New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-24

Marc an Diable." by Frank Hunter Potter, with
fourteen of the seventeen etchings made by Ed
mond Rudaux for the Quantin edition which was
issued in their series Les Chefs-d'Oeuvres du
Roman Contemporary The translation OF MI
Potter is close and spirited. The story Is one oil
the most simple and charming studies OF rural
life made by the author, and the illustrations are
such as one seldom encounters in England OF
American books The publishers have done their
part to render this desirable gift-book
"Most of the pictures l had seen of ragged
life writes Mrs. Stanley Thy way Of Introductory
to her London Street Arabs, appeared to me
false and made up They were all so deploraby
piteous-pale, whining children, with sunken eyes,
holding up punches of violes to needless passersby.
diving match girls, sorowfu water-cress girls,
and emaciated mothers clasping weeping babies
How was it. I asked myself that the other side
is 80 seldom represented The merry, reckless
happy-yo-luclxy urchin. the tomboy girl, the plump
untidy mother tossing her ragged baby. Murillo's
beggar BOYS most nearly approached my ideal, but
where was the modern Murillo?" Miss Dorothy
Tenant, in a modest, difhdent way determined 10
supply this want, and to devote her attention to
portraying the CHEEKY side of the ragamuilin
life It must he confessed that she has succeeded
in her self-appointed task. The happy. homely,
and droll manner in which, both with brush and
pen. she has portrayed the little Arabs of the
London streets goes straight to the heart
Like all true artists, Mrs. Stanley is far from
sharing the satisfaction which the public have
displayed concerning her pictures. How wish,
she exclaims, II could draw my little ragamuffins
as I see them-but there is such a wide chasm
between conceiving and carrying out The
true artistic spirit again appears when she de-
clares that mo ragamuffin is ever vulgar or
common. If the pictures render him so, 1t Is
the fault of the artist since the latter always
reflects his own character in his work. All his
vulgarity and Alterations go into the drawing
just as simplicity, dignity and love OF truth are
to be found in the work if found in the artist
The letterpress of Mrs. SANKEY'S book is en-
amelled with many characteristic anecdotes OIL
her little ragged friends. One of her little models
whom she asked to define gentleman, replied Win
considerable fervor: "Oh, fellow what as
watch and chain" Reading disapprobation on
her face. he hastily added, ard who loves Jesus.
This same boy had very hazy idea OF bioe
history. but he had deard of Adam and Eve
"Tbey stole apples and were turned out OF the
garden. and then they had to work LOT their
living until the sweat poured down. Ano.nei
laddie being asked to define guilt explained una.
II meant telling on another boy A LITTLE eiri
Of eleven told Mrs. Stanley how much she wisheu
to live in the country, because then shouioh.o
see lot of people having lot OF things i can
have A little fellow of six told Mrs. otahieS
how he loved Christmas Day, because on Christmas
eve he hung up his stockings, and the next morn,
ING he found present inside. what was IT,
inquired Mrs. Stanley. "A half-penny, ne IT.
piled, smiling with pleasure at the rocoiiec'ion
hut y added he truthfully, IL put it in myself
over night. wan
Many similar touches of nature mlsh' w n'en-
toned But enough has been said TO convey al
;doa of the Street Arabs of Mrs. Stanley. H.
os she asserts. the personality of the artist IS
roAected in his or her work, that of the falr
nortrayer of the ragamuffin must be Of singuiary
lovable and happy nature-one, indeed, that cam
not fail TO soften and charm away the asperiues
Of the somewhat rugged character of her famous
husband.
The ouarto selection from Wordsworths Son
rets with illustrations by Alfred Parsons, is one
of the bandsomest of the Harper books The IL
Illustrations are for the most part in keeping with
tho text. but in one instance the artist has made
the odd mistake of introducing a veritable birch
bark canoe in a sketch of an English brook Some
If the decorations and vignettes and tapieces are
as deserving of admiration as the full-page cuts