The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-12-14

Artistic Z Publication Suitable for Christ
mas Gifts,
THE LIFE OF An ARTIST. By Jules Bre-
ton. Translated bU Mrs. NJ. j. Serrdno. The
great French artist has revealed himself with en-
gaging frankness in this autobiography, which
has been put into clear. graceful, nervous Eng
lish by the accomplished translator and pub
lished in handsome style by the Appleton's.
Few works of fiction possess II stronger human
interest than the story here told in warm, poetic
prose OF the development of the genius of Bre-
ton His early life, the first stirring of his talent
in the bud, his boyish pranks, the childish love
affairs, the games. the little family Incidents are
told in much detail, but all are interesting, at
times fascinating, through the genial warmth
which fills the pages, the tenderness, the grace
full play OF imagination, and the literary excel
lence of the style. Even q child Breton,
while imaginative, gave promise of that
sturdiness and vigor which are chief char
acteristce of his work as artist He
was full of healthy, boyish spirits, en-
gagged fully in the pranks and fun of his
brothers and sisters and playmates, and seems
to have been in no way marked out from them
by those peculiarities of temperament which
frequently and often unfortunately distinguish
the child of genius. Yet even as an infant masses
of strong color seem to have deeply affected him.
While crying from the pain of injury to his
foot one day his eye was caught by large yell
low mass in his nurses garden. A mass $50
bright so extraordinarily bright, that only to
think of it dazzles me with an excess of
splendor." 1t was field of colzas in bloom. II
have never seen another like it, but every other
COLA field delights me because of that one" 1t
was a time of great delight to the future artist
when the soldiers in their gay uniforms passed
in endless procession through the village on their
way to the siege of Antwerp. Other memorable
occasions were the visit Of the Duke and the OPEN
ing of his fathers new garden, the Cdrperie, with
its bowers, and fountains, and ponds. Then came
the first little love affair. He and his little
sweetheart and their companions were playing
hide-and-seek IN the new garden. They ran away
and hid together among the rose bushes behind
the laburnum bower. II could hear the beating
OF her heart. whenever the danger of being dis
covered became more imminent we would draw
more closely together. We looked at each other
with frightened glances, in which there was a
mixture of tenderness" But these beautiful
days OF childhood, when the light was clearer,
the dawn roster, the air more vibrant, the skies
deeper and more softly blue than they are now,"
passed quickly by. The story OF Breton's artistic
development, his student life, his dreams and as
pirations, the years of hard work and struggle
for recognition, until his final triumph, is told
with fullness and simple frankness and always
interestingly. The characters and artistic value
OF his associates, among whom were many of the
most famous painters of the century, are
sketched with vigorous but kindly hand. AL
together, the book is one of the most notable ad-
ditions to autobiography of the decade, and will
be read with absorbing interest by people of cul-
ture everywhere. 1t may be had in this city at
Brentanos.
CROWDED OUT o. CROFIELD. By VII
liam o. StOdddrd. Here is a healthy-toned
practical sort of story that will catch the fancy
of vigorous boys who are ambitious of making
w N lack Dpda oft tl,a
blacksmith of Crofeld, though hardy, willing,
and intelligent, finds there is nothing for him to
do in the poor country town, try as hard as he
may. So, like American boys innumerable, he
decides to seek his fortune in the great city of
New York. Off he starts, ten dollars all that he
has in the world and begins the hard struggle
for position and wealth against the other million
and half that crowd Manhattan Island. Jack
is brave and strong, and though he meets with
rebuffs, disappointments, and disasters he never
despairs, and, of course, in the end he conquers
and all is well. Jack is perhaps not wholly d.
vested of the conventionasm which seems al
ways to settle on heroes of this kind. He is not
n thoroughly natural study from life. but per-
haps he is as near it as can be expected in story
book. His story is one that boys will find good
to read. Crowded Out o. Crofeld" is well Illus
tratcd, and is published by d. Appleton S Co.,
New York. For sale in Washington at Brentano's.
| XXIV BITS OF VERS DE SOCIETE is the
! title of handsome holiday volume issued by
| the Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York.
1t is eXquisitely illustrated with colored plates
by McVickar, and among the poets whose dainty
verses are included are Sir John Luckling,
| Walter ,Larned Frank Dempster Sherman, and
other equally well known and gifted writers of
the pretty love poems. The volume will be a
most ornamental and acceptable addition to
every lady's book-table. 1t is TO be found at
| Brentano's.