New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-03
CHRISTMAS BOOKS.

CHRISTMAS BOOKS.
walks in Palestine by H. A. Harper Illus
trated from photographs by Cecil V. ohaoooio
uondon Religious Tract Society," Is q hanusoneN
nr;ntcd and tastefuy bound quarto, in which text
and illustrations vie with one another IN interest
Mr.. Harper has resided many years in Palestine
and his connection with the Palestine Exploration
Fupd Association has given him unusually good
opportunities for acquiring fresh and exact lnior-
nation concerning the antiquities OF the region
Tourists visiting Jerusalem, Joppa, Bethlehem
etc will find a valuable guide In these chaplers'
and particularly in those regarding the fabulous
parts of the local antiquarian cult MI harper
nuts his fnger upon every one of the sham historic
sites which for 50 many centuries nave guiieu
oredulous travellers and too coniiding devoteeS'
He quotes freely and appositely from 0ap'aih
Gender Professor Sayce, DR. Robinson, Clerihoht-
Ganneau, and other authorities and points OUT
errors which have been given mischievous circu-
lation by their adoption in Smiths Dictionary
Of the Bible Mr.. Harper's descriptions of life
in the Holy Land are graphic, and are marked by
ON artists discrimination He gives the follow
ing sketch of one of those strange performances
or certain dervishes which have hitherto baihed
all attempts at explanation The scene Is DaVid
street Jerusalem: Close to the flags stood der
wish "a holy man. He was dressed IN slight cloth-
ing with bare arms and bare legs put III ms
wast-belt perfect armory OF ske"efs anu
daggerS The music grew more vigorous ana the
dor,i.b beoon 10 dance Soon the holy man took
q large skewer and thrust il through his cheek,
slrill cries from the women halnrg the ueeu
Tho onerator moved on His actions grew wilder,
the cries became louder; another ske"er' ana 'heh
a dagger were thrust through the heshy part OIL
his arms From every balcony came c'ioS VI
low We traversed the city, and wheh OUTSIDE
81 Stepben', Gate. leaving the ranks of the pill
grims and pushing in front, we saw the hoiy
man stuck as full of skcwcrs and daggess as a
pincushion is OF pins. But. strange TO rela'e'
there was not a drop of blood to be seen from his
face or figure Whatever the explanation, there
were the facts The photographers from ME-
c. V. Shadbolts photographs remarkably clear
and good and we'll mounted. There are twenty
four of these fine illustrations, and they represent
the most interesting sites and interiors.
Estes d Lauriat issue for the gift season an
imperial octave volume containing an Ingilsh
rendering of Andre Theurets charming Song
Birds and Seasons with the Illustrations of
Giacomel The paper used in the American
edition is thick, and not too much glazed as
good many de luxe books have been of late. Inc
bird vignettes and tail-pieccs of Gaeomelh, IN
fact all his drawings Of birds, are characterized
BY a delightful dantineSS, sympathy and grace
The artist has studied birds in and out OF the
nest and has so mastered the fluffy innocence OF
young birds that his sketches of them are full
Of a rare charm. Ills management of plumage,
and especially of down, is clever, and the results
hfelike to IA surprising degree In Illustrating
the light and poetic text of Mr.. Theuriet the artist
has been in complete sympathy with his subject,
and has done it and himself Justice. The trans
lator has not succeeded We'll, 700 many OF his
renderings being marred by that unfortunate
effort after literal fidelity which IN converting
graceful French idioms into clumsy, distorted
English does more TO obscure fire style than the
boldest paraphrase.
The same publishers issue Fairy Lillian and
other Poems by Alfred TcnnySon," illustrated by
F. 5. Church, Hamilton Gibson, j. I. Murphy, I.
Moran, j. ID. Woodward Edmund H. Garrett,
W. ST. j. Harper, Charles Copeland, W. L. Taylor,
II. r. Barnes, L. T.. Hayden, Louis Meyncle,
Jessie Curtis Shepherd, and Maud Humphrey
The size Of the volume is quarto. The illustra-
lions are within decorated margins in tones 50
light that the effect is disturbing. The drawings
themselves are singuarly fiat and unsuggesuve,
with one or two exceptions, and in many instances
il is posi- bic To perceive any connection between
,hcm and the poems they are supposed TO illustrate
Airy, fairy Lillian appears anything but fairy
like. Ii: fact, the artist has represented her rs
D pet lump OF child without suggestion Of
ellishness al 0 Il her"
Mariana in the Moatcd Grange" and " Ma
riana in the South are cIi)nsly earthly rel der
ngs of poetic ideals and in neither is Mariana
90 conceived as to evoke that sympathy born
rather of the of beauty and helplessness than
Of any thought OF the equities of her situation,
which the poem itself appeals TO. There is, in
Rofno 4ofir sion
IF the illustrations. Copeland has pretty SKETCH
but the plates which come nearest to interpreta-
ton Of the text, and which almost alone rise above
the level of hack work, are those Of Church and
Louis Meynee, illustrating The Mermaid
In these there is vigor Of conception and bold
sweep Of outline, ana they possess life. Oriana7
illustrated with eXasperating woodenness and
The look on the face Of the unfortunate hero as
he ploughs his woful way through the snow is far
more reminiscent Of Bunthorne than Of anything
else