The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-24

Washington and follow the author to the
Klondike and Cape Nome, and feel at the
end that he has seen most OF what is
worth seeing in this country.
The chapter on Washington contains
pictures of the Capitol, the Congressional
Library dnterioD. and Mount Vernon.
Thence we are taken to the Natural
Bridge. Virginia, Bull Run, Gettysburg.
and subsequently north to Philadelphia.
Trenton, west to Chicago. and south to
Florida. One advantage Of the book is
that many interesting historic localities
which are not described fully In any guide
book are noticed here, such as Delaware
Water Gap, Mauch Chunk. and localities
formerly traversed by the pike Of which
our fOrefathers were so proud.
There is little attempt at picturesque de-
scription; the work is a guide-book and
very delightful one. philadelphia: Henry
r Coates * Coz
''Norton's Complete Handbook of Ha-
vana and Cuba is a compact little volume
by Albert ]. Norton, who has contrived
to put into IL great deal OF information
which will be useful to the tourist. settler.
and investor. Chicago: Rand, McNaliy Il
Coz
Is volume of verse with a peculiar char
acter. The author. who lives at Blue ISL
and. Illinois. is possibly the first poet OUT
side OF soap factory advertising bureau
to use the word gent in pure English
verse. 1t has long been surmised that the
Middle West would give to the. world a
new variety of American poetry. chi
cago. 81
'-survivals." by l.. V. +. Randolph, is n
book of poems mostly of a religious ma
ture. New York: G. p. Putnam's Sons)
''The Masque of Judgment" by William
Vaughn Moody, is a slender volume in
which the author essays to revive the
masquc form. so successfully used by MIL
ton. and Jonson. and s.fterward. less skill
fully. by Mrs Browning. There are some
striking lines in the poem, but ii is less
likely to be popular than If the author had
chosen the ls-ric form for his thoughts.
Boston: Small, Maynard & Co. sl.50)
Stage Lyrics" by Harry b. Smith. is a
collection of songs and dittes written by
this popular librettist during some ten or
fifteen years In it viii be found the ar
m0rer's song from Robin Hood, Life Is
a Toy Shop from The Casino Girl
Same Old story from The Roundcrs.' -
and many other favorites- They are not
accompanied by the music The book is il
Illustrated with forty-one portraits OF ac-
tors and actresses whose names have been
associated with the songs. 1t also has
some Illustrations which are only remotely
related to the songs which they accom-
pany and are evidently put In because
the publishers had them in the house
This spoils the unity OF the artistic APP
pearance OF the book. tNew York; r. II.
Russell AZ Coz
THE Opera Past and Present" by VIII
liam Foster Apthorp. Is small book in
tended as q help to students of the his
tory Of music. In 1t the history of operat-
ic composition is taken up and the work
of each OF the great composers considered.
IT Is Illustrated with portraits OF all the
great musicians whose Biographies it con-
tans
The authors style is somewhat tech
Meal but not too much so to be inteli-
gible to the average reader. Some idea OF
the general aim and method of his work
may be found in this abstract from the
preface:
In writing the present Historical Sketch al the
Opera" ] have thrown the whole weight Of my
count Of the first establishment and gradual eyo-
hutton If tins form OF art, and upon pointing out
the general qua>i-philosophical rationale OF the
san. / have accordingly considered different
schools composers and works far more with refer
encc 20 the Influence cXerted by them in further
ing. in rgtardiuE. this evolution than to their
intrinsic excellence.
Again:
sdccinctl, stated. the main object OF the pres
ut .ulume is this: To show bow a general de
SIR. for some such form OF dramatico-lyric art
die opera manifested IN France and Italy
considerably before any possibility existed 81 its
coming INTO actual being hoW This possibility
-as at last realized by the devi,ing Of style
O.. artistic monodic competition 10y the Florentiu.
,,llsie Reform and ho'- IN. Opera itself was
among the first practical results OF thiS Reform.
That the theoretical principles in accordance
with which the Opera was first established ia
Florence in 1895, were essentially identical with
those promulgated in the nineteenth century ny
Richard Wagner. That the Opera was first di-
vcrted from It's original artistic purpose through
the influence OF taTi>Slmi. and nom being
usually dramatic and scenic form IT art became
a purely musical one. And finally, how this
faris,imi influence continued 10 make itself felt.
even through and in spite OF the Gluck reaction
against it, until Wagner at last gave it is death
blow.
This Is a phase of the history of music
which has not before been brought out
with such clearness. and the author has
certainly done his work well. He is posi-
tive. clear. and decided in his statements
and is evidently fully convinced of the
work which he is doing. The book will be
thoroughly interesting To most lovers Of
music. CNew York: Charles Scribner's
Sons. $l.25,l
9TH. World Department Store" by
Bradford Peck. is a story intended to il
lustrate the conditions Of life under a CO.
Z II he int ina