The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-31

humorous JnlQSSJs SIf1lle at al witty
things, and be content to find some
thing wholesome and profitable, even in
a Jest is the advice that Mr.. Walter
Jerrold happily quotes on the fy-leaf
| Of the "Bon- -Mots of the Nineteenth
| Century" This dainty little white
| book of epigrams is the fifth in. the
series edited by Mr.. Jerrold, and this
| multiplication of the supply suggests
the greatness of the demand for such
things when they are we'll done. We
believe that, for pickup book, these
bon mots are worthy Of success, but,
having just read the book from begin
ming to end-a thing we were never
expected to dove feel that we have
eaten a whole bottle Of assorted pick
| les and are in no mood to pass judg-
| ment upon their respective f1avors. In
deed, our condition is aptly described
in one of the epigrams: Some one
| having asked, Is not Geneva dull? 2
Yes said Talleyrand, especially when
| they amuse themselves.
The wit of the passing century, how
ever, when not taken in too large
| and this little volume suggests itself
for holiday use.
('fBon-Mots of the Nineteenth Century,,
edited by Walter Jerrold, with grotesques by
Alice Woodward. The Macmillan company,
Psu1 ReM BOOK and d statonery fef5 eompany
A strange and weird little allegory is
"The Statue in the Air." by Caroline
Eaton LIE Conte. Obscure. frequent
ly, and wrapped in an additional mist
Of metaphor within metaphor, one
must have a failing for fgurative ex-
preston to keep one long enough at
this prose idyl to discover its occa-
sional but real beauties. The diction
is highly Latinized, and the style some
what f1orid, although a number of
word pictures, both intense and effect
i've, are to be found, we cannot but be-
lieVe that the charming myth, if more
simply treated, would gain in force
what it would lose in f1oweriness, and,
though less obscure, at times, it need
not be less mysterious and weird
(''The Statue in the Air" by. Caroline
Eaton LIE Conte. The Macmillan company,
8eT Ron and 70 staonerp EQr aalH ny
"A charming gift book for for
tunes little favorites is 1.-THE Vege-
Mems Revenge" by Florence K, Up
ton. A dozen or more full page re-
productions from water-color sketches
and as many more little sepia vignettes
scattered through the verses are as
clever in idea and technique as any
thing We have ever seen in child's
book. The nonsense verses by Bertha
Upton that accompany the pictures
are sprightly and amusing, but are
very far from being as good in their
way as the color sketches are in theirs.
The rhythm of these jingles at times
suggests that Dryden's "Alexander's
Feast is parodied, and the intentional
parallel between the great model and
the ode of the Vege- Mems kingdom
each the celebration of a conqueror's
feast-has for groWn-ups the added
amusement that comes from the dar-
ing contrast Of the sublime and the
ridiculous. Sufficient for the child
possessor, however, will be the jingling
lines which tell of Poppykin's expert
ence among the cruel vegetable men
so realistically pictured in the clever
color sketches-and the mad account
Of the feast she most unwillingly at
tended as an honored presence, but not
as either hostess or guest.
ence K. Upton, verses by Bertha Upton,
Longmans Green Co., New York. $1,000
yellow Beauty is pretty little
story of a cat family-a story that
will interest little folk by it's happiness
and pathos all charmingly mixed up
with California sunshine and rain. The
illustrations are reproductions in color
of six of Henriette Ronner's famous
cat pictures and numerous clever little
pen and ink drawings scattered
through the list. The book is certain
ly most desirable Christmas gift for
a little cat-lover.
C'Yellow Beauty" by Marion Martin. with
illustrations reproduced from paintings by
Henriette Ronner. Laird & Lee, Chicago. 80
cpntS-1