New-York tribune., 1902-02-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
BooKBINDING-TH MAKING OF WEST
MASTERS s-AMERICAN AND
ENGLISH RUSTICITY


very desirable to make better craftsmen out of
men trained I'm ordinary commercial work. and.
for amateurs TO supplement shop training by
an exposition Of the sound and substantial
methods Of the early binders That has been
the object Of Douglas Cockerell in his Book
binding and the Care Of Books ID. Appleton &
Coz. 1t is the first OF q series OF technical hand
books devoted to the artistic crafts in which,
according to the editor Mr.. w. r. Lethaby. ex-
perts shall point out what is good workman
ship. setting up a standard Of quality in the
crafts that are especially associated with de-
sign: and. furthermore shall treat design itself
an essential part Of good workmanship. Mr..
CockerelIs practical directions full detailed
and clear and are well illustrated with draw
ings showing the processes and the tools. TO
them the book is chiefly devoted, and Mr.. Cock
erelIs wide knowledge not only Of present
methods but Of those Of the early binders,
makes it Of great utility.
The author pays his respects now and again
to the cheapencd and degraded methods and
materials that are in vogue nowadays. All be
says on this score will receive the hearty ap-
provaI Of lovers Of good books and good crafts
nlanship. Art paper OF the present day re-
ceives his condemnation-that highly loaded and
glazed surface made TO receive brilliant impress
sions from halftone blocks is of the great
est troubles the bookhfnder has to face-easily
broken and Of no permanence. The absurd
sham Of artifcially made 'deCkle edges. To ini-
tate the ragged effect that early printers re-
garded a defect. leaves book unsightIN' win
ragged edges that collect dirt and are trouble
some to turn over. The Of the modern wood
pulp papers-'Jhe worst papers that have ever
been seen''-in making books OF permanent liter
arv interest is serious enough. So far as book
binding itself is concerned, the "retchedhess Oh
the leather ordinarily used is one Of the cher
,iseries Of the craft limitations OF all sorts are
abundant: the chief complaint is as to the lack
of dura bility, poor quality and extreme thn-
ness Of the skins used Mr. CockereH quotes
fully from the report Of the committee or the
Society of Arts to show that binding executed
since about 1850 has been Of lamentably poor |
quality.
The chapters on decoration. tooling, lettering
etc. are excellent. based on good taste ana |
good sense. and an appreciation of the value OF |
sir,nlicitv There is much to be hoped for from |
such book as this in spreading knowledge OF
the methods Of the best binders and reVlVlng |
excellent traditions Of bygone days. There is
need in all lines of craft Of an appreciation OF
the value Of good work with sound materials,
While il was preCipitated by the action OF the
Secession Convention Of 1861. in Richmond the
separation of Virginia into two States was the
outcome Of causes extending far back in the
history Of the commonwealth. A detailed ac-
ccUnt Of the forces that led Immediately to the
cleavage and OF those lying deeper, is given by
Granville Davisson Hall in his book The Rend-
Ing Of Virginia" privately printed Mr. Hall
writes as a West Vrginian a loyalist during
the stormy times preceding and during the con-
test for secession, and who saw and
took part in many Of the most important events
that he narrates. He modestly calls his book
5nlv a contribution 10 the history with which
he deals: and in truth that Is the proper de
scription of it, II is valuable material for his
tory: but there must be a more impersonal ana
impartial view. a wider horizon. than Mr.. Hall
svinces in the writing Of history. For the tradi-
tonal discomfort In West Virginia that culmi-
1ated in the separation he adduces number Of
-easons-the mountain barrier between the two
sections and the difference in commercial in
terests thereby produced, the difference in the
character Of the population; the seIhshness OF
he Eastern, ruling faction, that endeavored 10
keep the peasant population under control
by repressive legislation, unequal taxation, and
the opposite views held 20 slavery.
The crisis approached when the special ses-
sion Of the Virginia Legislature was called in
January. 1861 IN preparation for the carrying
put Of secession. The Western section Of the
state was aroused and there numerous
meetings. denouncing secession and demanding
the submission Of the question the people
In the Richmond convention the Western dele
gates trapped" as Mr.. Hall puts 1t, by
the cry Of no coercion and gave way when
Lincoln's call for troops was issued, but con
spiracy IN the saddle and had everything |
Is own way so that the vote on the ratification
by the people he believes to have been dishon-
sstly returned The people in the northwestern
part Of the State aroused TO action at
once; and in May 1861, convention OF dele
gates from the loyal counties expressed the de-
termination Of the people to separate from the
old State. central committee was appointed
to carry this determination into effect: and In
June another convention was held and passed
ordinance for the reorganization Of the State
government. State officials and United States
Senators were elected, who were recognized and |
admitted into the government at Washington.
In January. 1863 the bill for the admission of |
West Virginia into the Union az a separate |
State signed by President Lincoln.
All these proceedings described in minute |
detail, with lists of the membership OF the con-
ventioa and committees. There is a chapter of |
"reminiscences Of the Virginia Secession Con-
vention by James c. McGrew, one Of the West
ern Virginia delegates and a series of sketches |
of men prominent in the stirring events that
resulted in the formation of dhe State.
The choir and the organ have important a |
part to play in tho service Of the Episcopal
Church that Their proper cooperation is obvi-
ously essential In smaller churches especially.
there are often not The experience and knowl-
edge that are needed TO obtain the best results
and there are doubtless many choirmasters and |
organists who will find in the Rev. James Baden
Powells's "Chorala" Gongmans. Green & Coz
precisely the help and the abundance Of sugges-
tion that needed He calls II "a handy