New-York tribune., 1893-12-23
HOLIDAY PUBLICATIONS.

A second edition Of "a Calendar of Verse;" the
uttIe volume of poetical selections to which George
sointsbury contributed one OF his most delightful
.Jntroductions" has been brought out by Thomas
,vbttaker Not two only. but many editions Of this
little book will probably see the light for 1t Is one
Of the most desirable and companonable of COM
uo,,ops An unerrng taste for what Is oveliest In
Poetry has guided the maker or these selections
An amusing birthday book has been compiled from
r,d,,ord I.ear's inimitable works" and published
bv Frederick Warne & Co. as "A Nonsense Birth
dav Rook" The pictures are judiciously chosen and
a nortrat OF Lear serves as frontlspece
Tho holiday number Of ''The London Illustrated
>u,s" has many interesting Illustrations and
various short stories, the most STRIKING OF wh'ch
Ia Nr Kiplings Bridge Builders III Is story
within n story, giving more true shmpses or ne
and character in India than does many puIhy
vourno of so-caed serious Observation Inc
current weekly number of THE News' (of which,
IT should not be forgotten, an American edition Is
regularly pubshed) has an admirable portrait OF
the lato Professor TyndaH among many other
pertinent drawings An entertaining ana never
falling speciality Of THE News Is It's rich coliec
tion OF portralts of celebrities, men, women ana
children
The Prang Christmas cards and New Year calen-
dars are this as gay with bright coiors ana
az full OF pOetica conceits as In more prosperous
times A characteristic bit of New-Engand Is
the edition of Whittier's Pumpkin Pie printed on
triangular leaves illustrated by f. 3 Mathews ana
inclosed I'm a cover which almost makes one hungry,
so good is its imitation Of a section OF soideh PIE
one of the attractive Of the pictures IN Color
is that Of "Thomass Orchestra, portraylnS grave
assemblage of musical cats, performing n concerto
under the leadership of a magnificent MATES"
Tom.
Calendars are many and dainty. Lee & Shepards
"Au Around the Year presents a collection OF
nrettv little girls drawn with a good deal of grace
and humor Thomas Whittaker's Madonna Calen-
dar' is simple and tasteful In its arrangement ana
its reproductions OF modern paintings OF the holy
Mother and Child very we'll done. The Fred
erick A. Stokes Company issue several pretty
calendars The "Playmates' and the Little
Friends' have fac-simies of water-color designs
bv f. s. Tucker-desgns representing winsome
children and their graceful animal pets ihelr ''hi-
nese Lantern calendar is shaped like lantern ana
Is ornamented with bright figures of little emma
men The silver Cross calendar, issued by inc
order of the Kings Daughters. has this year
reproduction on the opening page Of Hoffmans
picture OF the head Of Christ. The Chautauqua
Booklet" calendar contains careful selections from
the Bible and from various religious ana phiio-
sophical writings compiled by Grace l.. Duncan
II contains also suggestions for daily readings OF
sacred text.
Last The BOOk-I,OVer'S Almanac 'l'uP'dt "
Coz was published for the first time. The scond IS
sne Of the daintv made compilation-that for 1894
is iust out In all the luxury Of ine paper and print
ing and not only equals but surpasses It's predeces-
sor The principal Illustrations this time are by
Robida who has picturesque. thoroughly faic
fancy. and a clever hand. Hts eichings are arts
tic little plates full Of spirit and OF old French
sentiment. Henrlot furnishes this year, as ne dil
last some illustrations more animated than elegant;
they relegated to the back Of the book where
they harmless enough. In the future if the pup
fishers are wise they will be omitted altogether.
The text in addition the regular features or an
almanac ana quotations from Poor Richard Is
by n group Of writers-M Octave t7anne Mr.. II. +.
Du Bois Mr.. ". Irving Wray and Mr.. II. II. Hay
who might be relied upon write with sympathy
and understanding on topics dear TO the book-!over
The funniest concet is that pic i-ed by Robda and
sung by Mr. Hay In a rhyme two. II celebrates
the hbliophile OF the twentieth century. A syb
arite who will use a ''phonO- -cllchotheque' now
use a phonOgraph-with a diff romeo. lie will re-
pose "A lounge In his library. so-callei. With the
instrument aforesaid connected with Is and
operating somehow upon his eyes as well, he VIII
experience all the sensations nis ancestors
wont 10 receive from the contemplation OF books
and pictures. The latter VIII have been concen-
tratei In some magical way In a cabinet placed on
a neighboring table. All the owrers books will
have been ignominiously the garnet still
ignomnously sold FOR the delec,ation OF those
who know no better than TO get their literary and
artistic pleasures from the printed and illustrated
page itself
a pleasant and thoughtful poem. What Christmas
Says 10 NewYear." has been issued in a delicately
bound booklet by Lee & Shepard. Miss Virginia W.
Townsend is It's author. Eords, Howard & Hubert |
publish "A Christmas Meditation by \. II. Brad /
ford. on The Sistne Malonnl." II IS n gentle. |
and sympathetic study OF the picture and
its suggestions.