A translation of the second edition of “Rembrandt und seine
zeitgenossen.” The author deals with the following subjects: Landscape
painting in Holland; Dutch still life; Dutch genre pictures; Rembrandt;
Van Rijn; Frans Hals; Adriaen Brouwer; Rubens; and Van Dyck.
* * * * *
“With the few exceptions to which we draw attention the book is
thoroughly up to date and unusually accurate.”
+ + − =Ath.= 1909, 2: 104. Jl. 24. 1650w.
“Nowhere else will one find Rembrandt’s life and work more
sympathetically described.”
+ =Dial.= 47: 291. O. 16, ’09. 100w.
“The opinions of the scholarly Dr. Bode will always command respect, but
some of those expressed in the work before us will challenge
contradiction.”
+ − =Int. Studio.= 37: 254. My. ’09. 170w.
“There are venial blemishes in a usually excellent book.”
+ − =Nation.= 88: 424. Ap. 22, ’09. 330w.
“He writes with full knowledge, and from a critical point of view that
is at once discriminating and sympathetic. His analyses and descriptions
are helpful and sympathetic, and while his criticism is seldom
technical, it gives a real assistance to the reader who would enter into
the spirit of this art, understand its motives and methods, and gain a
well-rounded idea of what the principal period of Dutch art signified
and still signifies.”
+ =N. Y. Times.= 14: 303. My. 15, ’09. 800w.
“Is rather unequal in its interest, but leaves an impression of more
substance than the look of it promised. The rendering is, on the whole,
so fluent and easy as to read like original work; twice only has the
idiom betrayed the translator.”
+ − =No. Am.= 190: 259. Ag. ’09. 500w.
Reviewed by E. F. Baldwin.
+ =Outlook.= 93: 597. N. 13, ’09. 150w.
=Boehm, Theobald.=^{[6]} Flute and flute-playing in acoustical,
technical, and artistic aspects; originally published in German in 1871;
tr. and annotated by Dayton C. Miller. $1.50. D. C. Miller, Cleveland,
O.
9–982.
A treatise written in 1871 by the inventor of the modern flute. It
“bears on the acoustic, technical, and artistic aspects of the
instrument. The tables of fingerings are easily understood, and will no
doubt be of value to the flute player as well as interesting to the
student of acoustics.” (N. Y. Times.)
* * * * *
“It contains many useful hints both as regards the execution of florid
music (which operatic audiences still dote on) and the expressive
playing of sustained melodies.”
+ =Nation=. 88: 494. My. 13, ’09. 220w.
“The treatise is a thorough one.”
+ =N. Y. Times.= 14: 197. Ap. 3, ’09. 100w.
=Bogges, Arthur Clinton.=^{[12]} Settlement of Illinois, 1778–1830.
(Chicago historical society’s collection, v. 5.) $3. Chicago historical
society.
9–12041.
“The record of the narrow poverty out of which came abundance, of the
chaos out of which came organization, in short, the record of the small
beginnings of a great American commonwealth. The description is minute:
forty-five closely printed pages contain the list of the authorities
used. Its accuracy is vouched for by Prof. Frederick J. Turner and J. B.
McMaster, who critically read the work before publication.”—Nation.
* * * * *
“The technique is commendable. Numerous references to government
documents, territorial records, and manuscript collections support
statements of fact. Little use, however, has been made of the
‘Publications’ of the Illinois state historical society. Some statistics
could well have been left to the foot-notes and an additional map
showing the location and density of population in 1830 would have been
an aid to the reader. Typographical errors occasionally occur, the most
serious ones being the inaccurate numbering of foot-notes. A carefully
prepared bibliography, critical in nature, gives an appraisal of the
historical value and accuracy of all works consulted.” W: V. Pooley.
+ − =Am. Hist. R.= 15: 159. O. ’09. 600w.
“The book will have small attraction for those who read merely for
pleasure. The sober student, however, will find here the bases of
Illinois’s history clearly and fully discussed.”
+ =Nation.= 89: 465. N. 11, ’09. 120w.
=Bohannon, Hattie Donovan.=^{[5]} Light of stars. *$1. Fenno.
9–10789.
A story of Eastern Texas whose young hero is a weird mixture of youth
and old age. His lonely struggles are shared by his one friend, an old
doctor, who from his quiet corner witnesses with pain the village
flirt’s unconscionable weaving of a net about the boy. How the young man
uses his disappointment for strength development furnishes the lesson of
the story.
* * * * *
=N. Y. Times.= 14: 324. My. 22, ’09. 60w.
=Bojer, Johan.= Power of a lie; tr. from the Norwegian by Jessie Muir;
with an introd. by Hall Caine. $1.25. Kennerley.
9–4956.
Set in Norway this is a story of a man who signs his name to a bond for
a friend, and then, when the friend goes into bankruptcy, denies that he
had gone security for him, and sees him imprisoned for forgery, while he
himself becomes a longsuffering hero and is banqueted by his townsmen.
* * * * *
“We have seldom read a novel in which the psychology of self-deception
is so strikingly presented as in this grim little study of human
nature.”
+ =Ath.= 1908, 2: 433. O. 10. 180w.
“It is all done with Scandinavian thoroughness, with utter
conscientiousness of patient detail, unsparing, indefatigable, grim—as
Mr. Hall Caine says with ‘high seriousness.’”
+ − =N. Y. Times.= 14: 166. Mr. 20, ’09. 500w.
=Bond, Francis.= Fonts and font covers. *$4.80. Oxford.
9–18980.
“The first section of this book is concerned with the story of baptism,
wherein are discussed its original import, the methods of
administration, the baptistery and its piscina, and the transformation
of the baptistery tank into a tub font, a font on legs, a pedestal font,
a chalice font, and even a metal basin or earthen-ware bowl.... The
second part of Mr. Bond’s work discusses the classification of fonts and
their symbolism, together with the exceptional materials of which they
are sometimes formed, such as various metals and brick.” (Ath.) The last
section deals with a fully illustrated list of fonts chronologically
arranged.
* * * * *
“The present volume marks a great step in advance in both the quantity
and carefulness of the descriptive letterpress, especially in the number
of illustrations; of these by far the greater number have never appeared
before, while the more important examples are produced on a generous
scale.”
+ =Ath.= 1909, 1: 352. Mr. 20. 1750w.
“The text, indeed, while a monument of painstaking erudition, and
crammed full of detailed information, partakes too much of the nature of
a descriptive and analytical catalogue to possess any special charm or
attractiveness. As a compendium of information, and as an admirable
collection of historic examples, most suggestive to architect and
decorative or ecclesiastical designer, this handsome book must be of
great value and must entirely supersede all previous essays in the same
field.”
+ − =Nation.= 88: 233. Mr. 4, ’09. 200w.
“When he quits the quaking ground of ritual and religious practice he is
on safe soil; his expert knowledge serves him well in his classification
and description of fonts, and shows to advantage in the historical
sketch of pre-Conquest, Norman, Gothic and post-Reformation design.”
+ − =Sat. R.= 107: 601. My. 8, ’09. 950w.
“A very elaborate work.”
+ =Spec.= 102: sup. 161. Ja. 30, ’09. 170w.
=Bond, Francis.= Screens and galleries in English churches. *$2.
Oxford.
9–3348.
“He treats ... the peculiarly English subject of those partitions which,
under such names as chancel screen, choir screen, rood screen, rood
loft, and gallery, were as essential as roof and wall to an English
church. He deals with the subject ‘from an evolutionary point of view,’
and shows how the need of high and rather solid screens followed from
the opening of the great window in the square east end, so common in
English church architecture and so peculiar to the island. He shows how
much the old churches have lost in internal beauty and fitness from the
destruction of those screens in recent times.”—Nation.
* * * * *
“There is abundant room for other volumes on the same topic which are
announced as likely to appear shortly. We do not always find ourselves
in agreement with Mr. Bond’s contentions in the letterpress. By far the
greater part, however, of Mr. Bond’s reflections on screens and their
history are most helpful and informing.”
+ − =Ath.= 1908, 2: 616. N. 14. 770w.
“It is not easy to praise too highly the simple and effective
presentation of the subject, and the interest of the book to all persons
who care for ecclesiology or for decorative art. It is the work of an
enthusiast whose zeal is informed with full knowledge.”
+ + =Nation.= 87: 124. Ag. 6, ’08. 500w.
“Useful little book.”
+ =Spec.= 102: 668. Ap. 24, ’09. 300w.
=Bond, Frederick Bligh, and Camm, Bede.=^{[12]} Rood screens and rood
lofts. *$12.50. Scribner.
“The volumes before us are an account of the screenwork in Devon, in the
first place, and Somerset in a lesser degree, with some remarks on the
few remains which the vandalism of the earlier part of last century has
left us in Cornwall. The whole is introduced by a long dissertation on
the origin, construction, and uses of early screenwork in the East and
in Roman churches of the basilican type.”—Ath.
* * * * *
“It is a valuable addition to the vast literature which has grown up on
mediæval architecture in general and its special divisions.”
+ =Ath.= 1909, 2: 562. N. 6. 1800w.
“The work is addressed particularly to the ecclesiologist; yet there is
no doubt that it may also lay rightful claim to the attention of the
antiquary, the student of hagiography, and the liturgiologist. Finally,
it will be no less valuable to the social historian, within whose
province in some measure all these subjects are necessarily embraced.
Some experts may possibly be disposed to differ from Mr. Bligh Bond on
certain points in his theory of the origin and evolution of rood screens
and lofts; but all must agree that his facts are treated in a most
scholarly manner, and with the sincerest scientific intention.”
+ − =Spec.= 103: sup. 712. N. 6, ’09. 1650w.
=Bonney, Sherman Grant.= Pulmonary tuberculosis and its complications;
with special reference to diagnosis and treatment, for general
practitioners and students. *$7. Saunders.
8–22246.
This book which embodies “largely the results of personal experience” is
designed especially for the general practitioner. “The sections of the
book which will probably most interest the practitioner are those on
diagnosis, symptomatology, complications and treatment. These occupy the
major portion of the book, and are illustrated by many excellent and
well-chosen cuts.” (Science.)
* * * * *
“In the sixth part there is a good deal of general interest for the
intelligent layman as to safeguarding the community and the individual.”
+ − =Nation.= 88: 95. Ja. 28, ’09. 260w.
“In spite of the defects, and though we may not agree with Dr. Bonney in
some of his views we consider the book a valuable addition to our
knowledge of the terrible disease of which he treats. Not only the
general practitioner, for whom the book is written, but the specialist
will find it well worth careful study.” M. P. Ravenel.
+ − =Science=, n. s. 29: 298. F. 19, ’09. 700w.
=Book= of Christmas; with an introd. by Hamilton W. Mabie.^{[10]}
*$1.25. Macmillan.
9–27107.
The introduction which Mr. Mabie contributes to this volume eulogizes
the Christmas festival, mentions the writers since Dickens who have
revived Christmas sentiment, touches upon the symbolism of
Christmastide, emphasizes the necessity of celebrating the old rites
yearly to save Christmas from desecration and to keep it sacred, and
commends this “text-book of piety, friendship and merriment” to the
skeptical and the cynical. The divisions of the anthology of prose and
verse are: Signs of the seasons; Holiday saints and lords; Christmas
customs and beliefs; Christmas carols; Christmas day; Christmas hymns;
Christmas poets; When all the world is kin; Christmas stories; New Year;
Twelfth night; The Christmas spirit.
* * * * *
+ =Dial.= 47: 466. D. 1, ’09. 80w.
=Nation.= 89: 538. D. 2, ’09. 50w.
“It is a truism that nobody’s anthology suits anybody else, but the
present one comes very near covering the ground for a Christmas
anthology. Should there be a second edition, we should enter a plea to
have the photographs omitted as not only ugly in kind, but commonplace
in choice and robbing the book of any touch of distinction.”
+ − =No. Am.= 190: 844. D. ’09. 140w.
“Really delightful book.”
+ =Outlook.= 93: 788. D. 4, ’09. 130w.
=Boorman, T. Hugh.= Asphalts, their sources and utilizations. $3.
Comstock.
9–35049.
“The first eleven chapters are devoted to descriptions of the
occurrence, properties and uses of the various forms of asphaltic
substances. Two chapters then follow on the developments of the asphalt
industry. Asphaltic oils and their application to roads for the purpose
of making them dustless are discussed in the succeeding six chapters.
The author then includes chapters dealing with municipal asphalt plants,
asphalt water-proofing, asphalt roofing and asphalt for manufacture. The
book closes with a short chapter on asphalt machinery.”—Engin. D.
* * * * *
“His information taken in connection with the various specifications he
has drawn up for the use of asphalt, will be found of marked value by
the increasing number of persons who are finding uses for this
material.”
+ =Engin. D.= 5: 175. F. ’09. 200w.
=Engin. D.= 5: 537. My. ’09. 100w.
“The author does not appear to have given the reader very much of the
benefit of his ’36 years of active life’ among asphalt men, in so far as
criticism of the opinions of others or expression of his own opinions is
concerned.”
+ − =Engin. N.= 61: sup. 16. F. 18, ’09. 300w.
“Timely and valuable.”
+ =N. Y. Times.= 14: 57. Ja. 30, ’09. 220w.
=Booth, William Stone.=^{[9]} Some acrostic signatures of Francis
Bacon; Baron Verulam, of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban; together with
some others, all of which are now for the first time deciphered and
published. **$6. Houghton.
9–11139.
“Mr. Booth does not attempt in any sense to treat the whole Baconian
theory, accepting, rather, most of the conclusions and evidence of
Greenwood and Begley. He divides his royal octavo volume of some six
hundred and twenty pages into two parts. The first part, after some
preliminary treatment of Elizabethan cryptography, considers ‘The uses
of ciphers,’ ‘Anonymity and Pseudonymity,’ ‘Method,’ and ‘Practical
specimens of acrostical signatures.’ In part two, in some fifteen
chapters, he deciphers the signatures of Francis and Anthony Bacon in
works originally published anonymously, or over the names of other
men.”—Nation.
* * * * *
“A collection of ‘signatures’ in the form of acrostics which the amiably
credulous will doubtless receive as proof absolute that William
Shakespeare was none other than Francis Bacon.” E: Fuller.
− =Bookm.= 29: 633. Ag. 109. 300w.
“The purpose of the book is serious, its method is painstaking, and it
aims to be judicial, but can a theory which proves too much, and which
calls for belief in an extraordinary manifestation of multiple
personality, be taken with entire seriousness?”
− =Nation.= 88: 609. Je. 17, ’09. 2000w.
=Borchers, Wilhelm.= Electric furnaces: the production of heat from
electrical energy and the construction of electric furnaces; tr. by
H: G. Solomon. *$2.50. Longmans.