The record-union., 1896-12-06

William Doxey, publisher, San Fran
cisco, has issued handsome volume en-
titled Tales of Languedoc," belng Iolk-
lore stories Of the South OF france, ny
Samuel Jacques Brun, Assistant FRO
feSSor Of French, Leland STANFORD Jf.
University, with an Introduction py
Harriet w. Preston, and upward OF
forty charming illustrations by ernest
Peixotto. Price, 50. This handsome
volume proves, if proof were necessary
that California can produce as nano-
some volumes as any sent out py oluer
communities. In this exquisite DOCK OF
fairy tales, M. Brun has given us sorne-
thing new, valuable and entertaining IN
literature. Interest in the study OF
folklore Is growing to the extent that
Cne may not consider himself we'll
versed without intelligent knowledge of
this fascinating branch of bellies lettres.
The provinces of Southern France are
rich field of reminiscent folklore, and
these tales Of Languedoc are written by
one born and reared in the midst or
them; hence, every touch OF the simple,
homely life of the peasantry is a true
one. A blend Of quaint superstitions
and beautiful fancies, the traditions re-
main as purely original and free of
change as the customs of the provinces
and the colts of the humble women, be-
ing handed down from parents to chill
dren, through generations.
1t is certain that many, if not all the
tales in this collection, are repeated in
Print here for the first time, as they
We're related to the writer by an octo-
genarian great-uncle, whose memory re-
verted to the days of the great revolu
ton, and knew every foot of ground and
every popularity Of people in this ro
nance land.
The tales are sweet, wholesome and
attractive as fairy creations, were they
purely imaginative, but when we con-
slider that they preserve for us an actual
and distinctive element in peasant life
IL this most delightsome nook Of sunny
France, the incompatible value of a
faithful and reliable work like this one
by Professor Brun to student, general
reader and conversationalist, becomes
emphatically manifest.
The illustrations are of Ernest Peix-
otto's best work, and Peixotto is an
artist who confessedly, takes rank with
Pennen and Verge. He has studied
scene and character in Languedoc, and
his designs are finely sympathetic with
the text. The introduction, by Harriet
w. Preston, whose translations of Mis-
trails writings have made them dear to
English readers, is fitting prelude to the
entertainment that follows.
Legends of the Virgin and Christ
by II. A. Guerber, author Of Stories of
the Wagner Opera" Myths of An
cient Rome" etc., ETC. Fully illustrated.
12mo., cloth, gilt top, 81 80. Oodd,
Mead & Co., New York; In visiting the
art galleries at home or abroad, we
find countless pictures of Christ and the
Virgin Mary. Some of the most ia
nous paintings are based upon, or give
some hint of the numerous legends con-
cerning mother and son, which were so
very popular during the middle ages.
These legends undoubtedly at one epoch
satisfied the child-like curiosity of the
people anxious to know more about the
subject than could be found in the
brief, but authentic, spiritual account
of the Savior's life. Miss Guerber has
admirably succeeded in disentangling
the woven threads Of these legends
from the mass of sacred poetry and
song, and has here given us a very sue
cessful and logical presentation of some
Of the more important of them The
work, however, Is neither an education
al one nor Is 1t a study Of interpreta-
ton, but the subject has been treated
only from a legendary and picturesque
point of view, and especially is 1t ad-
ynirable in it's fine analysis Of the mo-
fives of the worlds greatest painters
fn depicting sacred subjects. The IL
Illustrations, some twenty in number
are admirable, and do much to make
I'D a holiday book Of no little beauty
and interest.
The Story of Hannah" by Rev. w
J. Dawson, author of the Redemption
of Edward Strahan" aud 'Londor
Idylls." limo, illustrated, 81 90 (Dodd
Mead &, Co., New York; This tale by
Mr.. Dawson is largely the result OF
studies which produced his London
IdyIls." II retains the idyllic note, but
the scene is removed to remote vii
lage. and the theme is the life of o
girl in a Nonconfornist manse thirty
years ago. In spite OF the depreciation
of Hazlitt, Mr.. Dawson believes that
there must be ample material in Eng
Hsh life for true idyll of dissent and
that there are English villages which
can furnish very fair analogues &c
"Thrunns" and "Drumtochty." Mr.
Dawson has already had an honorable
career as a clergyman, and as tht
author of several works in poetry, crit
icism, practical religion and fiction. His
first effort in fiction, called The Re
demption of Edward Strahan." writer
about five years ago, convinced hin
that his equipment for novel writins
was not yet complete, and he wrote hi:
next book, London Idylls' (Which at
tracted a great deal Of attention., as {
preparatory study for larger wori
and as a training for the story which
IS now published. In this novel HI
strikes a surer and stronger note, anf
we believe that If the process Of de
velopment which he has thus far shown
shouId be continued. we shall one da!
see in him one Of the most importan
writer's of contemporary English fc
ton.
"a puritan,s Wife" by Max Pember
ton. author of "The Little Huguenot,
etc. 12no. cloth, 81 25. Dodd, Meat
& Co. New York. The story OF ~
Puritan's Wife" deals with the histor.
of a Puritan who returns to Englanf
at the time OF the Restoration. but i
not included in the amnesty granted b,
Charles the Second to many promsnen
Roundheads. 1t Is love story 0
which the heroine is a noblewomal
who took shelter with the hero's fam