The Washington times., 1901-11-10

S200}
The mention of a new edition of Alice
in Wonderland" with illustrations by
Peter Newell. will be all that is needed
to awaken feelings of rapture in the
breasts of those who know what Mr..
Newell can do in plcture-making. If there
are any who do not. it is time they sought
an introduction to this artists work, and
he has done nothing better than his pic
lures of Alice and her companions in
Wonderland.
There is one especially satisfactory
thing about these pictures: there are
enough of them. This particular classic
was intended to have a portrait of every
individual mentioned, and a representa-
tion of every important scene; and this
makes the pictures come along at inter-
vais of three or four pages on an aver
age.
Mr. Newell has wisely adhered to the
type originated by Tenniel in drawing
Alice. She is still the slender, wide-eyed,
gentle yet spirited creature of the orig
inal drawings, with her long, soft hair
combed back from her fair little face,
and her quaia: decollete gown, and
little black slippers. But there is a deli
cate whimsicality about Mr.. Newell's
Alice which adds n new charm to the
conception. This Alice seems to have
faint suspicion of the absurdity OF the
adventures through which she is passing
and the intense seriousness of Mr.. Ten
nicls creation is softened by little
breath of American humor. Mr.. Newell
being an American, suspects that Alice
had a sort of intuitive understanding of
the situation, and was making believe so
earnestly that she ended by believing it
all In short. there is just the difference
between Mr.. Newell's Alice and the hero
inc created by the famous London carica-
turist that there Is between English and
American humor, between Punch and
Life" The essence of English humor is
that the joker never knows how funny
he Is; the quintessence Of American
humor is that he does, and enjoys the
Joke just as much as anybody else.
As for the creatures. they are perfect,
from the Duchess to the vanishing point
of the Cheshire Cat Most children will
hunt Immediately for the picture of the
Tea-Party, and they Will find in 1t the
softest, sleepiest. most fascinating Dor
mouse conceivable The picture Of the
crCquet ground is also delightful, and the
lamingoa looks as fiamingocs 10 In ones
dreams. when one tries to do that sort of
thing.
Not the least interesting feature Of the
book is the frontispiece, which is por-
trait of the author. There is an introduc-
ton by L. S. Martin, who says Of Mr..
Dodgson:
THAT a mind soundly disciplined by
mathematics should have been gcared
TO an ina gination so whimsical and so
gentle nature was one OF the tulhss
that sometimes happen when no one
is looking.
1t is to be hoped that this volume viii
be followed by a companion edition of
Through the Looking-Glass." (New
York: Harper & Brothers. 5000
"Candle-Iightin' Time by Paul Lau-
renee Dunbar, is n slender volume, con-
tanning nine short poems illustrated from
photographs made by the Hampton lnsti-
tute Camera Club. Among the poems are
two or three Of the authors best bits of
dialect namely the one entitled Dat or
Mare o Mine" the one which gives its |
name to the collection, and little luI-
labv. Some Of the illustrations are re |
markabIy artistic in point Of grouping |
and clearness Of outline. THE Old Front |
Gate" is accompanied by two or three |
capital pictures of a plantation courting. |
when Dey Listed Colored Soldiers is |
also capitally Illustrated, and the frontis- |
piece, an old negress, in bandanna and |
apron holding a candle. is particularly |
good CNew York: Dodd, Mead * Co. |
sL50)
"Beowulf" by Samuel Harden Church, !
Is a mctrical translation Of the old Saxon |