The herald., 1898-09-11
BOOKS AND THEIR MAKERS

who was anxious to bet that he was tn
most bilious man in the state!
But, whatever may have been felt as Il
the distinction conferred by ordinary all
men!s, It never has been disputed that tn,
gout has tone above all the common anc
in this volume we have the literature of tn,
whole subject. In their order we find tn,
different phases of the complaint treated
under these heads: 1.-The Malady." "Tht
Theory" 1.-THE Paltiatives." "The Regi.
men," 1.-The Prescribed Fluids" 1.-The
Quandany" and 1.-The Introduction." The
arrangement of the matter of the book is
excellent. and it has very fun index
There never was a remedy for this com
plant that is not here referred to; nor IS
there the smallest detail as to diet that is
rot touched upon, while many pages are
given TO the matter of wines PORT ard
burgundy are summarily condemned 1.
| IS port
THAT keepst the ports of slumber open
wide
To many q watchful night;
while
burgundy rose! Burgundy rose,
'Ts a very bad thing at the tips Of your
toes"
L he ItiIdlI VI lHt NOIuHlt Is TdlHtI sdt,
snd the author has the grace to say chat
he fareth best who boldly takes the case
into his own hardS. rather than fotlow cost
ly fashions. "The Introduction'' is exceed
|irgly philosophical and assuring. on the
whole. The sufferer IS advised to ro:e the
many Ills that flesh is heir to, which are
worse than his own! To this end. he car
read med ,cal treatises to advantage. AN
his ponderngs will in the end make It clear
that "one must pay the penalty Of living"
and what can man live long enough to
know, except that he is born to die?'
In alf ways, it is curioRsy attractive
volume. The fron;ispece decoration is very
ouaiut and artistic, and It is interesting in
every page. though much of It cannot be
taken seriously.
THE MUSICAL DRAMAS OF RICHARD
WAGNER, AND HIS FESTIVAL.
THEATER IN BAYREUTH. BY AL
bert Lavigpac. professor of harmony at
the Conservatcre at Paris. Transla ed
from the French by Esther Singleton.
With illustrations and diagrams. Price,
$50 Dodd. Mead & Co., New York
One expects much from such an authnr
and such theme. ard he is not disappoint-
ed. Ii is a splendid volume and a distinct
and notable addition 20 Wagnerian liter
atNre. The author is a devout adm.rer of
the great composer, and has gone TO the
heart of thi7gs by beginning his work
among the scenes of the Masters" tri-
umrhs. 1t is labor Of love. and the read
er at once feels that he Is reading some
thing genuine and written for al time
The volume. to begin with. is a complete
guide to Beyreuth. and the author tries to
prepare the journeyer thither to appreci-
ate what he is to see and hear. The gree
theater wherein have been produced tn.
masters works is minutely described. even
to diagrams Of all portions of the structure.
and one is also made to feel at home in the
little city itself. The most touching pas
sages in the volume are those relating to
the season of utter discoura cement that
ture seemed a blank and his heart almost
died within him. But sudden as the awak- |
en!ng from a terrible dream, all came
back in the glorious friendship of the young
king of Bavaria, who. fifteen days after his
accession to the throne, became his friend
and patron in all his undertakings.
Besides the chapters Of general biography
and the authors residence in Bayreuth in |
particular. supplemented by history of
the famous theater there is a remarkably
full and intelligent analysis of the poems |
and ;he music, many passages from the |
words and the score being given. which |
must be of the utmost advantage to the |
musical reader; while the whole volume is
illustrated
In the closing chapter on Interpretation
the author says: The Wagnerian inter-
prefer mus: be endowed with rare and |