Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/508

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [> s. x. DEC. 20, 1902.

Christmas: its Origin and Associations. By W. F.

Dawson. (Stock.)

A QUARTER of a century ago Mr. Dawson began this collection of materials for a history of Christmas celebrations and observances. Materials of the kind are abundant, our own columns alone supplying, we should suppose, what would make more than one volume like that before us, and Biblical narra- tive and the lives of the saints add further to the amount. His collections have been arranged chronologically, the first chapter dealing with the prophecies having relation to Christ and the narra- tives of the Evangelists Matthew and Luke, while the last presents the concluding carol service of the nineteenth century given in Lichfield Cathedral on St. Stephen's Day. Christmas illustrations are scarcely less numerous than Christmas records, and well on to a hundred more or less familiar designs are incorporated into the text from various sources, mostly prints. The interest of these is as a rule greater than their novelty. To the general public, however, the book makes strong appeal, and it would be difficult to find a book in wnich so widely different information can be found collected. The frontispiece shows the bringing in of the Yule log in Tudor times. Other designs are from a Botticelli in the National Gallery, from stained glass in Winchester Cathe- dral, from prints by Breughel, and countless other sources. George Wither's famous Christmas carol is reprinted, Court masques under James I. are described, and there is a vast amount of infor- mation, much of it not too easily accessible. Mr. Dawson is moved to give some of his own verses, the piety of which is more valuable than the poetry. We should have preferred to have Milton's ' Ode on the Nativity,' long as this is for inclusion in a volume of this sort.

Whitaker's Peerage for the Year 1903. An Alma- nack for 1903. By Joseph Whitaker, F.S.A. (Whitaker & Sons.)

THESE invaluable publications are henceforward, as this year, to be jointly issued near the middle of December. Both have, so to speak, won their spurs, and the ' Almanack ' is now, perhaps, recognized as the most indispensable of all annuals to the politi- cian, the journalist, the business man, and the seeker after information. Nothing can be added to the praise awarded, and the testimony to its merits is furnished in its practically universal circulation. By the augmentation of its historical notes the ' Peerage ' adds to its value as a handy and portable book of reference to the titled classes. About sixty pages have been added to the six hundred and fifty of the previous volume. For those who seek only a convenient guide to the upper classes the work fulfils every requirement. Its rapidly increasing popularity constitutes the highest proof of its merits.

The International Directory of Booksellers and Bibliophile's Manual. Edited by James Clegg. (Rochdale, Clegg.)

MR. CLEGG'S useful ' Directory of Booksellers ' increases in size with each succeeding issue, and this, the sixth edition, contains very much informa- tion undreamt of in the first. This is likely still further to increase, and the book will always com- mend itself to the bibliophile.

AMONG Christmas works may, perhaps, be in- cluded Messrs. Methuen's facsimile of Lamb's King and Queen of Hearts, an 1805 book for children. It

is accompanied by an introduction by Mr. E. V. Lucas, in which Lamb's right to the verses is estab- lished. We yield to the evidence collected by that most assiduous and trustworthy of Lamb scholars, but it is not easy to fancy Lamb riming hasty with pastry, and ladle with able. Mulready's designs are delightful, and the little book will be included in all Lamb collections.

The Christmas Book Shelf, being the Christmas number of the New York Publishers 1 Weekly, contains so many illustrations from books recently published that it may be glanced through with interest, and, trade organ as it is, may almost be regarded as a gift-book.

THE Christmas number of Cassell's Magazine is principally made up of fiction. Many of its illus- trations are beautiful. With the number is presented a very artistic reproduction of Mr. Julius M. Price's painting ' Good-Bye, Sweetheart,' exhibited in last May's Academy.

To the series of "Useful Arts and Handicrafts" Mr. H. Snowden Ward has added a treatise on Grangerizing, or extra-illustrating books. He is prepared for the outcry this will make, but pro- tests that he will show how the practice can be carried out in seemly fashion. To expect that people will confine themselves within the limits he imposes is to show belief in the perfectibility of human nature. Messrs. Dawbarn & Ward are the publishers of this as of previous opuscules of the

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Eut in parentheses, immediately after the exact eading, the series, volume, and page or pages to which they refer. Correspondents who repeat queries are requested to head the second com- munication " Duplicate."

J. A.' The White Man's Burden' is the title of a poem by Kipling published in the Times. 4 Feb., 1899.

T. R. P. ("Capital Punishment"). Unsuited to our columns.

ERRATA. P. 463, col. 1, 1. 41, for " ugei orhogoi- ta" read ugei or hogoi-ta ; col. 2, 1. 2, for "Lhan" read Llan. P. 468, col. 2, last query, the name in- quired after is Stalkartt, not " Stalkarth."

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