Notes and Reviews 
I N his introduction to “ Modern Mural 
Decoration 1 ,” Mr. A. Lys Baldry arraigns 
the “man of taste ” and the one “ who knows 
what he likes ” for causing a low estimate of 
the decorator as an artist in the opinion of 
the presentgeneration. While notpessimistic 
as to the future of decorative art, he admits 
a temporary decadence which has, of late, 
been threatened, and he puts forth the reasons 
for it. “Subject, sentimentality, dramatic 
effect, are not artistic essentials, but externals 
which have been added to Art with the idea 
of strengthening its hold upon the public 
mind.The average human intelli¬ 
gence is never content with mental pictures; 
it must be satisfied with concrete and tangible 
realisations by which the need for any exercise 
of the intellectual faculties is obviated. 
. . . . Yet despite the concessions which, 
throughout the whole history of Art, have 
been made to this popular demand, despite 
the universality of the belief that the artist’s 
duty is to preach, to instruct, or to illustrate, 
it is still possible to give to decoration the 
first place among the essentials of his equip¬ 
ment.” And the author declares that in its 
decorative quality lies the merit of any work 
of art. The book aims to enlist and describe 
the various technical processes which may be 
employed in the decoration of secular and 
domestic architecture. If it may only sug¬ 
gest the means by which mural decoration in 
its many forms can enrich and beautify out¬ 
buildings and our cities no small end will be 
accomplished. Precise information is to be 
found upon the various materials and their 
use. The portions upon water glass, gesso 
work and sgraffito are particularly interesting 
for the reason that their possibilities have 
been so little tried in this country. The 
different processes might have been classified 
as those which take their place as integral 
parts of the finished wall and those which 
are complete in themselves and applied to the 
walls. Of the former are painting and fresco, 
sculpture in marble and stone, carved brick 
and modelled plaster ; and under the latter 
head could have been grouped paintings upon 
canvas, mosaic, terra-cotta, bronze castings, 
1 Modern Mural Decoration, by A. Lys Baldry. 186 pp., octavo, 
104 ills, in black and white and in colored half-tone. London, George 
Newnes, Ltd. Imported by Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. 
Price, $5.00 net. 
ceramic decorations and woodwork. Un¬ 
fortunately any illustrations of these subjects 
can throw but little real light upon the actual 
color of the decoration in i|$ place, the tex¬ 
ture and the effect of the materials used ; 
but all the reproductions in the volume fully 
show the general character of the design. 
Among the examples selected for illustration 
no American work is to be found, and this 
is the more to be regretted since a number of 
the present illustrations could well have been 
discarded in favor of some of the work in 
the Boston Library for example. Many of 
the illustrations give no hint of the setting 
of the decorations amid the architecture they 
embellish and hence the pictures are silent 
upon the harmony of decorative design with 
its surroundings, but of this phase of his 
subject Mr. Baldry has not essayed to treat 
except in a concluding chapter which is the 
least valuable portion of his book. 
B Y a very wise act on thepartof the Commis¬ 
sioners of Fairmount Park, Oglesby Paul 
was appointed landscape architect to the Park 
on November 14, filling a vacancy caused by 
the death of Charles H. Miller. Mr. Paul is 
now making a thorough examination of the 
property and will submit a report to the Com¬ 
missioners, January 1. Philadelphians have 
noticed with regret, the deterioration of the 
Park in recent years,—a retrogression largely 
due to a meagre yearly appropriation from 
the City of Philadelphia,—and it is confi¬ 
dently hoped that Mr. Paul will remedy mat¬ 
ters by a good management of materialsathand 
andsuccess in obtaining increased financial aid. 
T HROUGH an error in the manuscript, it 
was erroneously stated in House and Gar¬ 
den for November that Louisa M. Alcottwas 
born at “ Wyck,” an old house and garden 
in Germantown, Philadelphia. We are re¬ 
quested to state that Miss Alcottwas born at 
“ Pine Cottage,” a house owned by the pro¬ 
prietor of “ Wyck ” and situated on Main 
Street about a mile southward of his own. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
The Book of the Strawberry (Vol. IX. Handbooks of Practical 
Gardening), by Edwin Beckett, F. R. H. S. 80 pp. i2mo. Illus¬ 
trated. John Lane, London and New York, 1902. Price, $1.00 net. 
The Book of Climbing Plants (Vol. X. Handbooks of Practical 
Gardening), by S. Arnott. 119 pp. I2m0 - Illustrated. John Lane, 
London and New York, 1902. Price, $1.00 net. 
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