readers is William Sherard
varions historical works dealing with the Roman
Empire This is illustrated and Is published by
/ r Llppincott The author has been careful not
70 LEFT his story split upon the many rocks which
1yould render q fuller history of Rome not alto
rether advisable reading for very young people.
Colonel Thomas w. Knox has prepared another
milky volume OF profitable Amusement for young
people in - The Boy Travellers IN South America
QIarper & Brothers.. 1t may .be suspected that
these boy travellers Judging from the extent OF
their peregrinatlOns linea descendants OF that
pleasant old person, the Wandering jew; Out II
must he conceded that wherever they 20 they man
on 70 r,ol,e Themselves interesting and useful.
rbore is nothing moro attractive to little people
thon stories of animals: and in c. F. Holders
aMarvels of Animal Life Charles Scribncrs sons
there is enough science to make the stories OF
serious value and TO incline their readers 10 one Of
the greatest pleasures and safeguards of youth
the study of natural history. book with no
science in it, but with great deal OF manly wisdom
and not little fun, is Mr. w. II. Boards " llumor
in Animals C.. 2. Putnam's SOnsi His reminis-
cenccs of animals of his acquaintance are set forth
III merry and sympathetic spirit and accompanied
Iy illustrations in his own unique vein. Inc
chapter on dogs would eectrify the most woe
bcgone yOungster.
The clever papers on Historic Boys which
+. :. Brooks contributed to st. Nicholas have been
reprinted with their original illustrations in hand
some volume by G.. p. Putnam's Sons. reprint OF
"ThOsc Dreadful Mouse Boys (Ginn " co. mas
not fascinating and is much too long for ITS theme