New-York tribune., 1909-06-06
TR4TEL.
Illustrated Books of History and
Personal Impressions.

cara Crawford Perkins. illustrated In two two
voumes- Svo pp xiv, 2SS' Vli' 80 f1ei'S ii0''
L Co.
THE SPELL OF ITALY BY CaT05qe In A5%a6Tr HaS9d9:
Mason. Illustrated. Emo, PIP Y "S0' boS'on'
i g Page & Co
CSzE IRISH SUMMER BY William ..I9 ElerOy % Curtis
Illustrated Syo. Up *, So Duihe-d u %
MOTOR TOURS IN WALES AND THE BORDER DEB
trated. with Photographs pE n - a . 2 - VIII
LIMO. pp. X, so. Boston; l. c Page q o.
The author of Builders Of Spain and 'French
Cathedrals and Chateaux' has shreWd sense
Of the qualities that go to make up the popular
a,aoa, of travel She knows that what the reader
REQUIRES IS a mass Of facts. not simply well or
7a--5 nut nut together in attractive fashion
She writes with a serious purpose, but very
assily and lightly. conveying Information enter
tainingly and giving the mild instruction when
les within her scope in terms that never SAVIOR
Of pedantry. Her work on Spain is especially TO
fe commended Every one knows that the MS
tory Of the peninsula is tanSle Of racial eIe-
rnents Few writers are skilful enough to make
that tangle clear or if they have the skill, they
are disposed to leave it in allegiance while they
indulge in large generalizations- The very mod
tstv with which Mrs. Perkins has undertaken
her task has contributed to its more effective
fulhlment
She does not try to tell too much. but in brief
chapters surveys the broad phases Of her sub
ject. glancing at the Romans, the Nizigoths'
Arabs and Moors. and finally the Christian
kings, down TO our own time. The different
forces that nave helped to build up the Spanish
Ieople are justly and Interestingly character
lied and incidentally We are afforded gmpses
Of the salient leaders in the great epochs. Re
productions of buildings and paintings appro-
Iriately illustrate these pages, which become
more and more typographical in significance as
the author proceeds She follows her historical
survey with notes the chief towns, Toledo,
Cordoya, Seville, Madrid and on, and in
simple straightforward manner adapts her text
TO the uses OF the tourist. For that individual
she performs an equally useful service in her
volumes On the Gothic cathedrals and Renais-
sance chateaux Of France Though not pro
Tossing 10 be learned Ii architecture, she de-
scrIbes the monuments not only with sympathy
but with some knowledge, and here even more
than in her Spanish volumes she draws very
prcftably upon the personalia Of history. This
book is illustrated. like its companion, with good
halftones- Both are decoratvely bound in red
and gold
The Spell Of Italy" is one Of those books the
vogue Of which has recently increased in which
Impressions of travel are set forth more or less
e the manner OF fiction The mother and
daughter 20 whom we are introduced in the
first chapter make Italian tour, which if not
precisely adventurous is at all events marked by
episodes in which sentiment and humor play
their parts Their enthusiasm for what they see
IS expressed in dialogue. The history intro
CUccd IN these pages is brought in whenever
possible part Of conversation. The result is
q very pleasantly readable little volume Mrs
Mason took TO Italy a well stored mind and a
gift Of appreciation The famous writers and
great generally whose names are associated
with Italy are familiar TO her and the illusions
she makes are apt. She can be at times quite
fervid enough and even little sentimental but
she has also humorous outlook, as witness the
following passage from the chapter in which she
traVerses the books for a traveller in Italy
among them, Of course, the books of Ruskin:
Sir Oracle laughed Fila 'T think he is quite
quite too terrible And you know the critics now
say he admired the wrong things half the time in
t-aT last and furious way OF his
Aevertneiesa. should always read him.
plec Il telt sure tt'at had moral stamina suf-
I-Iezt TO hold my own against his fierce dogma
t-srn- He made mistakes. and some he and
a-+-lo s-ledEed, bat ] believe the whole initiative
i.- the study Of Italian art in time his.
ila is the dynamo which All the have kin
died their sparks for he discovered first OF mod
s:U EHgishuen. The treasures here and stabbed
tGr spirits broad awake "
! loved him before he got learned, when he
about big as L. commented Fila and had
and supposed the malaria n the Campagua to BE
-l~ consequence of the Papacyi"
Delicious said the BOstOnian. Il did not know
that Russln could be funny. by the way you
turuing out of ad5ectivesY' AS he spoke he drew
small address book his pocket We both
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