[Tue Fautrs Up-ro-Dare."—By Edi and Joseph Anthony, Illustrations by. Joun de Bosschére, Londo Thornton Butterworth, Frankly, if this is a book for young children, as it is supposed to be, and if it is a really suitable book ye to children, it indicates a sophistication in the modern child more amazing than commendable, The authors "bring up-to-date!" those wonderful children's stories "Red Riding Hood," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Cinderella" and a few others and while there can be no doubt as to the skill and artistry, of their efforts, it is doubtful, very doubtful, whether the result is as happy and harmless an offering to the mind of a child us the original stories, These old stories ha provided untold entertainment ai enjoyment for children of all nav tionalities through many genera. tions; and they will maintain their charm and appeal for as many generations to come.
It may appear a strange thing lo say about fairy tales, but it is fact that their being brought up-to-date has somehow diminished their sincerity. The illustrations of the book have passed through the same rejuvenating process; and it must be admitted that the illustre. tions so profusely provided are both artistic and clever: striking the same rote of modernity as the stories Ives. As to their appropria hey appear to be too post= er-like in their technique. And they are too small, As a matter of fact, the illustrations occupy only a small portion of the centre of the page, while conventional motifs oc= cupy' all the remaining space up to the margins. Artistic they un= doubtedly are, though not persuad~ ing.
But one would really like to put the book in the hands of the children; and then one could conscienviously judge whether the rejuvenation of fairy tales is or is not an ime provement. That is the real, the only test for any book written for children: et the children decide.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.