New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-07


BILE character is THE London Burial Grounds"
by Mrs. Basil Holmes with the difference that
the text is freer in its range and can be read with
more interest away from the scenes 1t describes.
In London travellers will find its lore helpfully
arranged, and. withal. dverting Ii is a guide
book without a guide-books dryness. The illus
trations are admirable. In "Reminiscences OF
Literary London from 1919 to 1872 we have a
great deal of personalia dealing with publishers
booksellers and auctioneers written by two men
who were widely acquainted in London and
wrote agreeably. There good random notes
on bookish localities. and in its discursve, minor
way, this is a welcome addition to the literature
of London. 1t was written in 1855 and privately
printed. 1t is now given a wider circulation for
the first time in well-made form.
When Dean Hole wrote "A Little Tour in Ire
land he was a young Oxonian, and even gayer
than he has proven himself to be in those later
books which have given him his literary fame.
He told number of stories but he more
Of young man having a good time with his
friend, John Leech, than the slightly garrulous,
slightly boresome ecclesiastic who nowadays
comes to America to lecture. On the whole. we
like him quite well r his first book as in his
last-in fact, we like him a little better. His
egotism is not mellow. but neither is it
The latter are full of fun and character 1t is
worth while buying the book for their sake
alone In the case Of the new edition of "A
Window in Thrums' we are not sure but
the illustrations should have been omitted Mr..
Clifton Johnson is a skiful photographer, but
there is a sickness about his pictures which Ill
accords with the unconventional outline and
brisk spirit of Mr.. Barries captivating text.
The handsome reissue of Stevenson's "Edin-
burgh" we arc glad to see He wrote well of his
beloved city, and while the delicacy of his rhet-
oric Is as subtle as ever there is strong back
bone to the book, and the rough dignity of Edn-
burgh energies Enthusiastically from the most
graceful and romantic of the pages. Mr.. Ham
ilton Crawford's drawings are artistic produc-
TONS and the book is altogether imposing in its
handsome green binding. 1t should be noted in
connection with this that the new volume enti-
tied THE South Seas is a reprint of those Jour-
nalistic papers which Stevenson published in
1S91 giving impressions gathered through three
different voyages. They do not rank among his
best productions. but his admirers will be glad
to have them in book form. They have not been
printed in such form before.
The value OF Mr.. Stuart Henry's Paris DAYS
and Evenings" If II had any value would have
to consist in pretty way of handling sub
jects Of no great Importance. 1t aims at being
a vivacious book: but Mr.. Henry is not viva
cious with much effect. and he treats of read
able things without being readable. He might
learn "how it is done" by reading MY VII
lage" by Z. Boyd Smith This successfully
makes the most of the little things in a small
French settlement. The author sketches char
acter with pen and pencil. and there is a spon-
taneous lghtress about both his pictures and
ia tbo
not to be regretted. Mr. Smith has observa-
ton and he has humor. Best of all, he has a
faculty for condensation. and though his many
sketches make the book stretch to more than
three hundred pages. it is really brief series
Of chapters and one is beguiled from beginning
to end before one knows Il. 1t is interesting
to compare my Village" with the book
Rustic Life in France" which Miss Helen
Dole has translated from Andre Theuriet. The
Frenchman has more solid information to CON
vey and he writes well that ii would be
absurd to say that Mr.. Smith wrote better. But
the American. nevertheless. has a converse
tional note which the Frenchman might not
disdain NJ. Theuriet 10 illustrated by NJ. Leon
Lhermitte. an artist who untes to keen sym
pathy for rustic themes mastery technique
The book IL we'll manufactured and should he
cordially received.
Mr. Lawrence Hutton has done well TO fol-
low up his invaluable little volume the
Literary Landmarks Of London and his COM
panion volume Edinburgh. by a booklet of
the same character on Venice. The pages OF
this. though few. are comprehensive; and Mr.
Du Monds Illustrations adequate. II some
what too romantic A further publication on
the literary landmarks Of Florence Is conten-
plated. we believe. and 1t Is to be desired that
Mr.. Hutton should continue his researches. a
book on Rome would fit well into his series
The essay the Literary Landmarks Of Je-
rusalem." which he has republished. is con-
scentous work. but not Of much value
the others already printed The STEAMBOAT
Edition Of Signo- de Amics. "Constantinople."
Is obviously an opposite production. Every one
has been thinking OF the Oriental city,
less, and many will be relieved moreover. to
see it through eyes unfamiliar with It's re-
cent horrible aspects. Our Italian globe -trotter
Is before all else a romancer. and he has
In Constantinoplc the city Of dreams, the
strange picture which has touched the magina-
ton Of poets and historians He always writes
In a persuasive vein. and he is at his best in
this book The present edition Is well and
copiously illustrated and is bound In a becom-
ingly ornate cover. The "Kokoro' of Lafcadio
Hearn is unadorned by single drawing. but
not a page Of 1t IL without color and pictur-
esqueness. Rich as It H. In the most sympa-
thetic accounts Of what Is most characteristic
and most quaint In Japan. it supplies a sue
cession OF delightful sketches upon which we
may appropriately terminate this brief account
Of books based upon scenes brought from the
four corners OF the earth.
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