New-York tribune., 1901-05-11

her. this occasion. well IN the earlier tn
stance. given opportunity calculated to
excite the enthusiasm OF historian Who
ever sets out 20 commemorate IN a volume the
development and character OF q small italian
hill town. has at the start q great advantage.
Such town has. In the truest sense OF the
term. an indtvidualized physiognOny. u Is
compact II can readily be placed IN the correct
prospective. and then II can-in the hands OF a
competent authorize drawn in lines per-
sonal and as full OF vitality those which go
TO make the portrait OF human being. The
Iineaments Of Assist have been clearly trans
ferred TO Miss Duff GOrdon's canvas. She has
a subject OF singular fascination Touched, as
every old italian town has been touched. by the
fiery finger Of war Assist is nevertheless far
from presenting the tragic scenes so constantly
occurring IN the annals Of neighboring Perusia-
In place OF the warlike BagIoni, who dominated
So long the affairs Of the latter town. the divine
figure of St Francis throws its glamour over
this nest Of churches and dwelling houses. look
Ing down upon the Umbriar plain Not the ma
terial. but the religious, note fingers longest in
the memory OF whoever has paused in Assist 70
dream over the frescos Of Giotto and the souve-
Mrs OF St Francis. and Miss DUR Gordon
discloses IN her every page a delicate appre-
clation of this fact. She does not neglect other
matters, however. She tells all that needs 70 be
told of Assists sufferings in time Of war. and
gives full attention. whenever required, 70 secu-
lar as we'll as to religious matters. Rich as is
the history OF Assist fairly comprehensive ac-
count OF the town Is easily brought within the
limits Of Miss Dun Gordon's space and she has
made her volume delightful contribution to
the series IN which 1t is published.
Rouen offered 10 Mr.. Theodore Andrea Cook
an inspiration possibly less potent than that en-
bodied in Rome. Florence or Assist, and We
have not found his volume so absorbing as those
already discussed: but. On the other hand. we
may freely testify to the skill with which this
author has executed his work His descriptions
OF architecture. especially. show the feeling OF
a penetrating student and We have found many
excellent pages also among those which deal
with the old life Of the town. with its salient
personages and with the anecdotes that have
gathered around them MIR. Hutton's Con
stantinople'' is probably for reasons which could
not be avoided, erudite than amusing.
Testing II as a collocation OF facts. which Is
about all that 1t assumes 70 be. have found
II trustworthy and admirable In arrangement.
The traveller In the East who uses IL Will have
TO read II with strenuous care. but he will then
find it useful. and. for all its seriousness. not
dull AS much and a little more, may be said
for the Moscow OF Mr.. Writ Gerrare which Is
full OF the crudely splendid elements OF Russian
history, and puts into convenient form a great
deal Of unfamiliar information Mr.. Headlam 5
Nuremberg is a very satisfactory member Of
the series. strong in learning. and. though want
ing in charm. the whole very we'll written
With this book We bring our brief survey OF the
later volumes In the series 10 an end