The record-union., 1897-04-25

the subject matter, the great impor-
lance to the study of architecture OF
the Italian Renaissance and of the sue
ceeding styles of these Roman palaces
and churches cannot be doubted. Every
course of study in which tradition is
strong takes this book into account
as one of its chief aids: and vet the
! subject calls for the farther aid of the
photograph. Since LIE Tarouilly's death
| there have been published many books
in which Photographic illustration has
been used side by side with linear and
measured drawings. Such books as
Reinhardt's book on Genoa will occur
to every one; and such superb monu-
ment as the great folio work on the
Renaissance in Tuscany shows what
may be done by this double process
this mingling of the new and the old.
1t must have been with some such
thought that the present work was be-
gun, for it supplies the 100 plates in
Lichtdruck," which seemed most es-
sential for the complete understanding
of LIE Tarouilly's text. The suspicion
that this valuable book is less known
than it should be is the cause of this
belated notice.
1t was long ago admitted there is
nothing new under the sun and that es-
pecially of the art of b0olmaking
there is no end, but Charles Whibley's
"A Book of Scoundrels," is anything
but commonplace. He describes the
careers and chievements of certain no
torious malefactors who have been
chosen for presentment on account of
| their style and picturesqueness They
are of all ages and several countries,
and that variety may not be lacking,
Cartouche and Peace, Moll Catpurse
and the Able Bruneau come within
the same covers. Where it has seemed
convenient the method of Plutarch is
followed, and the style and method of
two similar scoundrels are contrasted
in parallel" Jack Sheppard in the
stoneroom of Newgate, reproduced
from an old print, serves as frontis-
piece.
Amelia E. Barr, after twenty years of
happy married life, was left q widow
with three little girls to provide for
Teaching was the only thing she knew
how to do. A friend of her husband
gave her a cottage on his country place,
and she fitted her two sons for college.
One day a friend said to Mrs. Barr: IF
you could write as we'll as you talk you
could make money by it," AS money
was an important matter with her she
soon put the suggestion to a practical
test. She began with short stories,
which met with a ready sale. Then she
wrote Sunday-choOl books which met
with some little success. One day she
walked into a New York publishing
house with the manuscript of a novel
under her arm. The manuscript was
given to a reader, who made most IA
vorable report, and before long Jan
Vedder's Wife" was published. The
book met with instant success. That
was in 1884, and ever since that time
Mrs. Barr has held a high place in the
world of letters. From childhood Anna
Katherine Green delighted in plots that
call for skill in the unraveling, but she
was woman of mature years before
she ever thought of making use of
them in a literary way. One day she
heard of a plot that interested her
greatly, and she was about to send it
to a friend who could make a story of
it, when someone suggested: Why
don't you make use of it yourself ?'
She resolved to make the attempt She
wrote and revised almost daily for two
years, and the result was THE Leaven-
worth Case" She sent the manuscript
to a New York firm and they agreed to
accept it if she would cut it down. She
did so, and it was published The book
was hit from the first. In all editions
is has probably had a sale of quarter
of a million comics