New-York tribune., 1900-12-15

uons II is difficult 10 lay down an absolute
rule in this province. In some cases the mature
reader can look on with patience while the
masterpiece he cherishes IS brought within the
scope OF adolescent minds: in others he is
cited 10 wrath. and in still others he is merely
Indifferent. The books enumerated above are
Illustrative Of the various kinds In preparing
their Wonder Stories from Herodotus, Messrs.
Boden and D'Almeida Justify themselves TO the
satisfaction Of the critic. Herodotus is on the
whole, scarcely an author for the nursery but
no violence is done TO him in taking the story
OF Arion ana the Dolphin from his pages or in
drawing upon him for account of Croesus, or
Of Ladronius the Prince Of Thieves. Moreover,
in this instance the work has been well done.
the stories are really very well told the pict-
ures in colors are artistic productions. and that
child, in short, ought 10 be grateful in whose
hands this book is placed We doubt. however.
his appreciating The Adventures Of Odysseus
Retod In English" by Messrs Marvin. Mayer
and StawelL The authors undertake ito repro
duce the substance Of Homer's Odyssey in simple
modern English" The ambition is legitimate
enough, but though some of the descriptive pas
sages are well done. notably that which shows
Calypso surprised in her cave by Hermes, the
narrative u.s. IN the main. wanting in the sim
plicity and directness which would make il in
aftenut
made. are told, to preserve the Homeric
spirit, but have failed 10 identify il either
in the text in Mr.. Robrson's otherwise excel
lent drawings This, in fact Is one Of the books
that leave Us Indifferent We do not object to
having this use made Of Homer. but the work
ought 70 be better done if il is done at all.
Mr. Mabie's Morse Stories Retold from tn.
Eddas' We can cordially commend The book,
IL appears, was first printed in 1852. II deserves
new edition. The substance Of the text makes
good reading for boys, and Mr. Mabie deals with
II in the right way. We particularly value the
common sense which is shown, not only in the
straightforward management Of the narrative
but IN the simple English diction We have
fairly friendly feeling toward Miss MacLeod's s
collection Of stories from Sir Thomas Mallory
The beauty Of the wildwood which we get from
the "Morte D'Arthur" itself is missing from this
version. and Il is important that we cannot
regard its absence with approval: a boy or
girl Of imagination, moreover. is quite capable
Of deriving benefit from the book without the
intervention OF any modern scribe. But. on the
other hand, something OF Mslorys quality has
got into Miss MacLeods pages. The nlustra-
uons are acceptable. and when all Is said and
done We feel that must admit this 10 the
group OF desirable variations for the nursery on
classical themes
Judge Parry retells the masterpiece OF Ger
Nantes, with some reliance on the translations
of shelton and others. but with more confidence
IN mis- own ability 70 give in simple narrative
form the adventures OF knight ana squire. with
as much OF the wisdom and humor they possess
a. would be within the grasp OF the younger
generation OF readers" He thinks that merely
because his version is appended 10 Mr. Walter
Cranes Illustrations Il needs no apology. We
cannot look al IL that way. The drawings give
him particularly weak reed 10 lean upon They
are toierhbie as color drawings go. but they are
hopelessly Intellectual es Illustrations 10 Don
ouizots. But this is under any circumstances
shs sort OF enterprise with which We have no
patienes whatever. no child is important enough
70 Deserve that Donouixote should be butchered
70 make him hol y; and that is what Judge
Party has done. alzing this version he has
outchereo the I've want no version"
save that OF 7aimself. or. at lest a
EsEA-Afion ~ ie in full n one