Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-05
LITERARY NOTES.
Some Holiday PuSlicasisna.


Some Holiday Publications.
Were no other signs apparent, the near APP
proach OF the holiday season would be sum-
GENTLY indicated by the number OF handsome
and appropriate volumes, adapted for readers
OF all tastes and ages, which are just now be-
coming so conspicuous q feature I'm the book
stores. Although the topographic and fllustra-
i've arts, as applied to holiday publications.
reached several years ago point beyond which
IL was thought there could be little II any ad-
vance, those engaged in catering to the exact
Ing demands Of the times really seem To be
aoie 10 exhibit each season something more At
uactive than before. Whether this progress
sion can De Kept up much longer Is q matter of
serious doubt; but the prospect at present ts
tnat the question Is one which need not give
trasd EI this ssar8 at least the ,, ,se
Eoein The Last Lea" (Houghton, Mifitn q
20. through Robert BealD. is. for examine, In
anything OF its kind yet produced, and In alto
gether AS notable an example Of book-mak-
ing as any reasonable person can desire. The
inus' ration>, by George Wharton Edwards and
r. Hopkinson SMITH. are IN close keeping with
me text, aud add d touch of pathos, IL that
We're possible. to the quaint fancfes OF the poet:
Eacn picture Is, indeed, SO daintily conceived
ana 10 delicately expressed as TO lie I'm itself u
little poem without words. Other attractive
poem. In the plain neat caligraphy Of the
author, and a bit OF pleasant history, telling
now IL came Ia be written.
In some respects Whittier's .sPoems of Ma.
ture" urom the same publishers, through the
Baiiantynes), illustrated by Elbridge Kingsley,
is hardly less attractive in appearance than
1.-THE Last Leaf" and in some eyes Il will
doubtless be preferable. There is an air OF lux
ury In the fine heavy paper and dignined
simplicity in the large clear type worthy any
bard or theme. The illustrations, which, IL is
understood, are cut on the block directly from
nj
are uneven liz quality. Some OF the subjects are
apparently beyond the artists reach, and Others
called Dpresque affectation that is not pleas
AMI TO the trained eye, and does not represent ma
ture, whatever Mr.. Kingsley and his thick-and-
About half of the illustrations. however, are
faithful transcripts, and are simply exquisite.
or the poems themselves OF course nothing need
De said. No poet ever looked at Nature with
more loving eyes than Mr.. Whittiers, and GER
calmly no one now living can sing her charms
In sweeter strains than hls.
Another handsome annual, but pitched In
quite different key, is wild Flowers OF
Colorado" from original water-color sketches,
drawn from nature. by Emily Homan Thayer
which comes to US from Cassell & Company,
through Brentano Brothers. This attractive
volume Is really a porto 10, containing twenty.
Tour large eoloreo plates, representing some
OIL the more prominent and striking ex-
ampies OF the floral wealth of Colorado, accom-.
panied by explanatory letter press, which serves
the purpose OF background TO the illustrations.
But the great charm oi the 10 * hes in the pic
lures TN IN elves. These are not only beautiful
as picture>, hut will prove TO be a most delight
iul revelation To those not familiar with the pc
culiar flora of the Rocky mountain regious.
"Flowers Here and There" white, Stokes 4
Allen, through Brontano BrOthers) is a pretty
combination OF poetry and pictures, all relating
more or less directly to flowers
THE alphabet Of angels,
Wher, by thy write hills and dales
Myst' riOus trutlS."
The poems selections made with good
Ju tgmeni. from the best authors, by Susie Bar
stow shedding, who also furnishes the illusura-
tons, which are drawn and colored from nature.
Estes & Lauriat have recently issued an illus,
trated edition of Keats "Eve OF st. Agnes "
which is sure to be admired by those fond OF
''rare gems choicely set" The poem has long
been a favorite with artists and illustrators
none OF whom have interpreted the poet more
sympathetically than has Mr. Garrett, In this
pretty volume, under the supervision OF Mr.
Andrew. the distinguished wood-engraver.
Beauties of Tennyson" is the title OF an at
tractive volume OF the conventional gift boob
order. issued by Porter & Coates Philadelphia
containing some twenty popular selections from
the poet laureates pOems with as many appro
pirate illustrations by Mr.. Frederick Il. Schell
whose work in that line, and particularly In
rendering landscape, is well known and greatly
admired.
A more than ordinarily suitable volume fo
the approaching holiday season is "WOnderfu
| Christmases of the Olden Time," recently is
sued by ID. Lothrop & Co. Hezekiah Butter
worth, the popular writer for Juveniles, sup
of the early observances OF the great Christian
festival and some of the more distinguished
participants, the illustrations to which an
supplied by Fernand Lungren.
1t was q happy thought in The Century Com
pany to present in a single handsome volume
tlol
best poetry published in that popular juvenile
publication, set to original music by some O
the best composers i'm the country, and accom-
panied by the pretty illustrations which ap
peared with the several pieces when first pub
lshed. The result is a beautiful book, which
though specially adapted for the young, and
the members OF the household. and found q
have permanent interest For sale by Rober
Beall.
Those who seek a combination OF elegance
and substance in holiday purchases will find
well suited to their purposes bound volume O
one of the best monthly magaznes,-7he Cen
tusy, for example. The last semi-yearly issue
of this admirable periodical, which include,
the numbers from May to November last, Is one
of the most attractive yet published, and per
haps of the most permanent value, on account
OF the number OF interesting papers IL contains
in relation to the late civil war. 1t is bound In
bronze and old gold cloth, to match the volumes
previously issued. Equally appropriate for the
younger members Oh the household the
recently issued two bound volumes of ST. Nicto
las, containing the twelve numbers Of thai
monthly from November, 1854, to October last
inclusive. In its way there is nothing better
than this periodical published any where In the
world.
The twelve numbers Of The QuiUer for the
current year have been issued in q single vol
| ume by the publishers, Messrs. Cassell 4 Co.
with view, doubtless, to meeting want likely
to arise during the holiday season for some
thing of a serious character in literature. tn.
Quiuer is one of the best OF the English illus
trated magazines intended for Sunday reading
and worthy an extended circulation in THU
country.
Exclusively and happily adapted for smaller
| members of the family circle are bound sets Of
| ''Wide Awake, sour Little Men and Women,
| and "Babyland." all published by ID. Lothrop q
Co., and sour Little Ones and the Nursery" re
ceived through j. c. Parker from Estes 4
Lauriat. Each is well filled with choice read
| ing matter, suitable for the young, and artist
cally illustrated and the possession of either
will be sure to make any reasonable child su
premely happy.
In "Bric-a-Brac Stories" Mrs. Burton Harri
| son has adopted the pretty and original fancy
of having the various objects in q richly fur
nished parlor relate to little boy tale appro
pirate to the several countries from which they
came. Thus the samovar tells one Of Russi an
fOl!S-lOrp a yyalr1S fOOfh racitoS breexv storx