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natural gift。 Such work as 〃King Luckieboy's Party〃 was a revelation in
the way of toy books； while the 〃Baby's Opera〃 and 〃Baby's Bouquet〃 are
petits chefs d'oeuvre； of which the sagacious collector will do well to
secure copies； not for his nursery； but his library。 Nor can his 〃Mrs。
Mundi at Home〃 be neglected by the curious in quaint and graceful
invention。 ｛14｝ Another bookthe 〃Under the Window〃 of Miss Kate
Greenawaycomes within the same category。 Since Stothard； no one has
given us such a clear…eyed； soft…faced； happy…hearted childhood； or so
poetically 〃apprehended〃 the coy reticences； the simplicities； and the small
solemnities of little people。 Added to this； the old…world costume in
which she usually elects to clothe her characters； lends an arch piquancy
of contrast to their innocent rites and ceremonies。 Her taste in tinting；
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too； is very sweet and spring…like； and there is a fresh； pure fragrance
about all her pictures as of new…gathered nosegays； or； perhaps； looking to
the fashions that she favours； it would be better to say 〃bow…pots。〃 But
the latest 〃good genius〃 of this branch of book…illustrating is Mr。 Randolph
Caldecott； a designer assuredly of the very first order。 There is a
spontaneity of fun； an unforced invention about everything he does； that is
infinitely entertaining。 Other artists draw to amuse us； Mr。 Caldecott
seems to draw to amuse himself；and this is his charm。 One feels that he
must have chuckled inwardly as he puffed the cheeks of his 〃Jovial
Huntsmen；〃 or sketched that inimitably complacent dog in the 〃House that
Jack Built；〃 or exhibited the exploits of the immortal 〃train… band captain〃
of 〃famous London town。〃 This last is his masterpiece。 Cowper
himself must have rejoiced at it；and Lady Austen。 There are two
sketches in this bookthey occupy the concluding pageswhich are
especially fascinating。 On one； John Gilpin； in a forlorn and flaccid
condition； is helped into the house by the sympathising （and very
attractive） Betty； on the other he has donned his slippers； refreshed his
inner man with a cordial； and over the heaving shoulder of his 〃spouse；〃
who lies dissolved upon his martial bosom； he is taking the spectators into
his confidence with a wink worthy of the late Mr。 Buckstone。 Nothing
more genuine； more heartily laughable； than this set of designs has
appeared in our day。 And Mr。 Caldecott has few limitations。 Not only
does he draw human nature admirably； but he draws animals and
landscapes equally well； so one may praise him without reserve。 Though
not children's books； mention should here be made of his 〃Bracebridge
Hall；〃 and 〃Old Christmas；〃 the illustrations to which are the nearest
approach to that beau…ideal； perfect sympathy between the artist and the
author； with which the writer is acquainted。 The cut on page 173 is from
the former of these works。
Many of the books above mentioned are printed in colours by various
processes； and they are not always engraved on wood。 Butto close the
account of modern wood…engravingsome brief reference must be made
to what is styled the 〃new American School；〃 as exhibited for the most
part in 〃Scribner's〃 and other Transatlantic magazines。 Authorities； it is
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reported； shake their heads over these performances。 〃C'est magnifique；
mais ce nest pas la gravure；〃 they whisper。 Into the matter in dispute； it
is perhaps presumptuous for an 〃atechnic〃 to adventure himself。 But to
the outsider it would certainly seem as if the chief ground of complaint is
that the new comers do not play the game according to the old rules； and
that this （alleged） irregular mode of procedure tends to lessen the status of
the engraver as an artist。 False or true； this； it may fairly be advanced；
has nothing whatever to do with the matter； as far； at least； as the public
are concerned。 For them the question is； simply and solelyWhat is the
result obtained？ The new school； availing themselves largely of the
assistance of photography； are able to dispense； in a great measure； with
the old tedious method of drawing on the block； and to leave the artist to
choose what medium he prefers for his designbe it oil； water…colour； or
black and whiteconcerning themselves only to reproduce its
characteristics on the wood。 This is； of course； a deviation from the
method of Bewick。 But would Bewick have adhered to his method in
these days？ Even in his last hours he was seeking for new processes。
What we want is to get nearest to the artist himself with the least amount
of interpretation or intermediation on the part of the engraver。 Is
engraving on copper to be reproduced； we want a facsimile if possible； and
not a rendering into something which is supposed to be the orthodox
utterance of wood…engraving。 Take； for example； the copy of
Schiavonetti's engraving of Blake's Death's Door in 〃Scribner's Magazine〃
for June 1880； or the cut from the same source at page 131 of this book。
These are faithful line for line transcriptions； as far as wood can give them；
of the original copper…plates； and； this being the case； it is not to be
wondered at that the public； who； for a few pence can have practical
facsimiles of Blake； of Cruikshank； or of Whistler； are loud in their
appreciation of the 〃new American School。〃 Nor are its successes
confined to reproduction in facsimile。 Those who look at the exquisite
illustrations； in the same periodical； to the 〃Tile Club at Play；〃 to Roe's
〃Success with Small Fruits；〃 and Harris's 〃Insects Injurious to
Vegetation；〃to say nothing of the selected specimens in the recently
issued 〃Portfolios〃will see that the latest comers can hold their own on
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all fields with any school that has gone before。 ｛15｝
Besides copperplate and wood； there are many processes which have
been and are still employed for book…illustrations； although the brief limits
of this chapter make any account of them impossible。 Lithography was at
one time very popular； and； in books like Roberts's 〃Holy Land；〃
exceedingly effective。 The 〃Etching Club〃 issued a number of books
circa 1841…52； and most of the work of 〃Phiz〃 and Cruikshank was done
with the needle。 It is probable that； as we have already seen； the impetus
given to modern etching by Messrs。 Hamerton； Seymour Haden； and
Whistler； will lead to a specific revival of etching as a means of book…
illustration。 Already beautiful etchings have for some time appeared in
〃L'Art；〃 the 〃Portfolio；〃 and the 〃Etcher；〃 and at least one book of poems
has been entirely illustrated in this way；the poems of Mr。 W。 Bell Scott。
For reproducing old engravings； maps； drawings； and the like； it is not too
much to say that we shall never get anything much closer than the
facsimiles of M。 Amand…Durand and the Typographic Etching and
Autotype Companies。 But further improvements will probably have to
be made before these can compete commercially with wood…engraving as
practised by the 〃new American School。〃
〃Of making many books；〃 'twais said； 〃There is no end；〃 and who
thereon The ever…running ink dot