The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-08-31
Recent Publications.
THE STORY OF A MILLIoNAIRE. By Miss
Louisa Muhlbach.


Miss Muhlbach seems to us the literary
prototype of Mrs. Jarley She has a limite d
collection of wax figures, which, after whisk-
ing OIL from them the dust of time, she brings
forward, winds up and displays; the same
hgure, with some trifing changes of costume,
DONG duty as several different personages
They go through their hacknied evolutions
In the Jerky and inconsequent manner pecu-
liar to such-here the simile fails us, for wax
figures. however edifying and moral the show
may be, after while run down, gyrate more
slowly and finally come to a standstill: But
Miss Muhlbach initiates that other muhlbach
(mill-stream) described by Mr., Tennyson and
''goes on forever" We know beforehand all
her drdmdtiS perSOng, the vicious nobleman
OF unlimited pecuniary resources, the i'm
passioned heroine, whose emotions are ALWAYS
expressed in ornate language, the hero with
BLACK cloak and eyebrows, heavy moustache
and misfortunes, and the inevitable cruel
parents. When the author series of historical
novels was first published, it met with good
reception, owing to the popular idea that
history and romance thus combined would
present at once instruction and amuse-
ment But the historical portions proved
often incorrect and the fictitious part ''far,
far from gay" There is no royal road to
learning, and the students of Miss Muhlbach's 8
books found, to their sorrow, that they had
taken pains to acquire something resembling
history in very much the same degree as the
hbretto of Puritani is like Cotton Mather's
Journal. The present volume, The Story
of Millionaire" does not pretend to have
any foundation in fact, however, and regard
ed as work of fiction is, at least, harmless.
Published by D. Appleton, New York. For
sale by Bailey & Noyes.
THE WHITE ROSE. By J. Whyte Melville,
author of "Cerise," "The Brookes of
Bridlemere," &c.
"The white Rose" is decidedly one of the
better class of novels. Mr.. Melville's style is
lively and sparkling, and his pictures of
society are very graphic. The plot of the
story is interesting, and the sympathy of the
reader is enlisted throughout in behalf of the
hero and heroine, who, after series of mis-
fortunes, at last are made happy. On the
whole this is very entertaining volume for
the summer vacation.
Published by d. Appleton & Co., New
York. For sale by Bailey and Noyes.
ETHEL MILDMAY's FoLLIEs. By the author
of ''Petite's Romance"
This is an uncommonly well written novel,
reminding us somewhat in plot and treat
ment of the works of Miss Kavanagh. Ethel
Mildmay is very bright and interesting
heroine, and the story is by no means COM
monplace. The book is tastefully bound and
printed.
Published by J. R. Osgood & Co., Boston.
For sale by Albert Colby.
Mrs. BERroNs DICTIONARY of Every Day
Cookery.
This book contains more than 1900 practi-
can recipes for cooking and serving, in at
tractive style, great variety of dishes; and
its value will be largely enhanced to young
housekeepers by the fact that the time is Civ
en- in which articles are in season, as well as
the even more necessary information as to
the number of hours or minutes required for
cooking them. The average cost, also care
fully added, will hardly be of use in this me-
ridian, save as it may call attention to the
fact that some of the incest dishes may be
among the less expensive.
The PHILOSOPHY OF HOUSEKEEPING, a
little predatory essay, will be found we think
to contain valuable hints to those even who
will not care to pursue entirely the plans laid
out. The alphabetical order followed
throughout this book adds greatly to its con-
venience in reference, while the brightly col
ored engravings of delicate arrangements for
fruits, cakes, &C., lift its subject quite among
the finer arts.
Published by D. Appleton & Co. For sale
by Bailey & Noyes.
MIDDLEMARCH. Vol. I. By George Eliot.
A new work by George Eliot is always re-
ceived with unbounded interest, and the
present volume is worthy of its author, one OF
the first of modern novelists. 1t is not al
ways stately statue, like her Romola, that
George Eliot bids us look at as life's monu-
ment, but more often cairn of stones, little
sorrows that, flung one by one as days pass,
mark the spot where life has failed. This
fatalism which represents that not only ''the
stars in their courses fight against" mankind
but also that the events and influences of life
day by day unite to vex and depress, is a
melancholy minor key in which surely toe
much of the writing of George Eliot is set
To mind like hers, pre-eminently sensitive,
the everyday annoyances of life seem, nc
doubt, almost unbearable, and its pleasures,
perhaps, commonplace. We are carried
along by the genius of the writer, and almost
forget to think that only the unsatisfactory
side of things is shown us, so powerfully and
naturally is it presented. Yet it is no weak
accusal of destiny but rather brave, if hope
less struggle that is depicted in the novels o
George Eliot. 1t is the sombre medium
through which she looks-not her spirit,
which is brave, or life which is after all
largely made up of joy-that gives this
uniformly sad tinge to her works. A bril-
liant style, strong without cr-,eness,
epigrammatic without bitterness, sylapa-
thetic instinct, profound knowledge Of
human nature and the art of the practised
novelist, all these George Eliot possesses-but
we miss in her writings the overlooking bon
honunie, the genial happy warmth, SO abun-
dant in the works of Dickens, and which
gives them so much of their charm.
While awaiting the second volume of enid
dlsmarch'' we can only speak of it as work
of art, not as story. The cLaracte- of Dor
Othea is subtle and delicate study, and her
husband, Mr.. Casanbon, is a type of the an
tiquarian devoted to learned and curious re-
search. The other characters are of course,
all admirably done, and in that of Will Ladis-
law we foresee coming interest for the second
volume. We need not offer words of recon-
mendation to our readers in favor of ''Middle-
march,, for the high reputation of its author
and the expectant interest that has awaited
its publication, will ensure tor it cordial
and appreciative welcome. Published by
Harper Brothers, New YORK. For sale by
Loring, Short and Harmon.
BUSINESS NOTICES.