Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS..

Under the title of ''Hesperia," Cora l.. V.
Tappan publishes poem. The theme is as
follows: The Genius of Liberty and Justice,
Astraa, sought home in the western world
after being prosecuted and driven from the
eastern; finding what she sought, she gave
birth to Hesperia, was reunited to her hus-
band, and they endeavored to preserve the
land for their daughter; Slavery crept in,
war at last resulted and Hesperia triumphed.
The poem makes book of more than two
hundred pages. The verse is varied. the
chord struck is high, but the execution is
rather too much trenzed to suit minds only
commonly elated. For sale by J. F. Pierce.
The second volume of Darwin's work, 1.-THE
Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to
Sex" is published by d. Appleton & Co.
The opening chapter is in relation to the sec
ondary sexual character of fishes amphibians
and reptiles, following which are chapters
upon birds, mammals and man. How the
character, form and appearance Of these have
been changed, modified, improved, in the
course of ting, by sexual choice and other
show, to accomplish which he has gathered
mass of evidence from all parts of the globe,
anil arranged it with great study and care in
an interesting and simple form. His views
are that in the struggle for life, in which the
stronger obtained the master and the weaker
were killed off without progeny, and in the ri
valry for mates Of the opposite sex by which
again the weaker were worsted, there has
come an Improvement of the species by the
greater propagation which it obtained through
the most perfect of its kind. Also sexual Sc
lection, by which the stronger and most pleas
ing in appearance succeeds in wooing, and by
which the best qualities of the sex are stimu-
lated, developed, and so transmitted, has aid
ed to improve generation after generation.
The beauty of the peacock has been develop
ed by his desire to please and the fascination
which his plumage has for the female; the
strength or feetness of the horse may be in
creased by care in breeding; this of course
only when free natural action is allowed.
Man he believes to have descended from
SEINE lower organization, far down in the
scale, below even the monkey. He concludes
that at some time the human family had an
ape-hke progenitor, and even to obtain so re-
spectacle form as that required thousands
of years of advancement. The last chapter
is devoted entirely to the discussion of Man
1t has already excited great deal of COM
ment and discussion but has scarcely begun
to stir the mind as it will. Pierce has it for
sale.
Imrty-nine years ago volume containing
an account of "The Mutiny Of the Bounty"
was published and was eagerly read The
Harper Brothers have now republished it
with additions of interest. The Bounty, it
will be recoliected, was small vessel which
left England in 1887, under the command of
Lieutenant Bligh, to visit the Society Islands
and bring back a cargo of bread fruit trees.
On the re turn passage the crew mutinied, de-
posed their commander, placed Fletcher
Christian in his place. and turned the vessel
toward Tahiti. Lieutenant Bligh after being
put into the launch with such persons as chose
to go with him, made his way to land and
finally reached England. The mutneers
made the island of Toubouai, and after they
had been broken up by parties remaining
with the Tahitians, nine of them with Fetch
err Christian at their head sailed to Pitcairn
Island where they destroyed the Bounty and
made their home. The relation of their life
and what befcll them and their descendants
makes Volume of romance. Clapp 6. North
have it for sale.
/ The full report of David A. Wells made to
the Governor of New York, upon The subject
OF Taxation, is published in pamphlet form by
the Harper Brothers. We have frequently
referred to and quoted from this report, so
that our readers are informed of its character.
The facts which it presents are important to
all who assess or pay taxes. One of its fea-
lures is the exemption of personal property
from taxation, placing it upon real estate in
stead. 1t is probably the most thorough dis
cussion of local taxation that has been had in
this country. Though a State report the
public demand for 1t has been such that il has
been printed in its present form for general
circulation. Clapp & North have it for sale.
Amusement managers throughout the ives
To- IL,