New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-06

Il
thinE Of the past
In the Ncvsky Prospckt Miss Isabel +. nap
GOOD describes street which Is al us "cS' ~
midwjntcr. and. delighted with her own expert,
cnces she describes with triumph ll-co'o''''
how in summer the deserted ProsITKt l. 'or" up
fo~ rcrair. and how the annual troops OF foreign
travellers arrive in St Pctcrsbnr-, view '''' Io''S
Islands Of the Ncva Delta, eaten aiIhlSe " 'io
summer cities in the vicinity, an" cream ',''''
dream that they have also really pc"'i" t''o
Ncvsly Prospckt the great avenue oi '' i' .r
of the Frost King and the "iii'e i~"'
book is copiOusly illustrated
All who know Mr.. Ellwangers books, Inc
Story of Nv House" and 1.-The Garden o'orH'
win be prepared TO expect entertainment ana
LIGHT from whatever new work he proauces' :"
the present instance. however, the pleasure u 'o
autbor's admirers will be enhanced ny 'he mo
chanical perfection of the volume anu ny CIV
marl,obIo beauty and fitness Of its lliustra'ioh9'
,Ira ,,rtusbors have evidently laborcd zcalously
g. roinforce the charms of Mr.. Ellwangcrs com
si+o, =, tic admirably illustrated ny W. Hamilton
cihson avid 4 Il Wcnzcl who have furnished luii-
roco drawings vignettcs and initials; while there
ara several pcn-and-inll drawings of oriental oo-
ioo+, nv w c GrcenOieh and n titlc-pagc and cover
bv II Il Shcrwin. Mr.. Gibsons ful-p'Se sylvan
scenes illustrating the fascinating story OF Inc
silver Fox of Hunts Hollow" are in his best ana
most sympathetic manner a..
Mr. Ellwanqcr opens with thoroughly ori-
entail story. The Golden Rug of hermahcnc"'
n tale 90 full of the color and spirit OF the f'S''
so saturated with the sun and with the SUN"
eniritual cmanations OF that ORIENTAL teNtlle anu
which transmutes all emotion into the one FORM
of decoration which escapes the Prophet NM
hilton that the reader who pcruscs the tale IN
.:.,l Inc
rush off into the desert and follow some othcr
| Golden rug" to ito distant hiding place III W"S
lonc since perceived by his admirers that Mr.
Ellwapqer has a special feeling for color II APP
meals 70 him much as though il. were muse. Inc
bri, Iiant hucs the wondrous combinations an"
harmonies of Oriental tapestry arouse IN INN
distinctly poctcal sentiment He is an adept II
/ limos and tones Every SHADE has been studied ny
him and classified and lie breaks into bursts u
enthusiasm over the gorgeous fahricatlons he u'-
scribcs. Some famous Jewellers have gwen Hh'
pas,onate appreciation to gems. Dut Ny EIl""'S''
knows and loves gems too. and indeed the scope
of his taste includes all that is lovely, whether
in Nature or in Art This is very strlkinSly
illustrated in the present volume, where, III 'Ae
three delightful essays, "Warders Of the Woods
e, Shadow on the Pool and "Ihe silver ron
of Hunts Hollow he turns altogether from
lp
attractions of nature unadorncd and the breezy
outdoor sporting life in describing scenery anc
the habits, ways and aspects of fcrai an
imals he is at his best lis portrait OF the
famous Silver Fox for example, i really
little masterpiece. and after reading 1t we can
hardly doubt that those who follow the story
will instinctivcly put forth a desire that the
beautiful wild creature may continue to escape
the Vaccinations of his enemies such ioN
As this was clearly not created merely to AFFORD
snort TO a hunt. He is too noble an animal
for that and though the author makes believe
to be in eager pursuit of the beautiful silver
relt il is plainly TO be that he 1as no
heart in the pursuit. Then there are fishing
r6ries-storcS of wonderful trout, discovered
in their secusiOn by crafty poacher, WHO ha"
a secret for attracting them, and who captures
the fnny beauties as BY magic with tie contents
of a mysterious phial whose allurcments they are
unable to resist.
The whole book is cminently interesting and
emphaticaly deserving OF the very handsome and
| artistic setting it has received
If Mr.. Walter Crane has ever committed any
artistic sins and We believe his shield is not
wholly white he has wiped them out by the
latest Of his Illustrative performances Similarly
all The errors of Judgment made in matters Of re-
/
edition of Ilawthornc's Wonder Book are atoncl
for therein. The designs Mr.. Crane has made
70 illustrate the adventures Of Pandora, Bcleso-
phon and the rest exactly intcrprctatvc Of
! tie spirit with which Hawthorne desired 70 in
vest the wonl crs Of mythology, that the young
est readers might enjoy them; they are pictorial
ard charming in themselves, and their colo--
! have been reproduced in as artistic manner IL
| could be desired. Never was there such heautl-
! ful book for children. Printed clearly on GGc
! large pages adorned Wit. innumcable heal and
tail pieces in addition to the full-pagc compost
tons bound in cover that is one of the prcfti",t
| Mr. Crane over did We can think OF nothing
which would improve IT,. Til" fascination Of a."
! tex. has for years been cHcrtcd over readers OF
this book. but it is enhanced by Mr.. Cranes
| pictures Ny good ladies'" said IcrseIs 10 III"
/ Graic. when he had possessed Himself Of their
| cycsieht. and they were qUarrclin2 amon@ them
selves about il, pray do lot De angry with each
Other If anybody is in fault it is myself; for
! have the honor TO hold your very brilliant ard
excellent eye in my own hand" 70 strike just
Tire right iotc in Illustrating this passage 10 be
neither too conventional, to- lmaelnailvc, top
| humorous or too fearful Is feat winch mgnt
! bafie many an artist. Let the reader Of this
new edition Of The "Wondcr Book turn 10 page
90 and see how successfully Mr. Crane has
! dealt with the problem. Hut everywhere in the
book the success has been achieved.
1.-The Good Things Of Life are this year in
no degree Joss clever tlan in the years past, so
far as the text goes. The drawings which accom-
pany il are undoubtedly much stronger and more
| finished than Of old. albeit tire, now ard then
of the few types uscd in thcm Nlr. Gibson :
sketches have "A piGuant charm, but little variety,
and we shoalI bc glad to see him become more
| adventurous as portraycr Of character.
Another collection Of mrthful matters takcn
from Life" will be found in Mr.. Mitchcll's FAIRY
Tales" series Of short and fantastic stories,
blending in an amusing fashion saii:ical obserya-
ton of modern life and the frcalli-h method of
! thc od-fashioned tales Of tho fairy world The
,ttlc hool, retains the illustrations presented with