New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-16
THE ENGLISH "CHRISTMAS NUMBERS"

ENTERTAINING TEXT AND AMUSING PICTURES.
What would be the most unlikely thing that one
could imagine as happening 10 bride at the De
ginning OF her honeymoon? Mrs. W. h. clifford the
author Of Aunt Anne" certainly answers this ques
tion in her story a VITA Proxy" which forms the
Christmas number of THE LadyS PICTORIAL she
makes her hero's best run away with the TN
willing and bewtldered bride, leaving the bridegroom
behind at the railway station; and. truth to TELL SO
ceverly are the incidents summoned in sequence, ana
so consistently is drawn the character Of the bes'
man the wild proxy that The reader Is forced 10
conclude that the plot. while improbable Is not al
ali impossible II is truly absorbing little story and
one which cannot be put aside unfinished. IL l.
neatly n not adequately, illustrated
Bret Uarte's Tran formatOn OF Buckeye Camp Is
the most notable feature in " Black and White" The
moral-t may doubt the truth Of the theory there
set forth that a gambling and drinking saloon con
Quoted on lofty principles by haughty young woman
Of Spanish blood should be "A nucleus OF virtue ana
civilization in a mining camp; but without granting
tte propo,iton he may concede that the author has
built ND on this theme vcr> slFewd, humorous aud
sparklinc sketch The Illustrations accompanying his
text delightful.
Mr. Barrie has apparently been studying the ways
OF women since The days when he wrote ""heh
Mans SINGLE For the little transcript of a wooing
in The Christmas number Of the London Graphic" :
full Of Il sympathetic appreciation Of feminine In
consistencles and lovers whms 1t Is pretty bit
OF work in lighter vein than teat TO which Barrie
has accustomed ~. II opens an uncommonly enter
tanning and handsomely Illustrated number OF the
"CTaphc.'
The Christmas Figaro" is amusing In its text
as il is artistic IN Illustration. Hector Malot ana
T. Coppee contribute its pages engaging pair OF
short stories. one does not find every day tender
and touching a tale of lddhoOd that which appears
above NJ Coppee's name. Another attractive holiday
number Is that o. the Sporting aud Dramatic News
Under the title Il Holly Leaves' II presents pleas
ant combination Of short stories and pictures. OF the
latter the one best wort second anu third glance
is a group Of surprised and interested kittens. The
"ChatterbOx Christnas-B0x" opens with n specially
clever Christmas eve hghwayman story. Tales con
corning the gentlemen Of the road Indeed are
always abundant 81 English holiday publications.
They are as much matter Of .,urse ms ghoststorcs
though ghos,s and burglars " ,ud hardly seem con
dueiye TO Christmas Jollity Yne,ide," Casscli's
"Chrisinas Annual Is political and social satire,
bumorousy illustrated. There is drawing Of Oscar
Wilde. which Nil be- heartily relisAed 10y those who
have followed the FIT aesthetics These Christ
mas numbers are accompanied by large coorcd plates,
which, n not of special interest TO the art terrific.
popular In their way. One or all these numbers
would male an admirable Christmas remembrance.
Tae international News Company are the agents.