The Portland daily press., 1870-11-16
Recent Publications.
VAGABoND ADvENTUREs-ByR Ralph Keeler,
Boston Fields g. Osgood 1870

NAGABOND ADVENTURES.-Bv Ralph keeler,
Boston: Fields & Osgood, 1870.
Readers ;who accept with docility au au-
thor's own estimate of the importance and in
terest of his subject, may find this autobiog-
raphy both entertaining. and instructive. Those
OF colder and less sympathetic temperament
will at best be only mildly amused. In fact, in
the absence of all Information outside the text,
one might be puzzled to decide whether the
volume is history fiction, veritabe con-
fession OF an attempt to burlesque the present
mania for autobiography. Assuming it to be a
true story, small moral may be perceived, Ca
pable OF only narrow application, but sound
as far as it goes; nd this is, that if boy must
run away from his home and shit for himself
he will do well to initiate the fortitude and
honesty of Ralph Keller. Another moral ap-
pears to run parallel with this in the authors
mind, which may be expressed by an tadapta-
tion of the old proverb thus, Cbeapness is next
to godlinesa.
That little fellow of eleven should be
badly treated by his natural guardians that
the hardest of hardifare should seem light
price to pay for freedom is sad thing to think
of. But the odi way in which the author rat
ties cffhs experience as cabin-waiter, negro
painful element from becoming predominant.
1t is said that tales of frightiul shipwrecks
allure boys to the sea with fatal fascination
and it may be that the unsavory experiences
of Mr. Keeer's boyhood might make many
youths insanely anxious to follow in his wake.
We can only hope therefore that his book may
not fall into masculine hands till the running
away period is well over. NJ j. nj. ..
The illustrated Library ofiW ouders, publish
ed by Charles Scribner s. Co., New York, has
been a remarkable success. Of the similar Sc
ries published in France over one million cop
les have been sold. Not the least interesting
volume of the series is the one now before US
Wonderful Balloon AScents, from the French OF
| f. Marion. Its publication is especially timely
| lust now when balloons are really utilized, al
| most for the first time in the worlds history
| by the French shut up in Paris. The aurhor
| of this volume says, in effect, that there has
lbeen no improvement in the balloon since its
ir~ention by the Montgolfier brothers in 1888,
and that it has wholly failed to answer the ex-
travasent expectations excited by It's ADVENT
Within the last few months the writer has
unquestonably had occasion to revise
his opinions, and he will have an opportu-
|
book, telling the wonderful story of Gambet-
ta's escape from the beleaguered city, and the
daily communication with the outside world
by passengers and letters, kept up for weeks
by means Of balloons. For sale by Loring,
Short and Harmon.
Messrs. Lee s. Shepard have Just begun the
publication of splendid course of books, en-
titled The BecHoning Series, by Paul Golden
The purpose is indicated in the ttle-a leading
of the youthful mind to high and noble pur-
poses The first book is entitled Who Wil
YIN, and inspires to victory over violent pas
siou and the direful subsection to the love of
strong drink. The loving influences that are
brought to bear over father and son and help
ed them to win victory are well portrayed.
The hearty and benevolent farmers wife, and
Mrs. Lisle, the burly policeman, Peter Cressy
are strong and attractive characters. The
trasical death of Hillyar, the rumseller with
its antecedent circumstances, is not very logi-
| cally or tremendously effected by the author
! but as the end is attained, we suppose the en-.
tbusastic reader will pardon the fault The
| second book is entitled Going on a Mission
The motto at the beginniRg tells the scope O
the story: Without crossing deep seas o.
broad oceans all who will may go on mission
Who will try?' The volumes are for sale b
!, Dresser & Aver.
How man who writes so much as VIM. 4
:, Adams (Oliver Optic) does can keen up tn
interest of his boy readers is almost a myster,
Even with the highest motive in view, sustain
). ed by the knowledge that he Is engaged in
D, good work, the task would soon sap the enei
l. ges of ordinary authors. But Mr.. Adam
imagination is as fertile as ever, and thoug
b his backwoods stories are lacking in the acct
lie racy of detail that his sketches OF travel an
70 descriptions of boy life in the older states pos
a. sess he manages to make readable stories an
le never loses sight OF the lesson of morality h
y ESSAYS 70 teach. Field and Forest is his lates
" " vo,nme. 1t tells of tho adventures of a youn
ra ,s,;f the survivor of a steamboat accident on
ay western river, who becomes farmer and hun
pg er on the frontier, and subsequently emerge
u into a civilized community where by his dew
e .. ton TO good principles and strict adherens
h to duty he accompishes noble work. Th
his book can also be had of Dresser & Aver.