The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-21

an authenticity independent of the Apocry
pha. since In both the Latin and the Greek
churches the feasts of the Nativity of the
Virgin, of the Presentation or Mary In the
Temple, the espousals of Joseph and Mary
and the Assumption OF Mary into the heaven
are of very ancient origin, and are 10 De
found In the Calendar of Feasts of the
seventh century. Epiphanius, a chronicler
of the fourth century, contemporary or
Ambrose. Augustine and Jerome, makes
mention of Joachim and Anna as the par
ents of the Virgin, showing the existence
and acceptance Of the tradition by the
church. John Damascene. a doctor of both
the Greek and Latin churches OF the seventh
century, also wrote OF Joachim and Anna
as the parents Of the Virgin.
The first impression made by the Apocry-
phal Life Is the minuteness OF detail OF the
apocryphal gospels as compared with the
brief simplicity of the canonical gospels.
This the author calls 1.-The dreary verbosity
of Gnostic madness" Another impression
birth of the Virgin is almost counterpart
OF the opening chapters OF the frst book
of Samuel. In the Life the author has in
hood of Christ partly found In the Gospel
of the Infancy and partly in mediaeval
legends. These legends are trivial in detail,
and exhibit the boy Christ working mir
acles to discomfit his boy companions, and
even in a spirit of boyish mischievousness.
such as the story of the boys making mud
sparrows and the boy Christ causing them
to fly away. and the boyish destruction OF
the pottery in the absence of the workmen.
The Apocryphal Life of Christ Is an In
teresting work, and seasonable at the
range of reading by the author in unusual
fields. The Bible student will find 1t inter
esting and enriched with copious notes IL
Illustrating the authentic Scriptures. The
absurdity of some of the apocryphal stories
will but heighten his appreciation of the
simple text of the canonical scriptures
The Macmillan Company, New YORK.
The Courtshfp of Miles standish.
The Bobbs-Merrill Company has reached
its very highest point in book making so fai
in the Christy edition of Longfellow's famous
poem. Last seasons Christy-Riley achieve
ment is not eclipsed, but 1t is given
worthy rival in this beautiful book. Thi:
popular artists conception of Priscilla IL
the most satisfying type yet produced. anc
unless public taste in pure, girlish beauty
changes utterly, 1t will be long before an
other artist will dare to illustrate thii
American classic. The face has a swee
gravity and simple charm such as Christy
alone seems to know the secret OF portray
ing. His John Alden is plainly the an
cestor of the young society men VINO ngur'
in this artists other work-the family re
in costume and surroundings. But 1T is {
stalwart and handsome type, and one Il
glad to learn that John Alden looked lik'
that. There are forty or fifty illustrations
some of which are in colors. The book II
| excellently printed and bound, and 1t SHOULD
prove immensely popular. The publisher
| state that Mr.. Christy had long entertained
| the idea Of illustrating this poem, and whel
| they suggested Ii to him many Of the draw
| ings had already been made.
The Weaker Sex.
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