e of
this book gives a suggestion for some rich tapestry, some fine screen,
some painted cassone, some carving in wood or ivory.

* * * * *

From Messrs. Hildesheimer and Faulkner I have received a large collection
of Christmas cards and illustrated books. One of the latter, an edition
de luxe of Sheridan's Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen, is very
cleverly illustrated by Miss Alice Havers and Mr. Ernest Wilson. It
seems to me, however, that there is a danger of modern illustration
becoming too pictorial. What we need is good book-ornament, decorative
ornament that will go with type and printing, and give to each page a
harmony and unity of effect. Merely dotting a page with reproductions of
water-colour drawings will not do. It is true that Japanese art, which
is essentially decorative, is pictorial also. But the Japanese have the
most wonderful delicacy of touch, and with a science so subtle that it
gives the effect of exquisite accident, they can by mere placing make an
undecorated space decorative. There is also an intimate connection
between their art and their handwriting or printed characters. They both
go together, and show the same feeling for form and line. Our aim should
be to discover some mode of illustration that will harmonise with the
shapes of our letters. At present there is a discord between our
pictorial illustrations and our unpictorial type. The former are too
essentially imitative in character, and often disturb a page instead of
decorating it. However, I suppose we must regard most of these Christmas
books merely as books of pictures, with a running accompaniment of
explanatory text. As the text, as a rule, consists of poetry, this is
putting the poet in a very subordinate position; but the poetry in the
books of this kind is not, as a rule, of a very high order of excellence.

(1) Three Generations of English Women. Memoirs and Correspondence of
Susannah Taylor, Sarah Austin, and Lady Duff Gordon. By Janet Ross,
Author of Italian Sketches, Land of Manfred, etc. (Fisher Unwin.)

(2) Caroline. By Lady Lindsay. (Bentley and Son.)

(3) Gleanings from the 'Graphic.' By Randolph Caldecott. (Routledge and
Sons.)

(4) Meg's Friend. By Alice Corkran. (Blackie and Sons.)

(5) Under False Colours. By Sarah Doudney. (Blackie and Sons.)

(6) The Fisherman's Daughter. By Florence Montgomery. (Hatchards.)

(7) Under a Cloud. By the Author of The Atelier du Lys. (Hatc