The age-herald., 1901-11-17
Chat About Books
BY PAUL PRY.

versity in October by Edmund Clarence Stedman, l.. H. D., IL. D., has been re- produced in an unusually attractive form. The stately verse. eminently worthy of its author and of the memorable occa- sion is here embodied in an artistic vol ume which will be a welcome and per- manent souvenir.
 The new Gibson book for this year con- sists of a pictorial history of the life of a fascinating young widow. depicted in MT. Gibson's most slSillful style. Thirty delightful new drawings are here used which have not been printed heretofore.
 The new drawings complete the story of "nhe Widow" which Is now told in full for the first time. 4ne volume com prises over ninety drawings, unsurpassed in beauty and brilliancy; 1t is bound in Japan vellum with a striking cover de- sign by MT. Gibson. and each copy is enclosed in a decoratel box.
 Speaking of Gibson's marvellous work, in last Sundays issue of the New York World there are two pages devoted to the reproductions of drawings of The American Girl" The conceptions were produced for the Society Girl Calendar" for 1902, and drawn by those famous American illustrators, Howard Chandler Christy, A. B. Wenzell. Albert Sterner, Henry Hut, A J. Keller and w. T. Smedley.
 While none of the six drawings Is liter ally portrait, but represents, in a sense an 'ideal' type, they are most faithfully American in spirit and character. The one by Howard Chandler Christy, who is a close second to Gibson himself, has given the best one, I think all will agree At any rate it Is difficult to surpass his 'ideal' in majesty and aface.
 The Christmas book for children, of exceptional beauty, Is ''The Reign of King Cole" which is illustrated by Charles Robinson and edited by J. M. Gibson. It is just the books for a youngster who is tired of didactic stories and who invari- ably welcomes a good fresh draught at the perennial spring of true fairy story.
 Anthony Hopes new novel, "The h. trusions of Peggy" will be published In England in the Cornhill Magazine. and simultaneously in this country through the mediumship of the Harpers.
 Of Papa Bouchard," by Molly Elliott Seawell, a recent reviewer, says: ''The very spirit of French farce of the best kind trips nimbly trough this gay, droll little story. The humor Is rollicking and unforced."
 Max O'Rell writes in his cable letter to the New York daily that Paul Bourget has written a new novel, which is likely to create a sensation. In it he attacks the giorification of the family idea which plays such a potent part in French life to the detriment of individual rights of the French" A periodical making this announcement welcomes Bourgeois return to these very respectable and very Christian sentiments"
 With the death of Kate Greenaway there has gone unique figure identified with the development of British illustra- tive art. She was a quiet, retiring little woman who hated publicity, and her last days were spent among her flowers and plants in her little home in Hampstead. A recent reviewer in speaking of her It. tie creatures depicted in ''Marigold Gar den, and Little Ann," says that "she revolutionized one form of illus eration and dressed the children of two conti- nents."
 Shelley, whom Matthew Arnold called "An inffectual angel" and who has hith- erto been regarded as an idealist, has been the past week in London proclaimed