Evening star., 1917-09-16
SPANISH ARCHITECTURE OF THE
SIXTEENTH CENTURY. By Arthur
Byne and Mildred Stapley. New

SIXTEENTH CENTURY. BY Arthur
Byne and Mildred Stapley. New
York: G. p. Putnam's Sons.
History. biography. description, and
critical analysis furnish the means by
which the authors here present an all
around view of the development of re-
naissance architecture in Spain. A short
historical sketch shows how the architects
OF Spain received the initial impulse OF
the Italian rena issance. modifying this
by the Spanish environment OF climate.
temperament. racial trait and habit and
the influence of long Moorish occupa
ton. To bring the reader into definite
concrete relations with the renaissance
movement applied to Spanish architecture
the authors have brought together within
this volume more than 200 pictures illus
trattng different aspects OF this art ap-
Piled to castle. monastery. hospital, cathe-
dral. university and palace. The domes-
form of architecture-that of the patio
as the center Of home life. with its sur
rounding walls of bare and unadorned
surfaces. There is anough of detailed
and technical description here. enough of
artistic appraisal and appreciation TO
make the book one Of distinct value to the
professional architect interested in the
historical growth Of his art as it is, taken
in It's entirety. one of useful instruction to
the general student. and one of sub
stantial interest to the traveller or mere
reader.
DECORATIVE ELEMENTS IN ARCHI-
TECTURE. BY William Francklyn
Paris. L. II. D.. lecturer on fine arts. .
University of Pennsylvania. New
York: John Lane Company.
When the specialist in any line be-
takes to flight For the specialist de-
fsrynt tv,
his profession, and this is an unknown
tongue to the average man, 50 he runs
away from 1t. Once in a blue moon
passed through the period Of techni-
calitfee and has emerged. full of knowl
edge, upon the plane of common speech
once moro. Such a man wrote this
book. which in q whimsical. and fitting.
subtitle he speaks of as random OBJ
servations on the eternal fitness Of
things from a decorative point of view"
For these random observations he goes
down into his knowledge of the princi-
pies underlying the art Of decoration
underlie tho creation of that upon
which decoration is to be expended.
With pleasing informality of manner
and never a lapse from simplicity of
speech the writer leads one to see that
the decorations of a building are an
organic part Of the building itself; that
what the structure itself is saying in
sonorous tones the decorations are say
ing also in subtle undertones; that both
have a common reason for existence, a
common purpose and aim. To point
this thesis there are, at every page or
80. pictures from various places and
congruous in the decorations Of out
side and inside walls. in the right
meanings of certain forms of furniture,
in tho true ensemble of groundwork
and adornment. In this study, where
all OF the treatment is admirably
helpful. there is a most interesting
chapter on the art of weaving pictures,
on tapestry making, a historical sur
vey Of this wellnigh lost art. The
orations of it's binding, type paper and
illustrations-simply applies what the
author and artist have had to say with
in it's covers on the subject of decora-
tion applied to some true and signifi-
cant foundation.
SPIRIT INTERCOURSE, Its Theory
and Practice. BY j. Hewat Nc
Kenzie. New York: Mitchell Ken
nerley.
1t is the textbook quality of this
study on spirit intercourse that gives
it its distinction. setting it apart from
the bulk of literature upon the general
subject of spiritism. The authors
claim is that by following out the in
structions set down here one may not
only prove to himself that there is a
continuity of personal existence after
death. but he may also acquire such
spiritual power as to put him in
ready communication with those who
have passed into the realm of spirit
life. The prime purpose OF the book Is
to teach the art and practice of such
intercourse. In fulhlment Of this pur-
nnaA the statementa are simple. the di-
rections clear. Accompanying this in
struction. and giving 1t foundation, IL
the theory upon which the fundamental
claim of the writer rests-the theory
Of a continued life after death. This
persistence of personality is. according
to him. but the operation of a natural
law. the projection of life into another
plane of actual existence. To buttress
this theory Mr.. Mckenzie places around
it substantial body of fact concerning
the most recent and most authentic of
the communications that have been re-
ceived by many Of unimpeachable au-