The Portland daily press., 1871-12-12

ucn OF u ticdG llOii eho oNNS ohU SiiUo VI |
tbe workshop of even the author of Little Wo-
men. But Miss Alcott has only followed the |
oxamnle set by her elders-we will not say her
betters-in sweeping out her shop for the bene-
fit of the reading public Grave scientists.
like Huxley, Proctor and Tyndall, philologists
like Max Muller Historians like Froude. and
story -tellers like Hawthorne and Bret Harte,
all go through the same experience with the
public. First, they introduce themselves with
surprisingly good following it up
with something perhaps equally praiseworthy
linen the sharp competition of publishers, the
eagerness of their admirers and maybe their
own necessities, induce certain haste, and the
work thrown off in hurry begins to deterlo-
rate Next the early, unsuccessful efforts OF
the author, intermingled with minor ones OF
later date, are sent out in span new volume.
Finally the scrap-bag stage is reached, and
then there is for time an enforced cessation
of publication from which both readers and au-
thors derive great advantage. But this dis
course is hardly fair to Miss Alcott, whose
Scrap Bag is so thoroughly delightful that it is
enough to reconcile one to the class of litera-
ture to which it belongs. In ''My Boys" the
reader has quite characteristic sketch, en-
bodying in brief the humor, pathos and vivac-
ity of "Aunt JOS" best books. If any boy or
girl or grown person" finds anything this
Christmas more tender than "My Little Gen
tleman' or funnier than the THE Curious Calf
and some of the other pieces, we shall be glad
to know where. (Roberts Brothers, Boston.
Mother Goose must look to her laurels, for
oh hoe
them is one of that numb:rles Rosetti family,
Christina by name, who favors the babies with
some pleasant rhymes for the nursery-as good
almost as those of the Homer of baby literature
Mother Goose herself-and that is saying a
good deal. And nothing can be finer than the
setting of these gems Arthur Hughes has fur
nished each of the 120 songs with an illustra-
ton engraved by the Brothers Dalziel. A bright
little volume enough without and within.
published by Roberts Brothers.)
The Country Of the D,oarfs, the charming
Paul du Chaillus last book comes to us richly
Digit with red and gold, full of illustrations of
scenes in equatorial Africa and full of the au-
thor's inimitable narration. Du Chaillu's ia
miliar half-colloquial, not too correct style, his
unfailing cheerfulness and vivacity and evident
sincerity - he ''dIaws the long-bow," as
innocently as baby-have caused the youth of
this country to give him their hearts without
reserve. This last volume seems to us not at
all inferior in interest to those which have pre-
coded it. Its dedication to Fletcher Harper
bears date at North Cape, the extreme North
ern point of Europe, whence he has recently
returned to tell his young friends of his adven-
FIN nd I'M nj
ly different from those in which they have been
accustomed to see him. published by Harper
& Brothers.
Harper & Brothers have issued in cloth
binding, uniform with Miss Mulock's other
works, Hannah, the appearance of which in pa
per covers we recently noticed. The purpose of
this pleasant story is to show the hardship and
absurdity of the English law forbidding man
to marry the sister of his deceased wife, Pub
lished by Harper & Brothers.
All the above books may be had at Loring,
Short & Harmons.
WASHINGTON MArTERs.-A bill will soon be
introduced in the House providing for the adj
mission of Colorado as State. Representative
Taffe, chairman of the Committees on Terrific
ries, is favorable to the project and will urge its
adoption by the House. One reason assigned
why the territory ought to be admitted, is that
longer delay endangers the prospect of electing
Republican Senators.
An interview has ELECTED from Senator Will
son that he has tried to bring about reconcil-
latlon between Senator Sumner and President
Grant but unsuccessfully and that he, Wilson,
Is convinced that the Republican party is strong
er than ever and Grant is the strongest man in
the party.
Ihe members of the diplomatic corps have
been quite excited over the Catacazy scandal.
They say that Russia will not ON any account
quarrel with the United States, but that the
difficulty has caused the Grand Duke Alexis to
shorten his visit. They think no successor to
Catacazy will be appointed at present, but that
Gen. Gorlow will remain year or so in charge
Of the legation, and then new minister will be
sent who will be more discreet.
Since the recent fire, Mr.. Mullett has exam
ined the building in Washington in which the
State Department is located, and reports that it
the archives.
M. Jules Ferry, the new Minister from France
to the United States, wrote several pamphlets
and articles in favor of the Union during the
war of the rebellion One of these, in defense
Of President Lincoln, involved Ferry in duel
with the editor of the Paris Patrie.
The PostmasterGeneral wisely objects to the
establishment of post Office in a retail liquor
shop, and will not give his consent that it be
done.
A CANARD.-A Washington dispatch saws |
hat no one can be found in Washington who
Inows anything about the announcement in
New York paper on Saturday morning that
here is conspiracy organized between disaf-
ected Republican Senators and Democratic
representatives to impeach President Grant
montgomery Blair, who was said to have con-
octed this scheme, positively repudiates all
of, or connection with it, and the
Representatives say that they did
ot meet, as was alleged, the Chairman of their
Congressional Committee, Mr.. Randall having
blamed leave OF absence on Wednesday, and
one to his home at Philadelphia The only
oundation for this sensational story is a re-
mark made last Spring by one of Andy John
on's counsel during the impeachment case,
with Senator on the Presidents
curse on San Domingo, the lawyer remarked
hat if his client had thus used the naval forces
f the country it would not have been possible
have secured his acquittal by the Senate.
his remark has often been quoted, but no one
as ever even limited at the impeachment of
resident Grant, and no one believes for a mo-
lent that dozen Congressman could be found
Tho would seriously consider snch a PROPOSE
ion.
SENATOR TRUMBULL introduced the follow
lg resolution in the Senate last week:
ResolUed The House of Representatives con-
lrrling, that a joint select committee on re- /
enchment, consisting of four members of the
enate and seven members of the House, be ap-
ointed by the presiding officers of the two
ouses, and that said committee be instructed
inquire into the expenditures in all the
ranches of the service of the United States
nd to report whether any and what offices
light to be abolished, whether any and what
diaries or allowances ought to be reduced.
hat are the methods of procuring accounts
ility in public officers or agents in the care and
lsbrrsement of public moneys, whether mon
rs have beed paid out illegally, whether any
Ulcers or agents or other persons have hean or |