The Washington times., 1913-12-21

| whether merely eNpurgated or tran3-
lated, has been given careful Considera-
ton by-writerS of charm and ability.
Madame Maurice Maeterlinck has writ
ten the story Of .The Blue Bird, Kate
Douglas Wiggin has contributed the ir-
PRODUCTION to the MaXfield Parrish
Cramp by translatiDg "Pinocchio.'' from
the Italian of. Collodi, has given to
American children one of the most
loved of Italian classics.
There is not enough time or space to
enGmerate more than few of the
books that are represented in the
galaxy. 1t must he constantly borne in
mind that when the expression ''colorcd
plate is used, il means that the pubi-
cation contains a picture as highly coli
oTed and as suitable for framing as an
expensive water color. Each enc is a
work OF art, for no small attempt has
been made to make them beautiful.
Well Worth Trip.
Perhaps you are not acquainted with
the names of all of the artists men-
toned in the ensuing paragraphs, but if
You like Maxfield Parrish pictures and
will take the word OF the writer that
the others are just as wonderful. ard
some may think even more delicately
|
Christmas so by without at least taking
a peep into the children's books in rhe
shops.
There is little wonder a large
Percentage of the purchasers of these
treasures are Srown-uDS. Yes, indeed. it
is true. ard they buy them for one
another, not for children Unable to
have had the advantage of books like
the present holiday publications in their
youth. they are oravely making up for
1t now by placing in their libraries,
side by side with the plain and homely
volumes OF their childhood. the chill
dren's books of today.
Our oldest ami best friend. Mother
Goose should receive the first c0nsid-
eration. There are illustrated volumes
of these rhymes at every price and I'm
every size. but only two of the best ed!-
TONS VIII he mentioned, the one by Ar
thur Rackham and the other by Fanny
Y. Corey
The Rackham Mother Goose copiousIy
Illustrated in back and white besides
the coiored plates. is the delight of de-
lShts. No other artist could have
iiaoe sucn success of the verse:
AS L was going to ST Ives. I met a
man with seven wives" etc.
That remarkable man is shown. sur
rounded 10y his wives. travelling along
Just as natural as life. This artist has
also illustrated Grimm's Fairy Tales
and Aesop's Fables with colored plates.
Is Clearly Shown.
In no instance is the difference be-
tween the old styles of illustrating and
the present effort for reality more
clearly shown. Where the style was
wont to be stiff and unreal, and the
color a matter attempted only by the
greatest of artists. study of Rack
hams work win reveal not alone a
wealth of tone and blending shades, but
knowledge of natural history and
anatomy. His children are real. and his
animals. by looking different from the
Perfect specimens artists used to make
them possess individual characteristics
and become real personalities. There is
falnt tingC OF d broGnish cast over
all of his work. which adds, materially
10 the reality of his conceptions. The in
PRODUCTION to the fables was written
by G. X. Chesterton. In the story of
the tree and the axe the touch is REM
iniscent of the wonderful work of the
Japanese. not so much in color as in
treatment.
In Corey's Best Style.
The other Mother Goose is done in
Fanny Y. Corey's best STYLE and fairly
rsmpant with the unusual coloring so
characteristic of this seasons output
Cne plate is illustrative of ''Rock-a-by-
baby. in the tree top shows per-
fectlv kfssabie baby. who looks as if
ne never could cry. comfortable in a
high ard Towering tree top. fast in his
old fashion I'd cradle. rocking gently in
the wind.
N C. wyeth naturally turned 20
:. Tree sure, Island'i and tEid.rapped
for inspiration. He has succeeded ad-
in reproducing n true bucca-
neer. while the books fairly brist'e
with swords and cutlasses. Just inside
the cover the pirates stride a.ort: in a
troop right ont of the book. and inside
on TIE ociorcG plates they are shown ii
masses of rich and stirring color. a
rare effect OF g,ittering gold is fur
nished in the picture which shows the
boy Hawkins ir Treasure Island in
the cave busily packing aWar the god
pieces in which he sits almost covered.
''kidnaped' has received nc less
symDathetic treatment.
There is picture of the piping
match of Alan and the other visitor;
one showing David at last al Mr.. Ram
nEAI MENTIHN