New-York tribune., 1907-07-10
House Bn:idiaG end Some Other
ArtiStic Themes.


the kind Of house they win place on the site
they are just buying. For them, rather than for
any other readers, has Mr.. NJ. H. Baille Scott
written his Houses and Gardens dmpogted by
Charles Scribner's sons. II is a book of more
than ordinary value because il is made more
tran ordinarily interesting. Most collections of
plans put forth for popular consumption are
rather dull affairs Mir. Scott takes pains
make his work attractive possible His
text shows that he has not only an understand
ing Of his subject but enthusiasm for it and
his numerous illustrations are Of unusually
pleasing character. They include designs in
color, drawings. plans and halftones from photo
graphs Of completed work. 1t is true that not all
these illustrations disclose an absolutely in
gratiating taste. 3Ir. Scott seems often to carry
what he would call daintiness in decoration to
the point Of preciosity. But. in the main. his
judgment is on the right side He makes for
simplicity and refinement. and presents many
motives on which the American reader will find
il profitable 10 reflect. As for the philosophy of
house building ne is altogether sound. The
house he says. which. for want of a better
word, We must continue TO dfferentiate from the
ordinary house as artistic. bases its claims not
on its Fittings and on its adornment but the
very essence Of its structure The claims Of
common sense are paramount in its plan. and
its apartments are arranged to secure comfort
able ha bitation for its inmates. and To reduce
iabOr in service cleaning TO a minimum"
This rational view Of the matter is advanced
throughout the book The author is always
artistic in his aim bur he does not for that
reason ever cease to be practical To the young
couple about to set up housekeeping within
walls built by themselves IN the country.
could not suggest better book than this one.
The same readers viii find much TO their pur-
pose in The Collectors Manual" Frederick \.
Stokes Company, by \. Hudson Moore. THIS
ASSEMBLIES in one large but not cunbrous vol
ume al the information that is required by the
average amateur on subjects which otherwise
ne would have look up in four or five sepa-
rate books. Half the fun of furnishing a new
house, for that matter. old one, lies in the
quiet excitement of hunting down the
less antique object which waits in some shop for
the discerning purchaser. OF course, success in
this pursuit is bought only BY experience, but d
work like Mr.. Moore's does a good deal 10
smooth The path of the tyro. He discourses of
tables and sideboards. chairs and sofas. old pot
terry and glassware, clocks pewter, and on.
His descriptions are accompanied with hiStori-
cal observa tions. and are envened with anec-
dote The admirable halftones. printed in tint
greatly enhance the usefulness of the text The
book is not written for specialists but for those
who come fresh TO the subject II is trust
worthy and entertaining, and the reader who
studies II attentively viii be the better prepared
10 acquit himself with credit in the difficult task
Of distinguishing the genuine antiquity from the
imitation. and the still more difficult task or
buying at q legitimate price.
Mrs Dolores Bacon has written in her "Old
Doubleday. Page & Coz book which should |
prove Interesting alike the layman and to the /
architectural student The buildings with which
she deals ara landmarks in American history,
and in describing them she has many pict- |
uresquo things to tell about famous personages |
identified with them, about striking phases in |
the development of earlier American social life.
Her illustrations. handsome full page plates |
from photographs. have special value for |
they show us some Of the best monuments OF |
our Colonial period The classical style Dor ]
rowed from Georgian architects was handled by |
the designers Of these churches with singular /
purity and dignity. They erected a standard Of /
taste which has never been invalidated. and 10 |
which MANY a church committee might ad- |
vantageously return to-day. The character OF |
Mrs. Bacons text. which is full Of interest for |
churchmen should carry this book into just |
the quarters where Il would do the most good. |
We may appropriately mention here Miss !
Esther Singletcns Historic Buildings OF Amer /
ica' iDodd, Mead & Coz. one more Of those now /
numerous volumes in which this jealous an |
tholoeisI has collected descriptions OF famous |
objects written by famous authors. Some Of |
Miss singletons buildings are important for |
their architectural beauty. others interest rs
solely because Of their historical associations |
IN each case 2 good photograph is supplied, and |
the author chooses an interesting description !
by some writer who may not be precisely IA /
nous but ho any rate brings together the /
pertinent facts. The idea which the book is |
based is 9 good one. 50 good that We wonder |
Thy Miss Singleton did not exploit ii when she |
was beginning her series. Certainly this ought |
n make the most popular Of all her volumes J
among American readers. :
Writers on Oriental art either play perfervidly |
over the surface Of the subject. or in attempting
70 handle il with seriousness. take too much for
granted The inexperienced reader is offered a /
lot Of scholarly information but is not put in !
sympathy with the theme. We cordially com |
mend, therefore. Mr.. Ralph Adams Grams I'm |
presslons of japanese Architecture and the Al /
lied Arts" Ohe Baker & Taylor Company IN |
MS ten brief papers he can give his reader only
gliH7pses Of those forces which have produced |
ne art OF the East. but at any rate his glimpses
are really suggestive. AS he says japanese ar /
chtecture is almost universally misjudged, be- |
ing regarded only fanciful and frail" He |
draws attention 10 the organic development |
through which Il has passed. and with admira- !
DE terseness exhibits the traits which make II |
unique and beautiful He treats Of the early |
ana later schools, indicating the order that |
reigns in the evolution Of japanese architecture
ne has chapters temples and shrines temple |
gardens, domestic interiors and the minor arts
and he glances also at the pictorial and plastic
creations II the Orient This volume amounts |
10 scarcely more than essay, but il has an
instructive quality not always found in more
ambitious publications It is effectively illus
trsted with tinted halftones from photographs !
and we note also with special appreciation !
some careful line drawings. Another modest !
but welcome contribution TO the popular liters- !
ture OF Oriental matters is the book OF Japan
ess Treasure Tales CYamanaka & Coz, by Ku- |
Tnasaku Tomita and @. Ambrose Lee. The tales |
celebrated in the cunningly wrought sword /
guards and netsukes Of Japan. These little mas
terpieces of craftsmanship often adorned
with biz Gf genre which explains itself, some
realistic episode pointing nothing more than
an artists amused observation of the life
around him. But very often the carvings refer