The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-16
CHRISTMAS AND IT'S LITERATURE

Christmas the merry harbingcr Of glad
ness aud Joy 10 the young, the inspiration
Of hope, the potont conjurcr Of sweet aud
tender memories 10 the old, always blessed
season Of respite, mirth and good cheer,
comes TO ~ this year with fuller hand than
ever This Is demonstrated In nothing morc
distinctly than the attractive aud comprc.
hcnsivc character Of books and booklets pre-
scented 80 oycrfowingly by the different pub.
lishon To the public. Christmas literature,
each year that passes. shows moro and more
marked development aud growth In the con-
trnst afforded between the present artistic
style and brilliancy aud IT, old lime iridi-
tional primitvcncss. Charles Dickens who
wrote his "Cristmis Carol" In 1888, was the
fr-i In this special branch Of story telling,
and though many have sprung up In the
same field since those charming aud pa
thctic tales remain still unsurpassed. A
long gap suporycncs between that lime aud
| the present cru u Christmas cards which
gradually have become 80 elaborate aud cN-
pcnsiye that no generous givcr with but n
slender purse could over hops 10 indulge TO
any great extent In the friendly distribution
Of such souvenirs
Human ingenuity and crcatiycncss seem
incXhhustihlc when We come TO art matters
and We ARE glad 10 see such talent tending In
another aud wiser direction. one that will
not prove 80 cphcmcnl and undoubtedly
more profitable to the purchaser. Books aud
booklets are fast pushing the card, 10 the
walt books solid, books light, books that
both educate aud amusc, books Tor the
! youthful mind aud for the brain more ma
urcd II 4 q positive pleasure 10 ilnd the
old fashioned book u fairy tales that We hid
away In some corner u the garnet or sai up
surrcptitiously late nj night las the writer
has many time loncl 10 read once mon
rcsurrcicd from musiy old bookshclyc.. and
brushed up and bcautihcd au rendered
again ready fora service which ~ long a,
them arc children on this blessed earth will
always lind keen aud delighted listeners and
rrndcr.
CHANGING through the vast number Of pub
fishers catalogues inundniing us spcci'
mons themselves oi artistic bciuly aud taste.
We lind such promised wealth " story and
sorr. II brcumcs bcwildoriur though must
delightful tack 20 decide upon what Ia choos,
or mention hrt
Hamper nruthcr, have always male a grca
specially of Christmas books and periodicals
fact worthy Of remark. when We remember
that though Christmas WIS always a south
oru holiday, " wac mover until pccnt year,
n season much celebrated Ia the North. On
ihg other hand, Thanksgiving Day, the pro
duct oi Puritan New England, has gridu
ally dhfcl South, till now the two holiday
nud welcome In both sections Of Ia,
! United States.
Harper Brothcu' four periodicals. M,
Monthly Magi7iHe. tho lI@lig, the BdsB and
The Young People. are especially rich ihi
season In illustrations. Tho "Eccc Agnu
mi drawn by Alfred FrcdcHoks, i char
artcuul by grcat poetic majesty In "Chris
aud the Fishermen" boliny-s and strength
predominant. Tho face II Christ Is a study
aud expresses the depth Of carncslucs, an,
wisdom. Nothing could morn plainly be
speak his divinity ~ a teacher
Pictures arc seductive. bat books equally
claim our willing attention.
McNlulan'P Eag'iA Hias'aioi Magifile
IN co. pretty cover Of bright rd and white
Offers a tempting bonnc houche 10 the Ton,
magazine vhdcr A. usual. Il Is beautiful,
printed and iull 81 exquisite Illustrations
Tho scenes from surrey Farmhouse" real
hes ones idea of that picturesque country
and NO wonder the English heart will turf
back longingy 90 home mo- matter where h
may nam. Dainty aud faithful these draw
Ina, irc gems Of sweet pastoral beauty. "a
laublc Through Normandy" With IT, bic
OF scenery and quaint old buildings carries
tho reader hr back through the maEcsoi his
tory 10 the tragic iaie Of the Unfortunate
Joan II Arc. the noble Maid of Orleans, ON
Of many black deed OF tho lnquisiiion
''rhc Anglers song" from Isaac Walton. u
gem enriched by ten beautiful illu,im
tons Macbeth on the siagc" a mos
scholarly article, T. wondered doubly attract
i've by the number OF portraits from ccle
bra'cd painters Of great actors and acircssc
Illustrating H.
Among wanamakcrs newest publications
especially interesting To Tcnncssccans, u M
I.ifc Of Matthew Foniainc Mnury sailor
scholar aud cosnioal philosopher by nj
daughter, Diana Fonlalno Maury .Corbin
whose psscs arc beautiful witness Of II