The Portland daily press., 1872-10-12
The LADY OF LYNDON. By Lady Blake,
author of ''Claude" ''Helen's First Love-"

well-written novel of English life, slight
ly sensational, but thoroughly good in tone
and purpose. A fault in the literary execution
oil the book is, perhaps, the introducing the
reader at once to so many characters, which
IN novel, as in real life is somewhat confrls-
ing. However, they are all yery pleasant
people, and the reader will rejoice with them
in the general happy termination of the
story.
Published by J. R. Osgood & Co. For sale
Hall l.. Davis.
THE MARRIED BELLE. By Julie P. Smith.
The married Belle is written in a very
lively style, which occasionally becomes lit
tie fippant. Some of the authors sketches
of country life are fresh and graphic and there
are at times, touches of genuine fun. As a
story, the book has perhaps average merit.
Published by Carleton g. Co., N. Y. For
sale by Bailey & Noyes.
ORIENTAL AND LINGUISTIC STUDIES. THE
VEDA; THE AVEsTA; THE SCIENCE OF
LANGUAGE; by VIM. Dwight Whitney,
Professor of Sanscrit and Comparative Phil
ology in Yale College.
We have, in this valuable book collection
OF Essays, contributed during the last twenty
years to the 'NOrth American and other
publications. The value of a work like
this can hardly be overestmated, or its COM
ing be greeted with too great satisfaction,
when we reflect how few, as yet, are the
American ''books which are books''-those
written by scholars who have given years to
culture in one department of literature or sci
ence, The genius of American thought has
been too wide of range to effect all that we
have right to hope for and ask of it. We
lose in general culture much that should be
yielded by force well spent in one direction,
while in older communities, intellectual as
other labor, falls naturally into rank and file.
The worth OF this division Of labor needs but
to be recognized, and therefore made remu-
neratiye, if we would.take that stand as an
intellectual power among the nations that We
are proud to believe we already have as a
moral and physical force. Therefore let us
heartily welcome these "Orienlal and Lin
guistic Studies," and indeed they need fright
en- no one with their titles of Veda
and Avesta, or the free mention that is
made of the wondrous Sanscrit. 10th as we
might be to search out all these for ourselves
they are made interesting in the hands of one
to whom, they are familiar themes and are
easily followed with such attention as an
earnest reader will readily give. Especially
to be recommended as of general interest and
great practical value is the essay on Lam
guage and Education wherein is treated
that much mooted questionable value of the
study of ancient languages, and with SO much
fairness does the writer weigh the reasons
upon both sides that he seems to be an advo-
cate of each until he finally settles strong and
firm upon that ground which he clearly
shows to be alone tenable. And while the
matter of this essay is of great interest let
it not be overlooked, as SO transparent me-
dunn might easily be, that its style is its
own best commentary as showing how clear
ly and forcibly language may be used by
practical linguist.
We must be allowed to bespeak for this vol
ume the reception it 'deserves-all bearing in
mind that each who buys it encourages the
| production of its like in the future and helms
in the only sure way to lift from the market
the load ofpoor publications with which it
| teens.
Scribner & Armstrong, N. Y. For sale by
Loring, Short & Harmon.
| FAUsTINA: Translated from the German of
Ida, Countess Hahn-Hahn.
This is a German novel of the transcenden-
tai Sort Although there are in it some passages
that are wise and many that are quite brill
liant, the want off clear, healthful tone is ap-
parent throughout; and clever, sophisticated
sentimentalism takes the place of natural and
pure sentiment.
Published by Carleton & Co. N. Y. For
sale by Bailey & Noyes.
From Loring Short G. Harmon we have
Nasts Almanac for 1878, full to the brim
with fun and quaint humor as well as the us
ual useful statistics. 1t contains papers by
| Eli Perkins, Mark Twain and Josh Billings :
| also Dickens Mrs. Leo Hunters Public
Breakfast, all copiously illustrated in the
characteristic style of the inimitable Mast.
Price 25 cents.
MICHAEL FARADAY, by j. H. Gladstone, Phi
D., f. r. S.
In this little volume, Prof Gladstone has
| given some of his "reminiscences of the life,
character and work of the eminent "savant''
who for generation occupied such an impor-
| tant position in the scientific world
| Faraday was the son of journeyman
blacksmith and was at an early age, entered
as an apprentice to book binder. At the
end of his apprenticeship he obtained employ
ment with Sir Humphrey Davy at the Royal
| Institution in London, where under the guild
ance and instruction of this great master, he
pursued those studies and investigations which
ultimately made him the successor and equal
| of the teacher himself
In NJ Dumas's Eloge at the Academic des
Sciences occurs the following. =
| have never known man more worthy OF
being loved, of being admired, of being
mourned. ''There was nothing dramatic in
his life. 1t should be presented under that
simplicity of aspect which is the grandeur OF
it. There Is however, more than one lesson
to be learned from the proper study of this
| AhouJ NhOSC yOutu cuuuTtu power
ty with dignity, whose mature age bore hon.
ors with moderation, and whose last years
have passed gently away surrounded by marks
ofrespect offender Affection"
Published by Harper Brothers, For sale
by Loring, Short & Harmon.
THIRTY YEARS IN THE HAREsl OR THE
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MELEK HANIrN
WIFE OF ID. III. KBRIZLI-MEHEMET PA
| SHA.
The perusal of this narrative may, perhaps
be more agreeable to the reader, than was
the thlrty years in ''durance vile'', to the
authoress.
Published by Harper Brothers. For sale
by Loring, Short &. Harmon.
BUSINESS NOTICES.