22 DECEMBER 1894, Page 23

Noel : a Book of Carols for Christmastide. (David Nutt.)—There

is no doubt about the beauty of the music in this book, which is contributed by Mr. H. A. Vincent Ransom, or of the fantastic power of the illustrations, which, with the carols themselves, are the work of Mr. Charles L. Foulkes. Some of the lines in the carols will jar upon English—although they may suit French— ears, such as these from "The Child and the Bird" ;— "Then the Bird said, 'Tell me, maiden, tell me, maiden free. Where is Bethlehem, the town of far Jude° And I said, ' 0 look afar under yonder ehining Star, 0 Me thee hence, and rest with thy Babye. Snivez-moi, et je to suivrai, Christ men 'alit!"

Yet there is no question that Noel is as original and beautiful a work of art as the Christmas season has produced.