New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-28
THE CHRISTMAS NUMBERS
Il Gorgeous array Of Pictures IN the
December Magazines.

The holiday magazines appear this year. as
usual. IN blaze Of color. Inside and out they
remind Us that at Christmas, if ever. the artist
not only shares honors with the author but
comes very near to taking precedence of him.
PROFESSIONALLY he rises to his opportunity, and
especially in the designing Of covers displays
freshing originality. We notice here and there
that the holly berry is not neglected, but neither
is it put too much in the foreground. as was
wont to be the case some years ago. 1t is
used sparingly, and as a matter Of subordinate
detail. 1t is not used at all in Of the best of
this months covers. that Of THE Century Mag
azine." This cover, drawn by George H. Hal
lowell, represents the coronation of Charlie
magne. It is effectively composed and the re-
strained color scheme is charming. The frontis-
piece is good Madonna and Child" by Mr..
Balm, and accompanying the opening article.
one by Mrs. Wharton on Sienese villas. in which
she blends history with vivid impressions, are
three fascinating garden studies by Mr.. Max
field Parrish. Two other illustrations in color in
this number, Christmas pictures by Miss Violet
Oakley. are. we sorry to say, merely alb
surd. The portrayal in them of young and
women in the dress Of to-day. with halos drawn
around their heads. is not only in bad taste. but
grotesque. We like much better the drawings
in color by Miss Thompson for the sympathetic
Children Of the People" by Mr.. Riis. The two
literary contributions Of interest in THE Gen.
fury" are Maeterlinck's article on chrysanthe-
NUNS and the second batch of Thackeray's let
tiers.
Mr.. Sommer's cover for the Christmas Serb
ner'' is quaint and merry design. and it is
brilliant in color Mrs. Wharton and Mr.. Par
IRISH open this magazine also. The former has
never been more artistic or more diverting than
in this Venetian Nights Entertainment" an
enchanting bit of eighteenth century comedy,
and the Illustrations are perfect, the colored
frontispiece rejecting the gayety of the piece,
and the two black and whites echoing the note
Of feeling which the author has struck In the
third part Of her story. Miss Smiths pictures
in color, given under the general title Of THE
Child in a Garden" in her characteristic
vein Of sentiment. They have been beautifully
reproduced. We must note. also, Mr.. Penfield's
impressions of Holland with quaint iustra-
tons in color. The best BIT of fiction is
Mr.. Hunel1ers musical story, "a Master
OF Cobwebs." DR.. Van Dyke brings to this
rich number q polished and very interesting
lode to Music" ''Harper's Magazine" is clothed
IN sober green; its sumptuous color work is all
concentrated inside Howard Pyle's illustra-
tons for the opening story captivating in
their picturesqueness: they are far more salts
factory than the pages they illustrate Miss
Green supplies the colored pictures OF children
for the number-three. which are faced by
poems. by Miss Josephine Preston Peabody
and Ike Miss Smith IN 'Scribner's" she is ap-
pealing in sentiment and beguiling In style. We
have read with most interest in 'Harper's"
Mark Twain's pathetic and altogether convinc-
ing satire on the vivisectionists "A Dogs Tale"
and Mr. Howells's vivid tribute to Bret Harte in
THE Easy Chair" We would like to quote from
this chapter OF personal "reminiscences, but We
must postpone that pleasure for the sake OF CIV
ing Mr. Howels's poem. the best OF all the verses
In the Christmas magazines
SORROW. MY SORROW
Sorrow my SORROW, thought that YOU would he
nv faithful mate. and bear company
While 1 should live, but now / find that Won
Like JOY. and hope. and love. have left me- too
Sorrow, my sorrow, you have left me more
Forlorn than all the rest that went before;