The Portland daily press., 1873-03-15
Recent Publications.

LARS: A pastoral of Norway; By Bayard
Taylor.
This, Mr.. Taylor's latest work, while es-
sentially differing from his 'Masque Of the
Gods in subject and style. has very many of
the admirable qualities Of that poem. The same
powerful and harmonious use of language,
cearness and breadth of treatment and fine
local coloring, appear too in Lars" The
descriptions Of the wild Norwegian scenery
and Of the rude and simple customs of its in
habitants are finely done ;andinstrong contrast
to this wildly colored sketch is the quiet, gray
toned genre picture of the Quaker settle
ment In Pennsylvania. In the third part of
the poem, where the selfbanished Lars re-
turns to his native Norway, and throws upon
its dark, savage superstitions, the clear light
of the higher knowledge that he has gained
during his stay among the peaceful people OF
the Quaker village, a powerful and striking
effect is produced, which, on smaller scale
and in its own way, recalls the majestic finale
of the 'sMasque Of the Gcds." Lars is
written in smooth, flowing and musical blank
verse, with digniied and earnest simplicity
that renders it a worthy gift to our poet
Whittier, to whom in some beautiful and
graceful lines, it is dedicated. In Lars we
notice none of the tendency 10 German idiom
which was somewhat conspicuous in the
ssMasque of the Gods and which, though
very often appropriate to the bold and severe
outlines of that poem, at other times marred
1;tfIo 70 Gua prnpork;1us 49,, Z. :
work that will add greatly to Mr.. Taylor's al
ready enviable reputation as a poet, and in it
he displays throughout his sympathy with
man and nature, and his varied and vigorous
thought and expression. Still, we cannot
help feeling, that, not so much in the calm,
familiar scenes Of our own country, would
the most brilliant and unique qualities of Mr..
Taylor's writing appear--as in pictures of the
old world; of wild barbaric tribes OF the
desert; of mysterious heather rites; of black
woods lit by bale-fres, His extensive travels
and researches, his fl le force of imagination
and the remarkable skill with which he
makes few well-chosen words give Rem.
brandt-like light and darkness to the scenes
he portrays-fit him peculiarly for dealing
with such subjects.
Liars" is elegantly bound and printed and
is published oy J. R. Osgood and Co. For
sale by Hall L. Davis.
YEARBOOK OF NATURE AND POPULAR
SCIENCE: Edited by John c. Draper NJ
d.
A volume in which will be found an iin
msnse variety of information. 1t IS maze up
of brief records of the results Obtained dur-
ing the past year by scientists in their difier-
ent departments. The contents OF the BOOK
are very carefully and Systematically arrang-
ed according to the method adopted by the
pr;tish Association for the Advancement of
Science. in their publications. Although
presenting great attractions to persons es-
pecially familiar with one or another of its
topics, the general reader, too, win find in
this volume. very much to interest and bene-
Ct and its clear style, free from excess of
technicality, renders it fine addition to the
literature of popular science.
Published by Scribner, Armstrong q Co.
N. z. For sale by Loring, Short & Har-
mon.