Evening star., 1933-02-28
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
M. G..

NEW ORLEANS: It's Old Houses, Shops
and Public Buildings. BY Nathaniel
Cortlandt Curtis. With two Illus
trations In color, 10 in double-tone
and line, and two folding maps. in
cluding drawings by the author.
Philadelphia: j. B. Lippincott Co.
When almost the entire populace a
few years ago began hunting and col
lecting antiques it was inevitable that
sooner or later old houses and old
buildings would become objects Of in
terest. The newly converted collectors
of old furniture, glass, china end other
come to the realization that most Of
their finds" look hopelessly out Of
place and awkward In the average mod
ern house or apartment. A mad rush
for old houses was the natural result,
and SO general has become the interest
in the comparatively few antiques Of
this character which have survived the
march Of modern architecture that
many writers have been kept busy salts
flying the thirst for knowledge about
any old building that looks as though
1t may have had q past.
In some sections OF the country there
has always prevailed a disposition to
preserve the landmarks and relics
which contributed to the making Of
history in bygone generations. Some
cities have jealousy guarded and cared
for these heritages, making them the
pride and keeping them the honor Of
the community, while others have al
lowed priceless possessions to degen-
crate into slum, factory and storage
buildings. or to decay and fall into
ruins. With the creation of interest
in the revival and restoration of old
h1ii nf
beauty and the purposes for which they
were constructed has been born, and
undoubtedly the type of literature
which has been the natural OutgroWth
has added greatly to more enlightened
understanding of the early development
of American cultural consciousness and
Of those whose lives left their indelible
imprint upon the communities In which
they made their homes.
New Orleans, fortunately. Is one Of
the early settlements on this continent
architectural beauty and charm. Per-
haps 1t could not II it would, for 1t
Is one Of the most extraordinarily faS-
cmating places In the world and pos
sesses wealth of history, tradition
and romance equaled nowhere else in
North America. 1t was founded in
1718 by Jean Baptiste lie Moyne de
Bienville and has the unique distinction
among American cities Of having served
under four fiags-French, Spanish,
Confederate and the flag Of the United
States. No other city in this country
offers so much material and inspira-
tion to the discriminating writer, and
Nathaniel Cortlandt Curtis has pro-
duced a volume which for attractive
ness, literary quality and context is
an outstanding contribution to publica-
tions of this character. It tells all about
the picturesque old homes with their
overhanging wrought-iron and grilled
balconies and beautiful courtyards; who
lived in them generations ago and
who lives in them now. 1t gives the
historic backgrounds CT buildings of
international fame. together with de-
scriptions Of outstanding events which
took root within their walls. It is
richly illustrated with photographs.
maps and drawings which Immediately
arouse a keen desire to go to New
Orleans and see and absorb the beauty
and the romance that fills the senses
with deeper affection for the old
houses, shops and public buildings-the
survivals Of two centuries and more ago.