The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-26
THE PRESS.
MONDAY MORNING. FEB. 26, 1879.
Recent Publications.

H0TpeF Tor March contains no less than nine
illustrated articles. The first is an account Of
the UNITED States Treasury Department" with
portraits of some of the more prominent incum-
bents OF the office of Secretary of the Treasury.
Northern Bolivia and its Amazon Outlet" is a
hne descriptive article, while "Naval Architec.
ture, Past and Present" with its queer cuts
representing the kind of vessels they were con-
tent with in old times, reconciles one to even
the little navy described in the House debate
the other day. "The City of the Little Monk"
is the first OF series of two or more papers on
the city of Munich, where Dr. Dollinger and
the "Old Catholics" are renewing a resistance
to ecclesiastical usurpation which was begun
on the same spot in the twelfth century by
Humey the Lion. NEGRO Life in Jamaica" is
curiously illustrated as might be anticipated
The serial stories, "a Good Investment and
the "Golden Lion of Granpere," by Anthony
Trollope, are continued. In the EASY Chair
Mr.. Curtis dwells with pardonable satisfaction
on some pleasant greetings which have been
sent to Harper by its readers, reviews Longfel-
lows Divine Tragedy favorably and speaks
with enthusiasm of the German tenor Wach-
tel. But the best thing in the whole number is
Mr.. Curtis's reprobation of the attempt to can
enize Fisk under cover of De nortuis nil nisi
bonum. Loring, Short s. Harmon have it.
The Atlantic is outdoing itself this year The
number for March is, OH the whole, perhaps as
good one as has ever been issued. DR.
Holmes, whose papers first gave the Atlantic
real popularity, is doing famously with his
new venture as the "Poet at the Breakfast-Ta-
ble." Bret Harte has done well to return to
the style of narration of which he is the as
ter. He tells in this number ''How Santa
Claus Came to Simpsons Bar in the old inim-
liable vein Parton takes up another aspect of
Jefferson's many-sidsd character, and describes
him as Virginia lawyer. Hawthorne's Sep
timius Felton," the Diversions of the Echo
Club and De Miles comedy of Terrors' are
continued. The poetry is furnished by Long
fellow, Whittier, Mrs. Thaxter and Nora Perry.
The critical departments are of course well ed
tied, and the new political department is fairly
successful.
The pamphlet descriptive of the Portland &
Ogdens5urg Railroad Line, prepared by Walter
Wells, Esq, of this city, is one of the most
creditable things in the way of book-making
which this city has ever been able to boast
Mr.. Wells is one of the most accomplished
writers in the country, and in the matter of
statistical information and knowledge of the
physical characteristics of the globe he has few
equals in America. The Ogdensburg road is
fortunate in securing his services. Those won
derful letters to the PRESS, written last sum-
mer at the suggestion of the holders of the first
mortgage bonds, have been thrown into the
form OF an appendix to the pamphlet. Among
the fourteen fine engravings to be found in this
Jay CoOkish brochure, is new one of Portland
The map of the Ogdensburg route is alone
worth the price of the whole work-which may
be had gratis by persons who incline Ogdens-
burgward. If Troy could have been saved by
any right arm, that of Mr.. Wells would have
performed the important service. Issued from
the press of Brown Thurston, and gratuitous-
ly circulated for the benefit of the taxpayers
who are invited to contribute somewhat hber-
ally for this and other downright extravagances.
Those charming papers by James 7. Field,
Esq, in relation to the distinguished authors
whose personal intimacy he has enjoyed, have
been noticed from time to time in these col
umns as they have appeared in the Atlantic.
They have now been collected and issued in book
form. This volume comprises the clever intro
ductory essay on Pope and the papers in Thack-
cray, Hawthorne, Dickens, Wordsworth and
Miss Milford. The "reminiscences of Dickens
are especially noteworthy, Mr.. Fields having
enjoyed that great mans friendship and esteem
to an extent to which there is no other parallel
on this side of the Atlantic. The authors re-
collections of Thackeray are hardly less enter
tanning We judge that it will be one of the
most popular books of the season, especially
with persons of 'ltivated literary taste. pub
lished by James Il. Osgood s. Co. and for sale
by Hall L. Davis.)
Kate Beaumont by ]. w. De Forrest, which
was published originally in the Atlantic and has
been often noticed in these columns, has been
issued in cloth covers by J. R. Osgood & Co.
This edition is illustrated. For sale by Hall L.
Davis.