New-York tribune., 1902-01-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ENGLISH HISTORY FOR SCHOOLS
BASKET MAKING-A GERMAN ON
AMERICAN MUSEUMS-AN EN-
CYCLoPEDIA FOR THE
YOUNG.

History is interestiug-there is no doubt OF
that the only thing needed IS TO tell 1t In an IN
teresting way. To make q long story ike tnat
OF the English people interesting in orief COM
pass, and for the understanding Of young peo-
ple is one OF the harder tasks of the historian
Katharine Conan and Elizabeth Kendall pro
fessor and associate professor respectively OF
history in wellesley College, have gone q long
way toward successfully accomplishing this task
in their Short History of England for School
Use" CThe Macmillan Company. It is not
brilliant piece OF work-the conditions iofoaNe
briliancy. and, indeed, II would be out OF place.
but Il is a pleasant narrative, with care1ul
subordination and grouping of details. and CIV
ing a clear and sometimes a picturesque i'm
preston OF the progress Of events. The human
and the personal elements are kept to the fore
and the bad old way. the way of dry detail. of
the maneuvrings OF armies and the endless
succession of dates is never travelled. real
and vital understanding of the condition Of the
people, the motives that prompted the course of
rulers. their character and influence, are what
the authors have aimed to give. Here is brief
characterization of the England of Elizabeth:
Wealth and prosperity brought many changes
in ways Of living. Everywhere increased luxury
was apparent. The great recreation of the rich
was building. and of the most beautiful
OF English houses are of Eliza beth's time.
The influence of America showed in the little
store of silver possessed by every well to do
family, while the sideboards of the great mobiles
were loaded down with vessels of the same
metal The English had always been
famed abroad FOR their good living, but an Ital-
ian observer now declared that they Jared like
kings. and complaint made that they con-
sumed four times much wine formerly.
The same luxury was apparent in dress. . q.
Women's dress. indeed. had become compli-
Gated that one writer remarked "a ship is sooner
rigged than woman" 1t a stirring. ener-
getic: money getting. pleasure loving age. Men
fought and prayed. hunted and made love. all
with right good will.
One of the admirable features of the book is
the profusion Of its Ulustrat tions most of which
are excellent reproductions of contemporary por-
traits, scenes, views. often from manuscripts
and there many maps. Another excellent
feature is the marginal references to books
and passages in literature on things mentioned
in the text. while at the end Of each chapter is
brief list of authoritative historical works for
more detailed study
Miss White does not undertake to teach the
magic Of the Indian sQuaw's finger tips but
In her very practical little book How to Make
Baskets Doubleday. Page & Coz, she gives a
plain and sufficient account OF the materials
ana methods Of a kind of craftsmanship that
has lately found much favor The value OF
manual training is well exemplifed In rattan
rush and raffla, into which the kindergarten
child can be promoted from the weaving of
are simple. the tools few-shears yardstick
pail, knitting needle and knife form the equip
ment-and the dexte-ity and fancy Of the work
er may lead him to any degree Of elaboration
and beauty in fashioning his results. Miss
Whites directions are clear and explicit, and
are made plain by numerous cuts showing diff
ferent weaves and the steps in their making.
1t is a work in which the individuality of the
weaver may have a considerable scope. Es-
pecially so in the finishing touch" and the dye
ing. Miss White gives full directions for max
ing and applying a number Of vegetable dyes
a fascinating part OF basketry. Aniline colors
she holds in detestation:
The Shah Of Persia Furnishes with death the
man who brings them into his kingdom, and We
are tempted TO exclaim with him, "Off with his
headr' when we hear of a person who, having
seen the soft, beautiful coloring made with veg
etable dyes, returns to the crude and quickly
\ fading aniline colors.