New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE ROCK OF THE FAIR. BY Hubert Howe Ban
croft illustrated. folio vols PIP. 1000. chicago:


THE BOOK OF THE FAIR. BY Hubert Howe I'VE, Ban.
croft Illustrated. folio vols, PIP l'VV. Oh'cdso'
The Bancroft Company.
A glance through these thousand pages is almost
as bewilderng as tramp through 'achso"
Park To the mind an endless array OF lac's
md plctures until the impression is left. as by the
fair itself that It must be the task OF many ua!s
10 assimilate the facts pouring III upon o"e anu
study the exhibits arrayed for examinations MI
bancroft has attempted to preserve for those VINO
Wish "a revive the memory Of their visit to Chicaso
and for those who would learn from ooos wna'
they were unable to see in person record OF ever!
phase Of the exhibition. He gives an 'iccou"' ~
former worlds fairs a history OF chicago she.."
Of the preliminary work and erecuoh Vi Wv, ~
inrs and a detailed description OF the eu'ces anu
=, tho exhhits which they contained. Added 10 the
,rorx ,s a chapter on the California Mdwnter IN
ternational Exhibition.
The volumes are profusey illustrator WIN
cuts OF officials and prominent visitors ou'ia'"s'
landscapes machinery. pictures. statuary' a.
1ewelry plate and tapestry. SO FAR as u - po9'''
these cuts convey an accurate impression concerning
the nature Of the miscellaneous exhibits. IheE may
y. commended as presenting such admirable record
OF scenes as the most competent photographer anu
nrocess engraver can be expected 10 give
n, the remaking into English of books by Dumas
.,ers ,s we are glad 10 say no end. The series vi
translatons issued by Little. Brown 4 CO. pro
crosses admirably and IL very acceptance. i.s a.
volumes brought out very opportuneiy' hcu"e Wv
,wo Napoleonic romances. THE Companions oi
Jehu' and THE Whites and the blues a'so ~
v.ndean and Italian tales known respectively AZ
1.-The She-Wolves OF Machecoul' and Inc oorS-
can Brothers" In every one OF these oooAs "
Is the torrent Of movement, there Is the ie','y
feeling there Is the almost poetic glamour "'i'0'
enthor commanded with scarcely an eHor' OF '"e
nil II is true that they among his Iesser-klo"
works that they have not In It's 1aultiess ue.'
that peculiar bloom OF romantic ART iiean WV"
.ounds and sights OF a bright windy morning WIN"
aimee q unioue radiance over the DArtagnan mas
,ern,eces The last story, in iacl Ill 'he ''N W.
umes under review. is a perfect ilius'rauoh Vi ~
.. IN his most methodical and least spontaneous
vein Yet even in The Corsican bro'hers '"e
narrative power is und!minished the '"'e'e.' %
Mot Ia held UP to concert pitch to the yer! last Oh.
ono laws down the book with the same regret tna'
marks the ending of every perusal or dumas o''
,rps, walt AT least a summer before taking up 'he
story again To go back 10 1t Is rehoeieu 81
cial,y inviting by the volumes IN THIS eoi'ioi' ~
translation is intelligent and the pupishers ia,
treated 1t according TO It's Deserts inc go,
hound octavos are convenient in size ana weight
o,d they are made OF well-printed pages OF lair
naner. The Illustrations would better have oeeh
omitted saving perhaps the more eareiu"' IT,
produced frontispieces
,,.r. s a eood deal OF sodly bookish investiga-
,ion in mart third Of photographer CCharie'
Scr,bner's Sons) and there are one or TWO ue"e
fu papers Of less serious character 10 give '"e
tex, lightness and vivacity Among 'ne .
there is one essay Of special interest 10 ul'e''"
on this side of the Atlantic. The details OF spaiS"
Aar,can history literary or otherwise. must al
NAYS have a close significance for us, and Dr. Gar
nett will be thanked for introducing IN TINS pe''o
cal the Senior Jose Medina, who has compleu "
photography Of Paraguayan and Argentine Hle'd-
ture The account OF the printing OF the hrs' az"
c,,avan book makes charming reading. MI rIe'che'
,hefi iDfOrnllnBy
roond BadIer cOntempocary lie Gascoh' WIN
was less capable binder than mat ho'eo ''aS'e''
hut was nevertheless enough OF a Craftsman " ue
serve rescue from the oblivion into when lie Hau
lapsed The beautiful reproduction here gwen GER
,ainlv shows him TO have been more than Ordinary
ar,,st Another forgotten celebrity of different
sort Is praised by Mr.. Housman. He writes OF
Arthur Boyd Houghton, an English illustrator WIN
worked for the Dalzells in the pre-RaphaeHte ua!s
when that enterprising house was the chef support
Of PinwelI Walker, Millas and the subject OF MI
IJousman's euogy 1t is perhaps. too much OF
eulogy II is explained partially by Mr. Housmah
personal taste. He shows us now, In his reproduc-
lions of Houghton's drawings, where ne FORMED
his own style. But 1t must be admitted that ne
chose a good master. Houghton had a facile pen
which he trained to a fine simplicity and dignity OF
s,v,e He was a good designer. and showed both
Imagination and manual ceverness in his Work.
We doubt II Mr.. Housman revves palpitauhe
interest In him. yet he will awaken curiosity as 10
deceased
more serious consideration than they have hitherto
enjoyed.
We have touched upon only few OF the read
able papers in this beautiful periodical The text
and Illustrations quite worthy OF the standard
set In the first number. and in manufacture BIB
biographical is now. as 1t was then. quite the most
luxurious and artistic magazine OF its sort when
England or America has ever produced.
The volume OF THE Century" which has just APP
in no numbers from
May 10 October. inclusive. shows one rather strik
ing departure Ii r. without that great serial feat
ure which has belonged TO the magazine for some
years past. and being resumed in Professor
Sloane's papers Napoleon. The nearest thing
OF the sort the present volume has 70 offer Is
the interesting record Of bicycle trip across Asia
made by Mr. Thomas Gaskell Allen and Mr.. William
Lewis Sachteben. This is the modest narrative OF
two eager travellers whose intrepdity was only
equalled by their good humor. 1t Is an entirely
ght-h and matter-of-fact chronicle whose
pages II Is a pleasure 10 turn again. and whose
pictures are numerous and Of permanent value.
In a pictorial way the whole volume before us is
brought well up 10 "The Century's" familiar stand
ard OF freshness and artistic finish Several paint
ers have been discussed and illustrated within It's
limits Dagnan Bouvere., James Tisso; Boutet de
Monvel. and three four Americans in the series
Of brief monographs which has been running for
some time. IN the other departments also much
good work has been done. Mr. Woodberry. In his
interesting papers Poes correspondence, has
been cleverly seconded BY Mr.. Sterner's brush and
Cas,agnes illustrations to Mr.. Crawford's article
on Washington are as good the text. The vol
urne has as usual, a crowded lis: OF timely articles
on divers matters with essays In fiction and verse
that have given enjoyment in the past, and may
give Il, again that the six months miscellany
Is in condition to be put upon the shelf with other
stout volumes OF reference
op tUhi no