The age-herald., 1902-04-27
BOOKS

new quarterly will soon be started to be called "The Ancestor" ard will deal principally with genealogy. It ought to appeal especially to Americans for a large per cent. of Americans who visit London consult the Heralds office in re- gard to a supposed or real ancestor. Off, tentimes my definite assistance and in- formation is secured and the new. quar- terly will no doubt offer even greater facilities in searching out ones ances- tors. It is said that the late Grant Allen was one of the best hunters of ancestors in England, and knew probably more about English families and their origin than the Herald's College itself Had he lived until now he would no doubt have made a valued editor of "The An cestor.' and would have taken as keen a delight in the work as lie did in his historical guides.
 Apropos of Grant Allen and his guides to a number of the favorite spots of Eu- rope, few men were better travelled or mere internately acquainted with the old world than he. MT. Allen has called his guides "bistoricar' because he ever seeks IO ulSCONtT lO the TSaCeT the inner mean ing of things. 1t s not enough to see the exterior building-the Cathedrals at Cologne, Milan or Florence but lie in- sists upon your knowing why they were built and the very spirit of the age which inspired them. His European Tour will enthuse anyone upon the education al advantages of a foreign tour and es- pecially the young man or young woman who has still year or two of college life remaining. He says he would not have the audacity to insist so strenuous ly on a European tour for Americans were te not an American n-born and bred
 He says, allowing that America is the best country in which to be born, I still maintain that Europe is the best country in which to get a years educa- tion. By this, he does not mean college life, but easy, pleasant travel and sight seeing. Mir Allen baS written historical guides to Belgium, Florence and Paris, and at the time of his death was engaged upon the Legends Of the Rhine'' work that would have been invaluable to lovers of the "Storied Rhine" In his guide to Paris he traces the foundation principles and events and describes most delightfully."- the Gothic and Renaissance influences, giving IS 1t were an inner view and conception of familiar build irgs that would not occur to the casual visitor. His guides are treasured by studious travellers as also are the art works of Mrs. Jameson. Her Sacred | and Legendary Art and Legends of the Madonna" For works of Italian art, | both in Italy and elsewhere, Kugler's Italian Schools of Painting is an inval- l uahle vade-mecum
 Pauline King has just published a | timely and certainly very important work on American Mural Painting" It l Is study of the important decorations by distinguished artists in the United States. Ihe idea of the book is a happy enc for few people know tfe amount of good decorative work existing in this country and fewer still have an oppor- unity to compare the work of the diff ferent men and to trace the history of | Mural Painting as the aomirable illus | trations in this volume enables one to do. | The book contains an account of the l early work of John Lo Forge, which l lowered with sudden and exotic brillian- | cy. The work Of William Morris Hunt Is also treated most interestingly The 1 White City occupies, of course. an im- pcrtant place, end the decorations of the l Boston Public Library and the Library of Congress are treated in a really excel l lent marncr. Such book is especially timely just now wher so much is being | said. and written upon every phase of American art and artists. and the estab- iishment of an Amer ican saloon is be- ing so seriously considered.
 sale in New York recently held by Bangs & Co.,, inclu led several Keimscott l Press put lications and two of the issues of the recently established Doves Press. l Morris Poems by the Way" Kelms- colt Press, 1891, sold for s55. Morris s Dream of John Ball." Kelnscott Press, 1 1892, for $50 and Morris's "Sundering Flood" for $45. Aprcpos of the Kelms- colt Press. Era Albertus" says of Will liam Morris and his visit to the Press at Hammersmith s"Morris was man of marvellous power. He was frank, Bold, gruff, towsled, and dressed in overalls and blouse like workingman. He was master Of six distinct trades. He gloried in doing things with his hands To cut things out and piece them together in beautiful and useful shape was his re- creation. To carve In wood, weave bright strands of silk into cloth hammer iron into shape, to paint pictures and draw forms, was to him a delight And there was only one thing that gave Will liam Morris more joy than to do things with his hands. and that was to show others how to do things with their hands. WHhdH Hdoirio diWdys maue things as we'll as he could. His motto was, Not how cheap, but how good."
 It Is said that Jacob A. Refs, one of the most intimate friends Of President Roose- welt and his family has been invited to spend a week at the White House for the purpose of getting material for the first authoritative article that has been prepared about Mrs. Roosevelt and her children. The article will be published in the Ladies' Home Journal.
 Something of a delightful departure in tourist books will be Mrs. Everard Cotess