31 MARCH 1883, Page 24

Handbook of the Tones Collection in the South Kensington Museum.

(Chapman and Hall.)—This handbook is a perfect piece of work. It is thoroughly satisfactory, full, agreeably written, instructive without being pedantic, and as pleasant as a story. It is to be regretted that it costs too much to be within the reach of the very class to whom it would be most valuable, the working-men, who might see in the costly and beautiful objects bequeathed by Mr. Jones to the nation what great things have been done by handicraftsmen, as well as de- signed by artists. There are materials in this very interesting Hand- book for a series of popular lectures, to the address of the artisans. Why should not some Jones Collection conferences be given in the course of the summer ? We entirely share the view of the accom- plished compiler of the Handbook about letting it be known how costly many of the objects were. It may be inelegant, anaesthetic, but it is eminently natural, to like to know what things cost.