The Portland daily press., 1867-07-11
Recent Publications.

All persons who share Mr.. Gradgrind's rev.
erenoe for facts will probably welcome the ap-
pearanee OF small volume just issued by Rob-
erts Brothers, Boston. 1t is written by Mr. s.
Barring Gould, an English Master of Arts, and
is entitled Curious Myths of the Middle
Ages" Mr.. Gould is terrible fellow TO hunt
out facts, and the havoc which he makes with
some of our most cherished illusions is start
ling. Not content with demolishing our faith
in the Wandering jew, Prester John and the
Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, he attacks the leg
ends of William Tell, of the Dog Gellert of
Antichrist and Pope Joan, the marvels told of
the Divinirg Rod and the Fatality Of Numbers.
We could pardon him for upsetting our faith
in the man in the moon, and the Cornishmen
that were born with tails, but we take it hard
that he could not spare US the terrestrial Para
disc and the marvellous Mountain OF Venus.
An American writer, actuated by the same
spirit has recently beon playing the mischief
with the story of Pocahontas. At this rate
there will soon be no wonders LETT to believe in
except the wonders of actual achievement in
this prosaic age. 1t is satisfaction however
to know that all the books which can be writ
en- will not shake the faith of those who
truly appreciate the spirit and flavor Of these
ancient legends. Like Candace, in Mrs. Stow-'s
story, they have undertaken to believe and
they will believe, no matter what evidence
may be adduced to unsettle their confidence
The credulous souls of children and poets will
still cling to the beautiful lore, the fairy tales,
and legends of chivalry, the wonders of that
far-away early day when the world was young.
Wis xuh
magic light of the dawn upon them,
and a legion of inquisitive Gradgrinds poring
orer dusty archives, could not disturb the Sc
renity of our faith in them.
G.. w. Carleton, and Company, New York,
have just issued, "Artemus Ward in London,
and Other Papers," with various comic il
lustrations by j. A. Howard. 1t contains, we
believe, all of the hitherto unpublished papers
of the kindly hearted joker whose recent death,
by calling out so universal an expression of
sympathy and regret has shown how near to
mems hearts are those who touch tor them
the springs of laughter, haw closely allied, in
deed, are the fountains of mirth and of tears
The papers in the volume are extremely char
acteristic Some of them show in slight de-
gree the failure of the authors powers which
others are in his drollest and happi5s. sssir.-
1t is a book which will be widely circulated,
not only for the genuine fun that is in it, but
from its being the last of poor Artemus Ward.
Bailey s. Noyes have it.
Messrs. Hurd and Houghton, New York,
publish small pamphlet entitled Converse
tions on Ritualism," the author of which we do
not know. The conversations" six in num-
Der, are discussions carried on between q rec
tor and one of his parishioners. The rector is
strong ritualist, and is represented as having
so much the best of the argument as quite to
smooth away all the doubts of his parishioner
Short and Loring have the pamphlet.
Harper & Brothers have issued as one of
their Library of Select Novels, "Raymond's
Heroine" reprint of an English story which
has had favorable notice from the English crit
les. lisa novel rather above tSa ordinary
type, original in design, genuine in sentEent
and pleasing in style. The characters are
well drawn, the descriptions of natural seen
cry remarkably good, and the story interest
ing. Hall L. Davis has it.