The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-25

cipium in Roman times. The Tuscans are
descended from the old cultured Etruscan
race and inherit the art instinct. In the re-
vival of learning in the fifteenth century,
Florence was conspicuous for her scholar
ship, while up to the close of the thirteenth
century the town had effected no great artistic
achievement not even having a great cath
erdal. 1t had become important commerce.
ally, but in Dante's time the artistic spirit
asserted itself and the constructive period
commenced with the building Of magnificent
churches and great cathedral. The erec-
ton Of the Church Santa Croce by. the Domi
means was the beginning Of the glorious
ef1orescence of art in Florence. The author
enters into the details of the construction of
many Of the buildings, notably the cathedral.
which was built in honor of "Our Lady Of
the Florentne Lily and was so named. The
old cathedral was Tuscan-Romanesque in
style, while the new structure is Gothic. So
through the two volumes we enter structures
closely associated with great names like
Michel Angelo, Galileo, Cimabue, Perugino,
Fra Angelica, Gotto, Andrea della Robbia,
Titan, Albert Durer, Lorenzo the Magnificent
So many great painters and sculptors and
architects had to do with the making Of
Florence. The galleries contain. contributions
from all old-world lands where art has had
development and nurture. The author has
taken pains to show the reader how he may
see all the beauties and glories of Florence.
The illustrations are numerous and attractive.
There is so much to see and study in Flor
ence, that it is difficult, as the author says,
to assimilate all the objects to be seen. These
| books however, tell the reader if tourist,
how to go about Florentine sightseeing in
the most intelligent manner.
Little Pi1grimages Among the Men
By 3. F. Harkins. Illustrated. Boston:
| L. G. Page & Co.. Minneapolis: N. Nc
Carthy.
| Among the twenty authors included in this
! volume, some ole and new favorites appear.
| The sketches run from William Dean How
| ellis to Winston Churchill. The author admits
| that cherished names are left out, like that
| of the gifted Maurice Thompson, but, OF
course, he could not include all conspicuous
American literary talent. Howells is allowed
to speak through his own autobiography
| chiefly. Mr.. Harkins, however, informs us
| that Howells is ''hospitable and genial al
though he has been made an LII. D. and is
| admired the world over Bret Harte ant
Henry James have apparently deserted thei
native heath, for Harte, after his consular
life closed in 1885 at Glasgow, has lived il
London, and James, who originally went t,
England for his health, has lived there fo
about a quarter of century past. Bre
| Harte's old stories are his best and keel
his name alive. Mr. Harkins tells us in th
and his most brilliant writing is accom-
! plished only by the hardest toll. He work
during the morning, writing very slowl,
and he rewrites laboriously and is some
thing Of recluse Mr.. Harkins, after set
ting forth Mark Twain's remarkable career
says: ''The literary historian mus. record j
, his case the prcdigious achievement! of al
- author remaining for at least thirty tire
, years-and who knows how many more viii
follow?-in almost steady demand in prin
and on the platform" The author commend
James Lane Allen for his modesty and re
fusal to exploit his habits and manners Al
len has a steady success. although he Gel
> tainly made u bad break in Summer in A,
) cady" Richard Harding Davis Is defende
) from the charge Of superfciality. He has nj
I written "the great American novel; but
{ has created Var Bibber and written SON
: excellent stories and has shown himself to /
} la drst-class reporter, whether describing