aim of this book, and in the accomplishment of this aim the author has been most happily successful. The stories are told in an easy, attractive style, which cannot fail to interest, amuse and appeal to the mind and heart. This excellent book deserves most hearty endorsement by parents and teachers and should occupy a prominent place on the Christmas table and in the family and school library.

trated by Corwin Knapp Linson, and attractively bound (8vo. Price $1.08), and the other one is "Ships and Havens." An exquisite essay; most artistically printed in red and black on rough edged handmade paper (12mo. cloth. Price 45 cents). The poetical charm of his style and his deep sentiment make these two little volumes two of the prettiest Christmas gifts of the year.

Collectors of Ex Libris, especially all those who wish to get in concise, attractive form, information about these curious objects of collecting, a fad which of late has been revived and spread wonderfully, will welcome an excellent little volume by John A. Gade, published by M.

If you wish to afford especial pleasure to a book lover, then present him with a copy of a volume entitled The Bibliotaph and Other People," by Leon H. Vincent. (12mo. cloth, $1.08). In this enticing book the author not only proves himself to be a genuine lover of books, but he also shows an unusual ability to transfer this love of books to the reader, to make it intelligible to him, to interest and amuse him, and to let him partake of his own joy and satisfaction, which the love of books afford. There is not space enough here to do this volume of genuinely bookish and literary essays justice, but we hope to publish a fuller review of it in a future issue. In the meantime this short but hearty recommendation will have to suffice.

Henry Van Dyke, that genial and sympathetic writer, who gave us last year that charming Christmas book, The First Christmas Tree (8vo. illustrated, cloth. Price $1.08), is again in the field with two essentially Christmas publications. One is "The Lost Word," A Christmas Legend of Long Ago; beautifully printed on rough edged paper, illus

F. Mansfield & Co. entitled: "BookPlates Old and New." (16mo. boards. Price 90 cents.) Without going too much into detail and technicalities, it gives the quintessence of all that is worth knowing about these interesting little designs, together with a dozen examples of characteristic book plates. In its tasteful get up this attractive and interesting little volume is worthy its subject. Illustrated Gift Books and Works of and on Art.

For the past few years special holiday editions of some of Washington Irving's masterworks have figured prominently among the holiday books. The appearance of two beautifully illustrated, attractively bound, large 8vo. volumes in box, has become quite familiar to the Christmas book buyer, and all who have made a gift of one of these sets in previous years, will not need to have the embarrassment of choosing, for this year again the Putnam's have issued one of these attractive sets, which are an ornament to every library. It is "The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, U. S. A." in the Rocky Mountains and the Far West; digested from his journal and illustrated from various other sources by Washington Irving. Pawnee Edition, uniform in general style with the previous holiday illustrated editions of Irving's works. With 27 photogravure illustrations and colored borders. (Two volumes, large 8vo. cloth extra, gilt tops. Price $4.50.)

Another handsome gift book is the "Maude Adams' Edition" of J. M. Barrie's masterwork "The Little

(From "Little Minister Souvenir" Published by R. H. Russell, New York. Copyright, 1898, by Robert Howard Russell.)

Minister." It is published by R. H. Russell, and exquisitely illustrated with over thirty full-page wash drawings by C. Allen Gilbert, and photographs taken especially for the purpose. The cover is of white vellum, stamped with an appropriate design in gold, with a miniature portrait of Miss Adams, who has made famous the story in play form. The price of this beautiful book is $1.90, and will surely be appreciated by every book lover.

A beautiful holiday edition of Charles Dickens' "A Child's History of England" has been brought out by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston. It is illustrated with 48 full-page engravings from photographs by Clifton Johnson, and presents this great classic in a worthy new attire (8vo. cloth. Price $1.90).

(From "Twenty Years After." T. Y. Crowell & Co., Publishers.)

by Frank T. Merrill. (Price per set, bound in cloth, $1.90.) In this very attractive new form it is sure to please. It will be particularly welcomed by all, who own The Three Musketeers published last year in the same style, with illustrations by Leloir.

Any one who ever visited Rome, the "Eternal City," as well as the general reader, and especially the many who have read those of Marion Crawford's fascinating novels, which deal with life of modern Rome, will hail with enthusiasm the two beautiful volumes which this popular writer has just published through the Macmillan Company, under the title "Ave Roma Immortalis." (2 vols. Illustrated, cloth. Price $5.25.) This magnificent work, most profusely illustrated with photogravures and half

tones, contains Marion Crawford's interesting studies from the Chronicles of Rome, which he gathered in that city, while in pursuit of material for his widely read novels. It is a book full of rare information and absorbing interest, and altogether one of the most enjoyable books published for a long time.

A most beautiful presentation volume to a woman of the haut ton, while no less attractive and interesting to the book lover in general as well as to the student of fashions and manners is Octave Uzane's sumptuous work, entitled Fashion in Paris," in English translation by Lady Mary Loyd. It pictures the various phases of feminine taste and æsthetics from 1797 to 1897, and is illustrated with 100 full-page, hand-colored plates and 250 text illustrations. The text gives a brilliant and philoso

(From "A Floral Fantasy." In an old English Garden, Verses with 48 full-page drawings in color by Walter

Crane. Harper & Brothers, Publishers.)

phic review of the vagaries of the fashions of a century in the city where fashion's dictates originate. The colored plates, which represent complete scenes of various times from the Directory, the First Empire, the Restoration and the second Empire down to to-day, are as nearly perfect as can be-every detail being historically correct. (Large 8vo. cloth. Price $13.50.)

"Thomas Gainsborough" is the title and subject of a magnificent large 4to. volume by Walter Armstrong, of the British Museum, which will be welcomed by every lover of art. Gainsborough's name is in mod. ern judgment the most illustrious among the painters of the English school, and this exhaustive biography is by one whose great reputation as an expert is based upon a wide and intimate knowledge of art. As an art work, employing the

utmost modern resources of the printer's and engraver's skill, it would be difficult to find anything comparable to it. It contains 36 full-page photogravures, 12 full-page lithographs and 20 other illustrations. (Price, bound in cloth, $22.50.)

One of the most exquisite, moderately-priced holiday gifts of real intrinsic value, is a separate edition of Hamilton W. Mabie's beautiful essay, "The Forest of Arden," illustrated by Will H. Low with a number of full-page illustrations in his most charming manner, and with decorations and ornaments. The publishers have spared no pains to give this literary gem a fitting setting, and the result is a book of unusual charm in matter and manner. (12mo. cloth. Price $1.50.)

THE BLESSED DAMOZEL.
(After Crayon Study by Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
By courtesy of Messrs. L. C. Page & Co.)

interesting introduction by W. M. Rossetti, the poet's brother, and full-page ornamental decorations by W. B. Macdougal. The text is that of the earliest printed version, as issued in the rare periodical, The Gem, afterwards Art and Poetry, and consequently presents the poem in a form hitherto practically inaccessible. The frontispiece is a reproduction of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's crayon study of the head of the Blessed Damozel. (Small 4to. cloth, decorative cover. Price $1.90.)

The Macmillan Company have published this year what will doubtless be one of the leaders of their large number of attractive and valuable publications, an illustrated holiday edition of that masterpiece of modern American fiction, "The Choir Invisible," by James Lane Allen. (12mo. cloth. Price $1.90.) In its new festival garb, with 97 illustrations by Orson Lowell, it will be the delight of its numerous admirers, and will no doubt figure prominently among this year's Christmas gifts. The same publish

ers have also brought out a new edition of that old favorite "Cranford," by Mrs. Gaskell, with charming colored illustrations and a most delightful new edition of Jane Austen's Works," in 10 dainty volumes with exquisite colored illustrations. (Price per set, bound in cloth, $9.00.)

A very attractive book, quaint and most tastefully gotten up, is Emily Prime Delafield's play "Alice in Wonderland," which was performed by a company of about 60 children on the 14th of March, 1897, at the Waldorf-Astoria for the benefit of the Society of Decorative Art. It is a very clever adaptation from Lewis Carroll's stories told altogether in the author's own words. The principal charm of this volume, which will delight young and old, lies in its truly artistic get-up, being beautifully printed, by Updike's Merrymount Press of Boston, in bold type on heavy rough edged paper, illustrated with four full-page quaint pictures in red and black, and bound in boards with illustrated cover in colors. (12mo. Price 90 cents.)