New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-17
CHRISTMAS BOOKS.
A GOOD DEVOTIONAL sToRY-MR NlCH-
oLsoN's PICTURES OF LONDON TYPES
SKETCH BoOKs-CALENDARs
AND CHRISTMAS CARDS.


AND CHRISTMAS CARDS.
DR. Henry van Dyke has written In The
Lost Word" (Charles Scrbners Sons) one OF the
best pieces of devotional literature FOR the
Christmas holidays that we have seen IN MANY
long day. There is nothing maudlin nor tact
less in this little hook. The tone Is poetic anu
imaginative; IL IL also bracing. The author mas
kent close 10 human nature. and though 'ne
scene of his tale is laid in Antioch nfteen nun
drea wears ago he contrives give it vitality
and make it sympathetic. Hermas the you"e
napan. who is converted to Christianity, then
becomes wearied Of his new religion, ana mar
tiers his knowledge Of the name Of its founder
Gov q re,urn If his old prosperity and material
hanniness. ia clearly and picturesquely drawn
The Mot is managed with slightly dramauc
touch and holds the attention Of the reader 10
the end Mr. Linson's illustr- ions are eooo'
and the book is prettily made Altogether, Inc
Lost Word" is a reverent, healthy. manly tribute
70 the Christmas spirit. which every one VINO IL
interested in the imaginative treatment OF re-
ncious topics will find wholly admirable.
In the Forest OF Arden" is KIND OF chas'
ened prose rhapsody the poetry OF nature I'D
which Mr. Hamilton Wright Mabie has reVeaieo
at once a love of the open air and keen sense
His
get from happy lounging under the greenwood
,raA His pages have been made into hand
some booklet by Dodd. Mead & Co. with Illus
trations and decorative borders by VIII n. Low
Both plates and decorations are printed IN
delicate tint and the book has rich pino'he
IN green and gold. 1t is a charming little Keep
sake both in text and picture
Mr.. William Nicholson is lucky in bis collaoo-
in n s
bet" that his art had exceptional picturesque
ness and force he easily secured Mr. Rudyaro
Killings assistance in the preparation OF All
Almanac Of Twelve Sports" and now he pun
fishes book of London Types" (R H. RusselD'
for which Mr. w f. Henley has written some
amusing verses. OF Mr.. Nicholsons style we
have spoken in praise more than once. IL Is
simplicity itself. affair Of broad masses Oh
tone with the structure Of the hgure proueh'
out by a disposition Of lights and shaoows DIS
cunning as it is bold. In his latest volume ne
portrays the barmaid the f1ower-girl the can
man the newsboy. the buecoat boy. the
"bobbv." the guardsman AIRY and 'Arriet. and
other familiar figures of London daily life he
sketches them with originality and truth. max
ing a picture book which is admirable merely
as a matter Of art and valuable as record
AS for Mr. Henleys verses, they show sym
pathetic spirit in the celebration OF everyday
Londons most piquant denizens and nimpie
touch in the introduction of popular names into
the quatorzains. These are the lines ne mas
written for the picture Of the bluecoat boy:
So went our boys when Edward Sixth, the King.
Chartered Christ's Hospital and died And so
Full fifteen generations in string
OF heirs TO his bequest have had TO GO
Thus Camden showed. and Barnes, and Sitting
feet.
And Richardson. that bade Lovelace he;
The little Ella thus in Newgate Street
Thus to his Genevieve young :. T. {.
With thousands else that. wandering up anu
down.
Quaint privileged. liked and reputed we'll
Made the great School part of London Town
Patent as Pauls and vital as Bow Bell:
The old School nearing exile day by day.
To certain clay-ands somewhere Horsnam way
Mr. Russell sends us another pcture-book
with the title of Sketches and Cartoons. by
Charles Dana Gibson. The only point about 1t
to which we take exception Is that IT contains
just enough Of designs in the series dedicated TO
THE Education of Mr. Pipp" TO make us wish
that the whole number could have been nclud-
ed Mr. Gibson has done nothing better than
these drawings. They full Of character and
neat satire and technically they show his gifts
at their easiest and most brilliant. But we must
admit that the Incompetence of the "Mr. Pipp"
set is atoned for by the remaining sketches in
the book, which also marx an ADVANCE IN tne
draughtsman's development There is more
variety in his work and often. in the figure
drawn upon the cover there is more linear
charm. We must add word Of commentator
for the presswork which has been lavished upon
his art Paper and print are precisely what Mr.
Gibson's work required in order 10 appear 10 the
best possible advantage. The reproductions are
entirely satisfactory equivalents for the original
drawings.
A number Of drawings by Mr. Gibson appear
In LIES Comedy. Third Series (Chares Serb
ners sons but this uproarious miscellany ia
enriched by contributions from score Of other
caricaturists besides. Every wise person has. Of
course read Life" during the year and will
find in this book pictures and Jokes which he
has met before but being wise he will rejoice
that he has encountered his old friends again.
and II is very pleasant to have these sketches
in such compact form. with no text beyond the
terse legend printed beneath each one
e r Herrck & Co send three fat. OBJ
long picture books bound in vivid green and
bearing the words Drawings by c. Howard
Johnson" Drawings by Thulstrup' and
Drawings by w. Granville Smith" We find
on turning 10 the title page of each volume the
added words. And Others" the artist honored
the cover having several companions. All
the draughtsmen made their sketches originally
for Truth In that periodical they saw their
efforts printed in glowing colors Now. In book
form. they treated with even more care.
The colors are no more vivid perhaps. but the
paper used IS perfectly adapted TO the purpose
and the careful presswork has brought out
every nuance Of the brush. The subjects are
drawn chiefly from fashionable life. Some are
tal and all xriXa-
cous Time was when illustrators their
work buried forever in the files Of the papers
on which they employed. Now they are
sure Of reappearing upon the scene, more elabo-
ratey bedecked than ever. II is a good thing.
great deal of this casual work is worth