The Portland daily press., 1871-07-11
DAILY PRESS.
ND.
TUESDAY, JULY II, 1871.


Recent Publications.
Mount Desert, with Sketches of Travel on
the New England Coast, from Isles of Shoals
to Grand Menan, by b. F. DeCosta, is one of
the most entertaining books OF the kind that
we have seen for long time. The beautiful
island that gives its name to the book is of
course celebrated at create st length and with
most enthusiasm, but many other resorts on
the Maine coast are fully described, Portland
alone being treated somewhat cavalierly But
we take the omission to be, after all, 'compl-
mentary, the glories of Portland as summer
resort being so notorious" as we might say,
that any special mention OF them would be
superhuous, while the merits OF the other
places are just gaining their deserved nation
al reputation. Of Mt Desert Mr.. De Costa
teiis as good deal Ol the history, such as it
Is, making use OF the history, such as il is.
making use of Williamson, DePeyster and II.
cal tradition, and having his little fling at
Bancroft's inaccuracy, as matter of course.
Everybody of any pretensions does that, now.
a-days. His descriptions OF scenery are elab-
crate, and so seductive as to cause one who is
tied to business these hot summer DAYS to de-
sire to leave all and hurry away to this terres-
trial paradise with its grand bluffs, pleasant,
beaches and fairy des. Why chapter Is not
devoted to speculation as to what innate de-
pravity of human nature has given rise to
the almost universal practice of throwing the
accent OF Mt. Desert onto the unoffending
last syllable, we do not understand. Perhaps
it is the same inexplicable tendency that
makes the last syllable of Bangor suffer the
same outrage. OF the Isle of Shoals, which
is ole of the best pulled spots in the universe
just at this time, . Penobscot Bay, French
mans Bay and Grand Menan, our author
speaks appraciatively and at sufficient length.
Published by A. D. F. Randolph & Co., New
York, and for sale by A. Robinson, under
Falmouth Hotel.)
We have received from Dexter A. Hawkins
ESQ.,, of New York, President of the Bowdoin
Alumni Association of that city, volume
commemoI ating the first reunion of the soci-
ETY. over which he presides, at Delmonico's
New York, on the 10th of last January. 1t
contains the proceedings at the reunion, the
letters from persons who excused their alb
sence, including one from 81. P. Deane, Esq.
OF the Portland Association, a list of the grad
yates OF BowdOin residing in New York and
vicinity, and a copious index. The whole is
enriched by eight steeel engravings of promi-
nent Bowdoin professors from the forthcom-
ing history of the college by Nehemiah Cleave-
land, LID. Published by S. P. Dnsmore &
Co., New York.
In the North american Rerie,o for July,
Edward Stanwood, Maine boy, formerly
one of the editors of the Kennebec Journal
but now Of the Boston Advertiser, has the
place of honor accorded to his carefully pre-
pared and interesting article on that new spe
cific for political ills, minority representa-
tion." We are extremely happy TO see so in
fiuential an authority of the Reuie,c telling
the truth about scheme which has found
quite general acceptance among people who
have not stopped to think about it, and who
are ready to adopt anything in the way of a
change. We have long been of the opinion
that minority representation" is delusion
and that if put in practical operation it would
run counter to the spirit of our institutions.
VIM. F. Allen contributes an article on the
"Religion of the Ancient Romans" Chaun-
cey Wright on the "Genesis of Species" Da-
vid A. Wells very long one on the Meaning
of Revenue Reform" and Joseph P. Thomson
on the Exploration of Palestine" The
Critical Notices" are, as usual, written with
great care. flames P. Osgood & Co., Boston,
publishers, a lal.rrl