WALCOTT'S CATHEDRAL GUIDE,*
In a neat and convenient manual of 152 pages, Mr. Walcott supplies a desideratum. As he truly observes, the diffuse provincialism of local handbooks, however gratifying to natives, only serves to put out the visitor : his attempt is 00 to produce a terse, clear, and faithful compan- ion, based on the most trustworthy and recent authorities, which will point out those objects only which are most worthy of observation." This attempt, we think, he has fairly accomplished ; and we need only add that, if about to visit a cathedral or round of cathedrals, we should pocket his book, and expect not to require any other. Mr. Walcott is of course, as he proposes to be, summary. Bangor Ca- thedral, for instance, occupies 11 page; Canterbury, 7. Westminster Abbey, which should not • in literal strictness be included among Cathedrals at all, unless Mr. Walcott believes in the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, is treated at considerably the greatest length of any, filling 29 pages. The style, too, has more of " writing " in it, here, with verse-quotations, and allusive references to what Sir Roger de Coverlet' did or said in the abbey. These were as well spared : indeed, through- out the book—short as it is for so large a subject—we should be inclined rather to shorten still further than to amplify (unless in point of possible new facts here and there)—lopping off every excrescence of enthusiasm or quotation, and rigidly systematizing the information, as far as fea- sible, into a catalogue form. That is the ideal of a guide-book, as we understand it : the visitor assisted in pouncing at once upon the fact he wants, and left to himself for the due quantum of admiration. Mr. Wal- cott's ideal appears to be much the same in the main, though he occa- sionally exceeds it. As regards accuracy, we could point cut a slip here and there, but we have no doubt these are casual 'exceptions. The
general tone of the book inspires trust.
The skeleton plan'of the notices may be illustrated from that of Exeter. First, we have the meaning of the' name, and a word or two on the city. Then a general description of the. Cathedral in. its several features, with incidental historic facts, followed by a careful (and most essential) sum- mary of the dates and bUilders of the various parts, the materials, and the dimensions. A list of the principal monuments aucceeds, and finally a brief paragraph on tho capitular body. For all this, 34 pages are made to suffice. "The arms' of the deineries, and names of eminent Bishops and other ecclesiastics", for all the cathedrals, forms a convenient table
at the close of the volume.
A Guide to the Cathedrals of ENgland and Wales ; their History, Architec- ture, and Traditions : with Notices of the Monuments of their Illustrious Dead. and Short Notes of the Chief Objects of Interest in every Cathedral City. By Me! kenzie Walcott, M.A. Published by Stanford.
[For Boos, see Monthly Supplement.]
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