The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-06-21
RECENT PUBLICATIONS..

LIFE AND TIMES OF ANDREW JOHNSON, SEv
ENTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES. Written from q National Stand
point. By National Man. One vol. 12mo
New York: ID. Appleton & Co.
The author of this book conceives the posi-
ton of President Johnson at the present time
to be one of transcendent Importance. From
the very necessity of the case," he remarks,
"devolves on him the task of having to readjust
the component parts of great empire shaken
by the conflict of four years of war, without
precedent to guide him, and with the public
mind yet in state of of efervescence and
anxiety" Believing it indispensable to the
success of the Government" that the plans
of the President should be thoroughly under
stood by the public, he has thought that his
tory of the life of the present Executive head
might contribute greatly toward such result
Hence this book.
While we very strongly dissent from the
proposition that the task of readjusting the
component elements of this empire rests exclu-
sively upon the shoulders of President john
son OF of any other individual, and while we
are ~ no mems prepared to admit that "the
Government" for whose success in the work of
ICCOuSbEuCtiOu JUL dutiiOT Is So pTOptIly
ious, is wholly comprised in the Executive
branch, we are free to say that the task under
taken by tho present biographer has been very
well performed. He has told the story of O
trnly remarkable life in ueru intArastin0 and
readable way, and his book contains great
deal of valuable information, well-arranged
and IN convenient form. He has the advantage
also of being thoroughly possessed by and in
love with his subject. He frankly admits that
he regards Andrew johnson as a man of des-
tiny, that he has a mission to accomplish, that
he is The chosen instrument in the hands of q
Higher Power, to carry out its inscrutable
plans" Such being his view, it was to be ex-
pected that strong propensity to "hero-wor-
ship, and disposition to see common acts and
ordinary motives and straits through the strong
magnifying glasses Of admiring enthusiasm
should occasionally be manifest in his pages
But as this popularity rather adds to than
detracts from the interest of his book, we can
hardly call it a fault. 1t is book written to
subserve particular political purpose, and to
that purpose it is undoubtedly well adapted;
hence it will be likely to meet large sale.
Sold by Davis Brothers; also by Bailey &
Noyes.
PICTURES OF COUNTRY LITE. ByAlice Cary,
Author Of "ClOvernook," married not Mat
ed" etc. One vol. 12mo. New York: Eurd
q HoughtOn.
A pretty volume containing a collection of
pleasing and unambitious stories, first given to
the world, we believe, in the pages of various
magazines The publishers have presented
them in very attractive style. Beautifully
printed ON fine paper, and very tastefully bound
1t is pretty book for gift, or for the compan-
ion of an idle hour at the seaside.
Davis Brothers have it for sale.
To READ ON THE ROAD nothing better can be |
found than Eue'y Saturday, published by Tick
nor s. Fields, Boston. The number for this
week contains an unusual variety of interest |
ing matter
Sold everywhere.
DRESS UNDER DIFFICULTIES, or Passages |
from the Blockade Experiences of a Rebel
Woman" is the title of a lively article in the |
July number of Godey's Lady's Book, which |
VIII awaken the keenest sympathies of every
feminine reader. The present number of this |
fayorite magazine is an unusually rich one, the |
contributions, both literary and artistic, being
attractive. Such marvels in the
way OF summer novelties as its fashion depart
ment exhibits we cannot pretend to compre-
bend, much less to describe, but we presume
our fair readers will find all perfectly inteligi-
BILE.
The Lady's Book is published by Louis A
Cooley. Philadelphia, and sold by all bookshelf
ers.
The LADY's FRIEND for July, is also received.
1t contsins several pleasing engravings, a color
ed fashion-plate, piece of new music various
articles devoted to dress and fancy work, a
sketch of Madame Roland, and the usual varie-
ty of tales, poetry, domestic receipts, &c.
Published by Deacon s. Peterson, phiIadel-
phia; sold everywhere.
BEADLEs MONTHLY.-The July number,
pIafinU tho VoI,,r,o ~ a.,