"THE LAND AND THE BOOK."

THE nineteenth century opened a new epoch in the history of biblical geography. Many excellent works were written, and, strange to say, the most has been done for the geography of the Holy Land by two American clergymen, Dr. Edward Robinson and Dr. William M. Thomson. Dr. Thomson was for nearly forty-five years an American missionary in Syria and Palestine, and his very valuable book covering his work in that region was first published in two volumes in 1858, and met with great success. The first volume of a new edition, thoroughly reconstructed, to appear in three volumes, was brought

OLIVE BRANCH.

out in 1880 by Harper & Bros.-it described "Southern Palestine and Jerusalem;" the second volume, published in 1882, covered "Central Palestine and Phoenicia ;" and the third and concluding volume now lies before us, relating to "Lebanon, Damascus, and Beyond Jordan Eastward." The author describes in a graphic manner the different places through which he passes, unfolding the historical and traditional associations, and giving a minute account of the customs, manners, occupations, dress, dwellings, and habits of thought and speech of the inhabiThe great value of the work as a biblical commentary rests upon the fact that eight hundred separate passages of the Scriptures receive specific explanation, besides the furnishing of a key to the true meaning of their figurative and poetic language as a whole.

tants.

The pictorial illustrations of manners and customs have been designed from photographs of living subjects, and the scenic views were composed from photographs taken by the author and by the exploration societies of England and America. In addition to the ancient names of places which occur in our English Bible, the present Arabic names are added-a feature of this work of much importance. The last volume of "The Land and the Book" is supplied with two carefully prepared indexes-one of texts, the other of names and subjects-which make it a splendid help to students and teachers. There are several maps, also, which serve to make description clear to eye and mind. The present inhabitants of the regions "beyond Jordan eastward" are divided into many sects and tribes, differing in appearance, manners and customs, and professing many most an tagonistic creeds. Dr. Thomson is learned, accurate and liberal in his views. The tone of the bock is warm and Christian, and the author succeeds in impressing upon readers the "universal brotherhood of man." Each of these volumes can be had separately, and is a finished work on the portion of the Holy Land it relates to. The volumes are large square quartos, finely printed and profusely illustrated with cuts whose value can be judged by the specimens here given; the bind. ing is durable and appropriate. As an addition to a Sunday-school library or as a gift to any student of the sacred word, one or all of the volumes making The Land and the Book" would be invaluable.

Ir is fitting that the "Sermon on the Mount" should be made attractive to the "outward eye" at Christmas-tide. Messrs. Roberts Bros. have made it a beautiful gift-book. The great gift to the world, which we typify in our interchange of gifts at this season, is often forgotten in our manner of keeping Christmas day, which throughout the civilized world may almost be classed among the secular festivals. The true significance of God's Christmas gift to man and the great possibilities it opens to all humanity are clearly taught in the simple words of Christ, spoken on a perfect summer morning almost two thousand years ago, to the "multitude." After a night of prayer upon the mountain, now generally thought to have been Karn Hattin, he calls to him twelve apostles, and going down the mountain-side seats himself and begins, without text or introduction, a message of blessing. For the first time in his ministry he puts himself fairly in opposition to the scribes and Pharisees, and puts clearly before his hearers the different aim and object of his teaching. This mountain instruction, which we find most fully in St. Matthew's Gospel, chapters V., VI. and VII., the Christian world has called for centuries the "Sermon on the Mount." It sums up what man must be to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven." It teaches ideal Christianity. Men say it is not practical to live according to Christ's teaching in this world-"The Sermon on the Mount is a dream; it is impractical." So it is, when taken literally as it has been worded by us in our Bibles. "The letter kills," said the most learned follower of the great Master. Christianity has been pronounced a failure. Christianity as often interpreted by man and worked by churches "made with hands" would be denounced by Christ as he denounced the churches and practices of his time. Ye have heard "-"but I say unto you," would fall from his lips as clearly To be like Christ has not proved a failure. Where has it been tried by the "multitude"? On the identical spot where Christ taught love, unselfishness, prayer and forgiveness as the means of entering at the strait gate of the Kingdom of Heaven, was fought, eleven hundred and eighty seven years after his teaching, the most desperate of the battles of the Crusades, fought in his name," to establish his kingdom upon earth in direct opposition to his clearest teaching! For the volume before us Edward Everett Hale has written the introduction, warm, practical teaching and poetic description, with which we are so happily familiar from his busy, helpful pen. It is an extra quarto volume, which gives a large surface for the illustrations by Fenn, Sandham, Church, St. John Harper, Taylor, Fraser and Schell, all drawn and engraved under the supervision of George T. Andrew. The landscapes were drawn by Mr. Fenn in a visit to the Holy Land. The decorative borders, which are peculiarly characteristic and tasteful, are drawn by Sidney L. Smith; the half-titles and engrossed text are by Charles Cope land. The publishers have been very generous-the paper, type and binding are all tasteful, rich and quiet.

LTHOUGH Miss Jerome's lovely work is not an issue of this season, it is offered by Messrs. Lee & Shepard as one of their leading holiday-books. It was unfortunate in coming out last year so near Christmas that the publishers had scarcely sufficient time in which to make its merits properly known. Notwithstanding the lack of heralding, it made its way, receiving enthusiastic praise from the happy ones to whom it was given. That its attractions are not ephemeral a careful comparison with the books of the day will show, among which it is conspicuous both for its artistic and literary qualities.

Miss Jerome occupies an enviable position among young artists. Though almost unknown before the publication of the "Sketch-Book," its earnest work and profound sympathy with nature made her famous. Her style has been most favorably compared with Mr. W. Hamilton Gibson's, upon which it has been formed. Like this charming artist, she gives us the feeling and poetry of nature, the story or message that lurks in the trees or skies, that is carolled by the birds and exhaled in the sweet perfume of the spring flowers. Something more than graceful outlines meet the eye on every page-a tenderness, a pathos, that need no printed words to tell their meaning.

The various phases of a New England year are the subjects of the forty-six pages, welded with choice quotations from familiar poems, in a graceful, original manner. Peaceful views of Puritan homes, quiet pastures, and grand old trees, birds, flowers and fruit, snows and ice-" dark summer dawns" and "happy autumn fields," sketched in the most beautiful nooks of old New Hampshire, give testimony to the artist's genius.

The West claims Miss Jerome as its special property. She was born and educated, however, in the State of New York, where her father, the Rev. Charles Jerome, a Presbyterian clergyman, died several years ago. She went fresh from school to Chicago, where she still resides. With the exception of a few months' grounding in the essentials, she is almost self-taught, her talents being developed through a long experience in sketching through Colorado and New England. During the whole of the last two summers Miss Jerome has worked amid the beautiful scenery of New Hamp shire. The sketches of the enchanting region of the little known Ossipee meadows, that her pencil transferred during the early autumn to paper, are designed to illustrate an article on Ossipee Park by Lucy Larcom, which will be one of the early attractions of one of the leading magazines.

The limits of our page prevent us doing full justice to the larger pictures, the one on the page facing having had to be cut down very much. The charming adornments of this page give some idea of the grace of her flower studies.