Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-28

as this, on the one hand, has remained
faithful to the classic spirit, and. on the
other, has departed from it. Addressed
to artists for their instruction and ad-
monition. the lectures are of much in
terest and value to any intelligent reader
possessed Of a liking for pictures and
painting.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM. Its History
and Treasures, . View Of the ORR
gins Of that Great Institution,
Sketches Of ItA Early Benefactorr
and Principal Omcers and . Survey
Within Its Walls. BY Henry c.
Shelly. author of Inns and Tav-
trated. Boston: L. c. page & 60.
Washington: Brentano's.
The scope OF this important work is
outlined in its descriptive subtitle, but
no hint is conveyed of the charm of mar
rative and wealth of historic incident and
anecdote which the reader discovers on
nearly every page. There is an opening
portrait of that Sir Robert 3. Cotton
whose collection of books manuscripts
ana curios formed the foundation stone
benefactors of the institution include
Robert Harley, 1.-THE Afaecenas Of learned
men of his time" whose fame as a patron
of the arts is all the more notable In
contrast to- that of his Puritan GRANDPA
Their, who "cleansed' Westminster Abbey
by paying shillings here and there for
the destruction of it's sculptures. affairs.
priceless paintings and ''storied panes Of
glass The founding of the museum and
It's government by successive officials is
presented with clearness unhampered
by the dryness which is usually a chief
ingredient in the citation of chronological
facts. and there are eight succeeding
chapters devoted to THE Treasures of
the British Museum. The illustrations
number fifty photographs of the rarest
exhibits In England's great treasure
house, with view of its entrance han
by way of frontispiece
Any visitor to the museum who re-
calls the number Of guide books and cata-
logues needed to give comprehensive
idea of its exhibits will agree with the
author as to the impossibility of describ-
ing Its various departments with any mi
nuteness Of detail. His method has been
the wise one of giving TO the reader "a
point of view useful alike. it is hoped,
either for visit to the museum or for
an armchair understanding Of it's con-
tents"
The book itself, apart from it's literary
excellence, it's photographs and map IS
beautifully bound In English red blazoned
with the coat-of-arms of Great Britain.
THE SPELL OF HOLLAND; the Story
of a Pilgrimage to the Land OF
Dykes and WindmilIs. BY Burton
l.. Stevenson. With illustrations by
the author. Boston: L. G. Page &
Co. Washington: Brentano's
Most American tourists visit Holland
Many OF them make snapshots and collect
post cards. and when they get home
write book of Impressions, with illus
trations from photographs by the au-
thor The difference between these i'm
pressions is the way they look in print.
Judged by this standard, the present vol
ume Is a delight not only to stay-at-
homes who must see the world through
the eyes OF writer's. but equally to other
travellers who are able to realize by ex-
perience how realistically Mr.. Stevenson
has caught the atmosphere of the quaint
ly primitive and cheerful Dutch and the
country in which they live.
From the first chapter, I'm Hollow
Land to the concluding, Last Days,
the book is rich in descriptive charm
and historically valuable as guide to
tourists who anticipate so thorough a
pilgrimage through Holland as this one
made by the author and his companion.
The companion Is Betty" whose piquant
personality asserts itself even through the