DOI issue:
No. 84 (March, 1900)
DOI article:Reviews
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19784#0152
Reviews
prodigal son of the olden time, a richly gifted
prince, Tsolier by name, the heir to a noble king-
dom, who prefers to chase butterflies and climb
trees to learning his lessons. His father, who is a
wise old monarch, tries to win his beloved boy to
the thorny paths of knowledge by all manner of
means, but all in vain. One set of tutors after
another gives the task up as hopeless, and the King
at last tells the Prince that he will give him one
more chance only, and if he fail to profit by it he
is to be banished to the remote island of Zipangu.
The new plan is of the simplest; Tsolier is to learn
his lessons all alone. He really tries hard this
time, but the fatal butterfly, appears again and the
Prince is off after it as if he recognizes that it is
the emblem of the soul. The old father, hoping
against hope, comes to examine Tsolier for the last
time, and the boy racks his brains for answers to
the questions with which he is plied. He fails
more egregiously than ever—says the Elbe flows
into the Mississippi, and that two and two make
five. He is therefore banished with one faithful
retainer to Zipangu, and now begins an entirely
new life for him. It would be unfair to spoil the
interest of the tale by telling how he is at last won
to the paths of virtue and becomes a true chip of
the old block, a worthy successor to his father. It
is enough to add that charming fairies, such as all
true children love, with the aid of birds and beasts,
assist in bringing about the happy result. The
numerous illustrations to this fascinating volume
are such as to whet the curiosity of the reader, but
they are rather scenic and theatrical than pictorial
or descriptive. There is one serious flaw in the
volume : the dragging in of the devil in a fairy tale
for children is altogether unnecessary, and the
Miirchen relating to him does nothing to aid the
denouement of the tale. There is a certain grim
humour about his sable majesty's adventures, but it
is not of a kind to appeal to the little ones for whom
the book is intended, and should a new edition be
called for the author would be wise to omit the
objectionable chapter and its pictures.
The Pickwick Papers. By Charles Dickens.
With an introduction by Gkorge Gissing and
Notes by F. G. Kitton. Illustrated by E. H.
New. (London : Methuen & Co.). Two vols.,
6s. net.—These are the first two volumes of the
new " Rochester " edition of Dickens, and it may
be said unhesitatingly that, for the price, a better
illustrated, better printed, or a more thoroughly
satisfactory edition of the great novelist's works has
never been issued. Mr. New's illustrations are in
his happiest vein, and deal not with the characters
of the story but with the places and buildings
patronised by the immortal members of the Pick-
wick Club. This welcome innovation is, we
understand, to be observed in connection with
each of the volumes of the " Rochester" edition.
Mr. F. G. Kitlon's notes will be found of much
interest to the general reader and of undoubted
value to the serious student. That Dickens main-
tains his popularity undiminished in the English-
speaking world there can be no doubt, and the
beautiful " Rochester " edition will certainly enlist
a very large number of friends. Fortunately, less
is heard nowadays than formerly of the superfine
few referred to by Mr. George Gissing in his
scholarly introduction as those " unable to distin-
guish between vulgarity of subject and treatment."
Albert von Keller. (Munich : F. Bruckmann.)
Price 60 marks.—A series, handsomely bound, of
twenty photogravures from the paintings of Albert
von Keller. The reproductions are excellent and
will doubtless be most acceptable to admirers of
this painter's work.
The Collotpiies of Edward Osborne. By the
author of " Mary Powell." Illustrated by John
JELLICOE. (London: John C. Nimmo.) The
numerous admirers of Miss Manning's simple,
quaintly-told, old-world romances will welcome this
excellent edition of Edward Osborne. Mr. Jellicoe's
illustrations are, as usual, most appropriately con-
ceived and admirably executed.
The Essays of Elia. By Charles Lamb. Illus-
trated by Charles E. Brock. Two volumes
(London : J. M. Dent & Co.)—A charming and
dainty edition, well printed on good paper and
most tastefully bound. Mr. Brock's numerous
illustrations are admirable, and will enhance his
already high reputation.
Great Masters in Painting and Sculpture.
(London: George Bell & Sons.)—The latest
additions to this admirable series of illustrated
monographs are Raphael, by Henry Strachey ;
Signorelli, by Maud Cruttwell; and Crivelli, by G.
McNeil Rushforth. To each volume is appended
chronological tables and a very useful descriptive
catalogue of the masters' works.
Colour: A Handbook of the Theory of Colour.
By George H. Hurst, F.C.S. (London : Scott,
Greenwood & Co.)—This is a practical and un-
assuming little book, which is profusely illustrated
with ten coloured plates and seventy-two other
illustrations. The first four chapters deal with
the science of colour ; the fifth is devoted to con-
trast ; the sixth is given up to colour in decoration
and design ; while the last chapter of all treats
!39
prodigal son of the olden time, a richly gifted
prince, Tsolier by name, the heir to a noble king-
dom, who prefers to chase butterflies and climb
trees to learning his lessons. His father, who is a
wise old monarch, tries to win his beloved boy to
the thorny paths of knowledge by all manner of
means, but all in vain. One set of tutors after
another gives the task up as hopeless, and the King
at last tells the Prince that he will give him one
more chance only, and if he fail to profit by it he
is to be banished to the remote island of Zipangu.
The new plan is of the simplest; Tsolier is to learn
his lessons all alone. He really tries hard this
time, but the fatal butterfly, appears again and the
Prince is off after it as if he recognizes that it is
the emblem of the soul. The old father, hoping
against hope, comes to examine Tsolier for the last
time, and the boy racks his brains for answers to
the questions with which he is plied. He fails
more egregiously than ever—says the Elbe flows
into the Mississippi, and that two and two make
five. He is therefore banished with one faithful
retainer to Zipangu, and now begins an entirely
new life for him. It would be unfair to spoil the
interest of the tale by telling how he is at last won
to the paths of virtue and becomes a true chip of
the old block, a worthy successor to his father. It
is enough to add that charming fairies, such as all
true children love, with the aid of birds and beasts,
assist in bringing about the happy result. The
numerous illustrations to this fascinating volume
are such as to whet the curiosity of the reader, but
they are rather scenic and theatrical than pictorial
or descriptive. There is one serious flaw in the
volume : the dragging in of the devil in a fairy tale
for children is altogether unnecessary, and the
Miirchen relating to him does nothing to aid the
denouement of the tale. There is a certain grim
humour about his sable majesty's adventures, but it
is not of a kind to appeal to the little ones for whom
the book is intended, and should a new edition be
called for the author would be wise to omit the
objectionable chapter and its pictures.
The Pickwick Papers. By Charles Dickens.
With an introduction by Gkorge Gissing and
Notes by F. G. Kitton. Illustrated by E. H.
New. (London : Methuen & Co.). Two vols.,
6s. net.—These are the first two volumes of the
new " Rochester " edition of Dickens, and it may
be said unhesitatingly that, for the price, a better
illustrated, better printed, or a more thoroughly
satisfactory edition of the great novelist's works has
never been issued. Mr. New's illustrations are in
his happiest vein, and deal not with the characters
of the story but with the places and buildings
patronised by the immortal members of the Pick-
wick Club. This welcome innovation is, we
understand, to be observed in connection with
each of the volumes of the " Rochester" edition.
Mr. F. G. Kitlon's notes will be found of much
interest to the general reader and of undoubted
value to the serious student. That Dickens main-
tains his popularity undiminished in the English-
speaking world there can be no doubt, and the
beautiful " Rochester " edition will certainly enlist
a very large number of friends. Fortunately, less
is heard nowadays than formerly of the superfine
few referred to by Mr. George Gissing in his
scholarly introduction as those " unable to distin-
guish between vulgarity of subject and treatment."
Albert von Keller. (Munich : F. Bruckmann.)
Price 60 marks.—A series, handsomely bound, of
twenty photogravures from the paintings of Albert
von Keller. The reproductions are excellent and
will doubtless be most acceptable to admirers of
this painter's work.
The Collotpiies of Edward Osborne. By the
author of " Mary Powell." Illustrated by John
JELLICOE. (London: John C. Nimmo.) The
numerous admirers of Miss Manning's simple,
quaintly-told, old-world romances will welcome this
excellent edition of Edward Osborne. Mr. Jellicoe's
illustrations are, as usual, most appropriately con-
ceived and admirably executed.
The Essays of Elia. By Charles Lamb. Illus-
trated by Charles E. Brock. Two volumes
(London : J. M. Dent & Co.)—A charming and
dainty edition, well printed on good paper and
most tastefully bound. Mr. Brock's numerous
illustrations are admirable, and will enhance his
already high reputation.
Great Masters in Painting and Sculpture.
(London: George Bell & Sons.)—The latest
additions to this admirable series of illustrated
monographs are Raphael, by Henry Strachey ;
Signorelli, by Maud Cruttwell; and Crivelli, by G.
McNeil Rushforth. To each volume is appended
chronological tables and a very useful descriptive
catalogue of the masters' works.
Colour: A Handbook of the Theory of Colour.
By George H. Hurst, F.C.S. (London : Scott,
Greenwood & Co.)—This is a practical and un-
assuming little book, which is profusely illustrated
with ten coloured plates and seventy-two other
illustrations. The first four chapters deal with
the science of colour ; the fifth is devoted to con-
trast ; the sixth is given up to colour in decoration
and design ; while the last chapter of all treats
!39