Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/314

 260 NOTES AND QUERIES, p* s. vi. SEPT. 29, im hideous modern nave, entirely out of line with the chancel, is the principal feature in a strange archi- tectural medley." So says Mr. Warden Page, whose estimate we accept, having seen none of the Taunton churches. The grey tower is of the Decorated order of architecture, and is assigned to the four- teenth century, and is picturesque as well as quaint The Monthly Review. (Murray.) Ix bibliographical respects the Monthly Review fulfils the high expectations that have been formed. It is a solid volume, excellently printed upon well- selecteil paper, and its blue cover is tasteful as well as serviceable. Specially admirable is the type, which is largo, distinct, and legible to all sights— larger, indeed, than that of any similar publication we can recall. The task of perusal is as pleasurable as it can be made. As was to be expected in the case of an opening number, the contents are agree- ably varied, though the portion assigned to problems of war and empire is larger than it will be, it is to be hoped and expected, when the present ferment has subsided. Of thp three editorial articles with which it opens the first is devoted to ' The Paradox of Imperialism," the second to ' After Pekin,' and the third to ' Parties and Principles.' ' Details of my paily Life,' by Abdur Rahman, Amir of Afghan- istan, supplies a foretaste of an autobiography of that potentate to be issued before long from Mr. Murray's press. It has the familiar character of Oriental literature, introducing not only passages from the Koran and proverbial illustrations such as " The cat does not dream about anything but mice," but extracts from poems. Illustrations from the love of woman arc conspicuous. The informa- tion supplied is interesting, and the method of conveying it is rather naive. To most who have dreamed of Oriental pursuits the description of life in a palace will come as a surprise. The most interesting and, on the whole, the most important paper is that of Mr. Roger K. Fry on 'Art before Giotto,' which is the first of a series, and is illus- trated. What, however, does the writer mean by talking of the " flaire [«'<•] of a chiffonier [*i>]"? The "flair of a chiffonnier" is comprehensible, if not esjiecially happy; the phrase used is hope- lessly inaccurate. Mr. Quiller-Couch writes on "T. E. B[rown],' and Mrs. Hugh Bell on 'The Influence of the Stage' without having anything very special to say. Prof. Turner discourses on 'Recent Eclipses,'and Miss M. E. Coleridge 'On Loss of Time. • The Book of Common Prayer. (Oxford, Univer- sity Press.) THIS Oxford elongated Book of Common Prayer is one of the luxurious productions of the Oxford University Press. It measures 5 inches by 2t inches, and is, accordingly, convenient for the pocket, can be obtained with or without ' Hymns Ancient and Modern,' and is issued with type of laudable clearness in two forms, on common paper or on Oxford India paper. The latter, with the rich gilding on red edges, and a flexible morocco binding, is all that can be desired in the way of elegance and luxury. The Principle* of Che** in Theory aitd Practice. By James Mason. Third Edition. (Cox.) IT is pleasant to find that this serviceable manual of chess has already run to a third edition. It is especially thorough in its opening chapters, and a mastery of them will put the oeginner on the way of becoming an expert. So much of the various open- ings is what was technically known as "book" that works of the kind are indispensable. Much attention is paid to pawn play, into which most chess play has a tendency to develope itself. MR. ROBERT H. FRYAB, of Bath, has issued in a complete form The Isiac Tablet (of Cardinal Benibo), which in an accompanying description is called a " unique and perfect Gem of Ancient Art," " a Resume We] of Ancient Theosophy and Astronomy," " the Key of Hieroglyphical Science," and "the Eighth Wonder of the World." An account of its discovery and its fortunes is also supplied. "Occultism and "mysticism" are to the fore at present, and the work and explanation will doubtless be to the tastes of a class of readers. We seem to trace on the tablet, with modifications, the figures of Thoth, the Scribe of the Gods, and various Egyptian deities ; but we are not (Edipus, nor even TRawIinson, and we must leave to others the unveiling of the mysteries herein depicted. The tablet can be obtained from Mr. Fryar. WE have received various numbers of "The Useful Arts and Handicrafts Series" (Dawbarn ft Ward). Of these, No. 24, by Mr. Charles K. Daw- son, first Steps in Painting, is thoroughly repre- sentative. It is admirably suited to its purpose, and will be of the highest use to the student.—Con- secutive numbers of the Photominiaiure also reach us. The results obtained are in most cases excel- lent, and the work should bo in the possession of every photographer. goiitci 10 We must call special attention to the following notices:— ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith. WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately. To secure insertion of communications corre- spondents must observe the following rules. Let each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. When answer- ing queries, or making notes with regard to previous entries in the paper, contributors are requested to put in parentheses, immediately after the exact heading, the series, volume, and page or pages to which they refer. Correspondents who repeat queries are requested to head the second com- munication " Duplicate." X. Y. Z. (" Lindisfarne"). — Another name for Holy Island, off the north-eastern coast of North- umberland. A. R. (" Browning's ' Inn Album'").—We do not see our way to do what you ask. oRRinKNDUM.—P. 221, col. 2, 1. 11 from bottom, for "St. Martin's Church" read St. Margaret's Church. NOTICE. Editorial Communications should be addressed to "The Editor of 'Notes and Queries'"—Advertise- ments and Business Letters to "The Publisher"— at the Office, Bream'sBuildings, Chancery Lane, E. C. We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print; and to this rule we can make no exception.