The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-14
HOLIDAY BOOKS.

Ia the nature of a Christmas treat Is
another beautiful book of japanese
studies and sketches from the graceful
pen of Lafcadio Hearn entitled In
Ghostly Japan Little, Brown & Coz.
Prof. Hearn has not yet partaken of
the commercial spirit which we are
told Is now just animating our Japan
ese cousins and tending TO overthrow
the artistic sense, but i'm this eXquisite
volume OF essays, poetry and proverbs
he continues TO give Us glimpses OF the
japanese atmosphere such as IL was
before our Commodore Perry with his
guns Commanded coming down 10
earth and which still exists throughout
Japan, at least outside the busy ports
and naval and military arsenals Whlch
today fringe this fairy land OF human
existence fun OF Witchcry, mysticism
and a charm that only rev writers
have been able To- seize upon ana trans
late for rs. It is not easy to describe
a work of this Fort Indeed no under
take 10 make scenario of Prof.
Hearn's dreamy and improssiOnistic
pages would amount almost 90 sacrl-
lege TO an ever wider circle OF read
ers his gentle art picturing gentle
people, both i'm his art and his suoJe-1
unlike anything i'm our book maklhE,
appeals and this new volume is Dpuhd
TO be- most welcome. Especially Nalu-
able will be lhese works I'm the years
20 come when our Japanese cousins are
transferred into ordinary every Gay
beings by what we like 90 call the clhl-
Iizing process. For Japan seems 90 De
surely getting away from dreamlahd
even though Prof. Hcarn as yet de-
clines 90 admit IT, For which we may
al be profoundly grateful. price 50
Miss Alice Morse Earle, who has al
ready written delightfully."- and inform
ingly OF life customs and fashion I'm the
oIden times. provides an exquisite and
especially fe-,hing survey i'm a new vol
ume called Child Life i'm Colonial
Days" Crhe Macmillan Company. The
child in history as the author observes
iu her preface is almost unknown OK
Cept for such brief glimpses as may he
afforded by reference To the childhood
Of a particular figure whose biography
Is written. Especially was the child
of ulden days "tO be seen. not tu De
heard. Bur In this book the author
has managed TO assemble a great deal
about child life In the early days or
our country and one cannot fail TO be
Interested i'm the description herein con-
taincd while these also serve TO ulu-
inmate the domestic and social life OF
the times as well as throw side lights
on their larger history. As a compila-
tion of authentic records OF childhood
the book is remarkable Nowhere. prou-
ably. is there so much on the subject
gathered together Most curious ana
entertaining are the pen pictures. The
little tales and anecdotes. the illustrd-
tive documents. The collection or pOr-
traits of children i'm quaint costumes OF
the period ana Of many things that had
to do with them Is simply astounding
ana OF great interest. There are nearly |
TWO hundred sketches, reproductions OF !
portraits and copies Of rare prints and !
documents collected from widely scat I
erred sources The publishers have |
fashioned the book beautifully. II |
makes superb Gift book, something %
interest the child or the grown person I
nd OF permanent value Altogether II
an admirable production. (For sale
y Preston q Rounds Price $500
l. ft, I |