The Portland daily press., 1873-05-31
THE PRESS s.
Recent Publications.

Mrs. Edwards, who has gained for herse'
the reputation of being delightful, oriii'an'
and original novelist, by sone OF her ioiiue-
works, win in some respects lose p'e'''1o "
this last one. Her style, always unoo
tiopal ,v,s for that very reason cnarmihg, So
1--we =. good taste and wholesome fear Of
,ho social oninion. which she depre Gated, con-
trcllad her pen. That Mrs. Grundy is at
fines a most Objectionable old person, we
readily admit; that the cie de Boheme-as
seen through the rosecolorcd lorgnette oblig-
ingly lent us by the novelist, and with the
additional, proverbial enchantment of dis
lance is fascinating, we also allow. Yet we
honestly believe and say, that the worlds
good opinion is thing very well worth the
having. Societyis to a great degree artificial,
to suit artificial needs-but it is, after all.
made up OF people, genuine in their different
ways and having each some standard of right
and wrong, narrow, mistaken enough some
times-but far better than nothing. In her
previous novel Ought We TO Visit Her?'
Mrs. Edwards draws a graphic sketch OF
woman, honest, impulsive and war nhearted,
who had left her profession of ballet-dancer
to rla ry an Englishman of position. The
opening chapters promised well, the situation
was powerfully depicted, and the ndirete and
sincerity VI Jane stood in strong contrast to
the meanness and frgidity of the people
among whom her marriage had placed her.
SO far, it was wei done, the innocence and
uncanventionality of her heroine were charm
ing; but Mrs. Edwards was not satisfied with
this. The story goes on, and at its end one
arrives at the moral-better be bad without
the sanction of Mrs. Grundy than with t.
Such is the unsatisfactory result of Mrs. Ed
wards previous novel; and in the ''Vagabond
Heroine the same idea is carried still farther,
introducing 10 US heroine who, she express
iy tells us was neither girlish, innocent, or
feminine, Of whom she says 'idevoid though
she be of every virtue that can be catalogued,
there Is in her charm more potent than all
the cardinal virtues put together--originaty.
This Is an ingenious argument in favor of
original sin, yet one that, we think, will hard
~ be popular. In short, Mrs. Edwards aims
TO glorify Bohemia at the expense of society,
aud ends merely by displaying the stupid
shams OF the one and the respective traits Of
the other. There is refined and brilliant So
cial liie-and there is pays de Boheme
known to artists and art-lovers---a happy,
careless, harmless and bright existence such
as another authoress, Mrs. Bethern-Edwards
has charmingly described in her novel exit
ty." But this is far different from the Ish-
maelite life that Mrs. Annie Edwards seems
to consider the hight of happiness. 1t is
with real regret that we speak thus severly of
a novel by SO talented a writer--but its very
interest and vigor give it an influence all the
more harmful; and we sincerely hope that
the next book from the authors pen will be
one which We can take pleasure in recon-
mending as alike admirable in style and treat
ment.
Published by Sheldon and Co., New York.
For sale by Loring, Short and Harmon,
The Passions their relations to Health
AMI Diseases. Translated from the
French of DIR. X. Bourgeois, by Howard
l.. Damon, III. ID. Boston; James Camp
bell.
No thoughtful person will deny that there
is a far too prevalent Ignorance of matters
which pertain to the relations Of the sexes
and that this lack of knowledge is the direct
cause of much misery and crime
Parents and teachers, instead of point
that are certain to beset the path
way of the young, keep silence on these top
les from feeling Of false modesty, and COM
init their children to the guidance Of chance,
in many cases to bitterly repent their prud-
cry when it is too late TO prevent the mischief
orrepair the wrong.
The book before us essays to supply want
which has long been felt, by affording reliable
information on these delicate subjects in an
uneexbeptional manner. 1t advertises itself
as book which may be read by young and
old without harm and with much profit.
The author considers his subject under two
leads, Love and Libertinism, and says that
he has ever kept in mind the maxim of Aris-
tot:e-To say what should be said, to only
say what should be said, and to say it as it
should be said. After careful examination
of the book we have arrived at the conclusion
that be has failed in every particular of his
selfimposed task. While he has undoubted-
ly said many things that are true and useful
TO know, he has SO mingled them with afro
cious but specious misstatements, that it needs
professional expert to separate them.
Then ne has introduced much which, how
ever proper it may be for the perusal of
scientist or historian, is outrageously indie.
cent in work intended for the general pub
lie; and finally, though the original was
probably written in good French, the trans
lation has been done into English of so
wretched character as to astonish one who
is informed that it was made by an educated
physician in classic Boston. The fact of its
weakness in literary point of view is suffi-
Gent reason for condemning it, even if its
matter were as correct and pure as it is false
and vile. For sale in this city by Loring,
Short and Harmon.
The Little Grandfather. BY Sophie May.
This is the fifth volume of ''Little Prudy's
Flyaway Series by writer so well known to
all the little people and their parents that the
mere announcement of another book from
her pen is enough to create lively wishes in
youthful minds, and to organize system Of
vigorous research in the pockets Of the pa
ternal oyercoat, at last happily resulting in
the discovery of the desired treasure. ''T1e
Little Grandfather is the sto.y of little
boy who was sometimes good and sometimes
naughty, didn't die young, wasn't the subject
of a little tract, but grew up to be the grand
father of I'rudy and Susy anil Dotty and all
the rest of these delightful little Parlns.
Published by Lee and Shepard, Boston.
Fer sale by Loring, Short and Harmon.
The rIouscIceper and Hca!fhkeeper BY
Isliss Catherine Beecher.
This excellent manual contains five hun
dred receipts for cooking, beside count ess
number of valuable practical hints on domes-
tic management. Housekeepers will find in
this volume many suggestions OF which they
will gladly avail themselves. 1t is not only a
guide in the mechanical part of its subject,
but deals thoughtfully aud carefully with the
duties of housekeepers toward the different
members of the family the care of children,