New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-29
SOME HOLIDAY BOOKS

THE E,vA Sy = by ~ ES Gregory PIP g. White
IN Alien FAIR cogSrRy Esys FROM use os'aP by
se%s S SsrcRf c fR o. by samuel JOys5 q;
trated by William Magrath' fh''""''P"''
rH tpypG2!fs e. y Md Tsnp Gs
Illustrated; ~ Ph, nT iEEFRaANDMoTHER' GREY BY
THE .,N W9 TanNstt woods Illustrated PIP 9''
Charles sr , T. S'' OF THE SPIRES AND TOWERS
OF ENGLAND with text by Oha'ie' "''"'''
Boston: Thhnor 20 ,.,
:, ouiet Life is the APPLY chosen title of a
.uoo,ior Of the verses by MARVEL, COwley Praed'
D.. and Randolph. which have appeared from
,;n,o ~ time in Harper's Magazine. accompanied
h. tho drawings of Messrs Abbey and Parsons
Tho sririt indicated in the title finds fuller eN-
nrcssion in Mr. Austin Dobsons charming pro-
lonuc. while the doubling OF our own age Is
echoed in his epilogue, which might IN this u"S
NO called model of suggestive poetlcai phraSii's
7, :, ,,oro possible TO suspect didactlc purpose
behnd this collection we might take lh's oooN
DC a reminder of those virtues OF peace ah" 0'h-
tentment which we are much dispoSeu W s'o'
These verses breathe restfuineSs anu Sini'
bappiness which we hold to belong 10 "n0'"V'
.;ma opd vet this spirit has been translated WIN
perfect sympathy by two artls's OF ,o-O"S,
.hhov,s characters are entirely worthy compah'
-; o,ors in old comedies and his singers
ions of bis actors III oiV S""iN
90 old songs If the artist is one OF inc io"i
d.,, masters of pen and ink drawing, as one
o,looist has clamed he is also pre-emheh.N 3"
,nastnr of eighteenth century English me- lh"V
life was brutal and repulsive IN certain Vi i''
nbases but Mr. Abbey is not caiIeu upo" "
nlav the part of belated liogarth' anu III ""'
chosen discreetly TO preserve Its hunor. i'e
and its simple charm. The possipie nn''"''o"'
NJ the artist are not of present concern 'in,o
no has provcd himself equal to his acuual V"sN'
perhans task is too severe word lor uV'r''O
the large demands upon the ar'S' 'neie 1i..N
these drawings betray no waning oil SPoi'"" -
No loss of sympathy, nor even vi -
T,o ,,;car the groom. Ounce and his friends tne
- Moroarot and other fair figures would
snre win the approval of their original creators
go ne they seem perfect realizatiOns. although
40 ho,a a moro dubious regard for the artlsV
rosortation of the earlier characters III NAH
dolph's poem :. o,,in1
Mr. Abbey rarely exaggerates in making
-; noiu, but he has come peili-
ousv near exaggeration IN Inc
Of one Of the gosSips on page AZ. In 'ileSo "i""
incs. AS before, we find his groups drawn "su''
nv figure. without regard to any rules Oh ooli-
nosition, but perhaps the results u'SP''' 1'O
scat,ered effect are as interesting as il tie SUI
were set and the players groupu WIZ" nv
formality There are few exceptions TO w H''A
IN work like this done in medium %NeIe' anu
vet in the hands Of this artist, Wonuer'"'', .,.
lilo svmnatbeic and expressive. Mt AoooS
deIicacv and certainty in the use OF line REMAIN
,l,o desnair Of a multitude of followers leu
:. !. Nr Parsons who first will claim the atteh-
,ton ~ many readers, for we have had fewer OPP
,r,rpities of ENJOYING the collected WORK OF '"'S
,re artist His drawings Illustrate pechi'ar
ohili.v IN ncrceivc and express sentiment i'll Idhu
ono or IL the disciples of art for arr 5 SAKE
refnse 10 recognize the existence OF sentiment
these drawings may be taken as slhs'l"'S ~
foot examples Of tact in selection anu conP
tior and aruthful misunderstanding. Mt. ray
sons's omissions are based upon knoWIeuse a."
comnlete mastery OF his subjects which II "''i
illustrated in his accurate but never acaueh'o
drawings of flowers. There Is no Sacrince VI
.n,,b 20 nicturesoueness" and the artist shows
himself entirely able TO adopt the seVerer ro"u.
ing or lighter treatment as ms THEME may "
aica+o Tins the leaves. pages 19 and IL snow
on intellirpnt acquaintance with CHARACTERISTIC
forms while again, as on page y, MI T"rH"h'
avails himself of the opportunity LOT Tree j." 10,
ization. II we lay some stress upon 'hr Nio"i-
edoe or science which is behind thcse ura"lisS'
/, is because Of the too common studio iuea 'ha'
tho artist is superior to exact knowledge anu C"'
no may generalize or suggest at VIII without any
odeouate basis for his work. win MI Ia'son'
exact analysis has preceded synthesis ana ne Is
nevcr Obliged to take refuge IN " artistic VAGUE
oes A, the sam, time his manner is perfectly
free from constraint and his senSuNeh'SS ~
na,rra, bcauty and his refined appreciation OF
~. 1oro,r nhoses of effective compositions and
his readv perception of the value of line and
mass find free and admirable expression As
rocards the reproduction OF these
drowinos Mr.. Parsons has been more
,or,unate upon the whole than Mr.. Abbey
f,om the very nature of his subjects, since the
changes of grays TO blacks and loss OF hall tones
are more apparent in figure drawings than IN
Landscapes and many Of the more delicate lea
tures of Mr.. Abbey's work have suffered accord
inrlv The paper and Typography of this volume
arc credtabe. and we are glad 10 note great
Improvement upon the damboyant llerrck III
tbp cover. which is comparatively unprotentlous'
while it is durable and agreeable 10 the touch
The conventional holiday book cover, with its
gorid design is illustrated in the edition of Sheri-
dams Rivals published with designs by Mr..
F. NJ Gregory. For this edition Mr.. Gregory has
preparcd five water color drawings, which are
excellently reproduced in colorS, and nearly Two
score black and white designs, ranging from 1uil
page illustrations to vignetteS and head ana 'ali
nieces So far as a certain polished execution goes,
Mr. Gregory's drawing OF the figure shows gam,
hut the most apparent quality Ct this gam IS us
mechanical character. In the case Of the frontis-
piece Bob Acres in the duel scene, and in the case
of other studies throughout the book, we find our
selves vainly endeavOring 10 distinguish these
igures from the figures of the photographer. There
is no personality in the drawing, and il is quite
impossible TO follow the artists hand. Without
dwelling upon the Photographic appearance of
these figures, it must be said that Mr. Gregory
sometimes has allowed himself to treat costumes
and characters Of the eighteenth century with n
curious Indifference 10 actually. His julia Lydia
and Lucr are simply young women of today in
costumes usually more in keeping with the present