New-York tribune., 1885-01-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS

IN II w ! " OAHNA> -
.r,sr,r uorrps AMONG TIE GEMS. BY AUGUSTUS
C. MlMiIS. Boston James H. osgooa ~ 70
Tbere are few persons altogether unsusceptlble
A., A.. ot,ractious of gems and still fewer who are
not interested in the most popular, if not the most
valuabIe of them, namely, the diamond. MI
Hamlin has devoted two-thirds OF his Interesting
volume to that precious stone, giving chapters aso
mon the emerald, opal and sapphire. His treatment
of the diamond is almost exhaustive, though when
the origin of the gem comes to be discussed IL ap-
nears that scence has nothing but conjecture TO
offer while il cannot even conclusivcly rcfute the
theory of the miners that the diamonds continually
renroduced by the matrlx. The miners, indeed'
!. in several diamondiferous regions testhy .ne,r
faith in this belief by reworklng piacefs WHICH
have been gone through several years previously
their theory being that new crop OF gems may pe
looked for in about fifteen years. 1t is interesting
10 know that the value of diamonds is maintained
with comparative steadness Notwithstanding the
South African discoveries, and 1t is remarkaoio
that the mining of this gem does not appear ever
TO have been done with scientific machinery Dut
always and even now, with the simplest ana cfua-
cat appliances This fact suggests doubt wheth-
or considering the vastness of the diamond
fields vet undeveoped, the application
of higher skill and moro productive
methods to them will not hereafter
go increase the yield as to deprecate their value.
Mr.. Hamlin thinks not, and it must be admitted
that thus far the demand has kept pace with the
supply and that the rapid accumulation OF wealth.
during the present century has prevented any gut
ting of the diamond market But when capitai on
large scale is invested in the business; when the
miners of Borneo India Brazil and perhaps our own
Southern States, are being worked by Improved
mechanical processes, the situation Will not De tne
oome and il is conceivable that then the demand
NAV depreciate as much did at the time of the
French Revolution. AS this Is not nKely
to happen during the lifetime OF
the present generation, however investments IN
diamonds may probably still be regarded as souhu.
The emerald, when of tine quality and sze is much
more valuable than the diamond, and hne ruoles
are the most precious of all. Mr.. Hamlln mas
brought togethera good deal of valuable and mghiy
interesting information concerning these gems and
be onoI and sapphire aud his book is one which VIII
be read with pleasure by that immense majority
vbicb finds delight IN the contemplation and pos
session of precious stones, or, failing this, even In
hearing about them.
PAINTING SPANISH AND FRENCH. ILLUsTRATED.
SewYGk
Il is announced that this volume completes
the series brief histories of painting In the
Hand-books of Art Education" The plan followed in
nrevous volumes is carried reasonably well in this
ref summarize the important features OF
Spanish and French painting considered mstorc"y'
and partly from philosophical point OF view Inc pre-
fatory remarks upon French art seem to us nctured o
slightly hostile spirit, whch H'hcs i"su"'-
cient cognizance of the commanding posluoh
occupied by France in during the present
century Spanish art is discussed chronologicaiy put
the four leading schools Of Spain receive separate aIen
ton The depressing influence of the Church ana the In
ouisition upon Spanish art and the lives of Rbera Eur
ilin he
topic, treated with much reliance upon Stirling ana
other authorities The little known art OF Portugal is
briefly commented upon. and the remainder OF the vol
sketches of and criticisms upon trehch
artists from time of medieval painters upon glass to
ustave Courbet With biographical details the author
has had little concern. He has aimed. and rightly we
think to sketch in words the of each artists
inspiration the motives and characteristics OF ms
work and the influence which he exerted upon the
course Of French art Naturally Mr.. Smith de-
votes his most careful study to Poussn, lie suenr'
lie Brun Claude Lorraine Wstteau Davd,-in bis day
@h most nowerful influence since PoussinDelarcoix
the leader of the against David to Romanncis
Ingres Gericau AIRY Scheffer Delaroche' Verhe' anu
Theodore Rousseau the father OF modern frehch anu
scane, The later painters, Corot, Mhlet and
Regnault receive less notice, presumably from the
authors belief their place and influence are not as
ot clearly defined The plan Of the book excludes all
living artists Mr.. Smiths comments generally rehect
average opinion with considerable fairness There not
much effort original analysis Special students VIII
find more or less TO quarrel with IN MS
on,nions but the book intended for that class On
the whole we think his treatment sufficiently broad and
connected to give reader of handbooks an intel
leent grasp of the main points in the history OF French
art. The Illustrations mere memoranda conveying
no idea of the relations of values in the pictures repre-
.on,ad An American engraver, like Mr. Cesson for ex
AMPLE could have furnished illustrations of real mean
ing aud worth.