The herald., 1893-05-14
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agreeable, and ita interests, to say MOTH
ing OF its value aa practical treatise, 10
increased by the description Of exam
pies which actually exist. Among the
contents, besides The Art of Gardening,
are Home Grounds, Roads and Paths,
Piazz1s, A Word for Architecture, The
| Beauty Of Trees, The Love of Nature,
etc. The author does not speak exheus-
lively of any Of these subjects, but Sim
! ply pleada the cause OF good taste by
showing why this art should be prac-
ticed and judged as are arts OF other
kindp. II is the one which has
produced the most remarkable artist
yet born in America and this is
reason enough why all Mr.. Olmstsad's
fellow countrymen ought to try and I'M
defstand his aims and methods. This
little book teaches that they Dug ht also
to try to understand them in the inter
est Of self protection; for today the art
OF gardening IL practised much more
often than any other, in ignorant, i'm
pulsive ways, by people who never stop
to think that ii is an art at all.
80
Macmillan & Co. have just issued
bijou volume by Il. Marion Crawford en-.
titled: The Novel. What is it. Mr..
Crawford here answers his own question,
What 10 a novel; The reader could not
desire better authority; for If the
author OF Mr.. Isaacs, Doctor Claudine,
A Roman Singer, and the SaracineHca
novels does not know what novel Ia,
we are indeed without guide or teacher.
Mr.. Crawford Is eninently practical.
To him novel 10 a marketable
commodity, belonging TO the class OF
intellectual artistic luxuries." In the
manner Of telling it shall appeal to the
intellect, shall satisfy the requirements
of art, and b0 OF no use to man when
he is ut work. AS the novel with
purpose" PROCESSES to be an intellect
ual moral lesson" not an intellectual
artistic luxury, 10 is fraud on the pur
chaser, who ought to be able TO recover
the sum he has wasted in the SELF
styled novel. The question Of Fart for
art, or tart for the public" is answered
by the phrase, marketable commod-
ity." But how about "realism"? 1t is
q good thing that the Anglo-Saxon nov
elist tempers the wind OF his realiHm to
the innocence of that Ubiquitous nhorn
lamb whom the French call'"the young
person." The perfect novel must be
clean snd sweet, realistic not photo.
graphic, truly human, transcend
emit in its idealism, all-embracing
in Its religion; but where 10 such per-
feet novel? The novel 10 modern in
vention, called for by the emotional
phase introduced into life by the French
revolution. But while it is easy to APP
peal to the emotions il is hard to appeal
20 the heart. The heart Is the basis OF
all that is permanent and universal, and
humanity, the novelist's master, bids
him strike only ut the heart. In late
article by Mr.. f. Harrison In The Forum
a gloomy view OF the future OF the novel
is taken. Uniform education, love of
comfort, longing for equality, the
growth OF socialism in the highest mean
ing OF the word, will, Mr.. Harrison
thinks. kill all imagination. Mr.. Craw-
ford asks, "Are we tending to sucn
atate?" He allows that in Mr.. Bella
my's ideal state novels would not cell
in fact, they would be incomprehensible
but he thinks faith able to re-
move mountains, at "cut rates." will
be required 10 realizd such
etste, and that till then the novel will
hold its own. Tho whole of MIR. Craw-
ford's little book is of deep interest, and
much therein is highly suggestive. The
iseue is attractive and contains frontia.
piece photograph Of Mr.. Crawford.
#~~
Macmillan & Co. have a fine work in
the email book by Frederic Harrison,
entitled The Choice of Books. Mr. Har-
rison furnishes valuable contribution
to the subiect. 1t is full of Suggestive
ness and shrewd anslytica criticism. 1t
contains the fruits of wide reading and
rich research. The author is sn able
and conscientious critic, good logician
and clever man; his faults are super.
fetal and this volume will not fail to be
found valuable and create demand for
itself. Thoae who are curious as to what
they ehould read in the region OF pure
literature will do we'll TO psruse The
Choice OF Books. It will be found full
OF wine thought, eloquently and bril-
liently put, sparkling with gems OF in
formation.
All the above books for sale by the ston &