The Portland daily press., 1874-09-26
Recent Publications.

LLOYD DALAN. By Mary Densel, author of the
''Goldy Books" New York: f. P. Dutton s. Co.
For sale by Loring, Short s. Harmon.
We have rarely met with a book that so
nearly approaches our ideal of what child's
poUK snUulu De, as uOes Lcyd Dalan. IL IS
extremely interesting without being exciting,
and while the entire book is pervaded with
deep, sweet, religious tone, it is so unobtru-
sive that it is only upon afterthOught that one
realizes the little moral lecture contaired
within its pages. The characters are very
lifelike, and evince careful study, especially
that Of Lloyd, which shows most thorough
knowledge and appreciation OF the thoughts,
feelings and motives of action of boys; and
many boy upon reading this book will feel
happier and more light-hearted for the knowl-
edge that he is understood, by at least one
person amid the world of well meaning but
unappreciative grown up people at whose
hands boys meet with so little sympathy.
A very noticeable feature of the book is the
hearty, natural, boyish tone which the au
thoress has given TO Lloyd's conversations
instead of the polite mannerisms with which
many writer's see fit to clothe the speech of
their young gentlemen; it is, for instance,
very refreshing to hear him say "what sort OF
looking party are we going to find? Is she
tall or short light or dark +? fat or lean? Does
she wear glasses or doesn't she? Got pic
ture Of her? 1t might embarrass shy sort
of a fellow like me to find himself embracing
the wrong young woman you know" in
stead of ''Will you kindly describe the person.
al appearance OF the young lady in question,
in order to prevent the commission of EN-
barrassing mistake on my partb" which is the
form usually prescribed to the precocious
youthof the novel.
Taking the book all in all, it is one of the
sweetest, freshest and purest that We have
ever seen written Tor children, and could we
have few more such instead of the trashy
the moral tone of the. community would be
vastly improved and elevated.
SOME LEADING PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL EcoNo-
MY. By j. E. Cairnes.' New York; Harper and
Brothers. For sale by Loring, Short s. Harmon
In this volume of 400 pages Professor
Cairnes gives new exposition of some of the
leading and generally received principles Of
political economy. Indeed it is an avowed
attempt to recast considerable portion of the
science. The book will be found valuable
contribution to the knowledge Of the subject,
though its logic at times is not exact and
will prove far from satisfactory to many stu
dents. The style lacks finish, but has di
lectness and rugged force which make ample
amends.
The most entertaining part. Of the book TO
an American reader is the review of the f.
nancial and commercial condition OF this
country and the prevailing depression in in
dustry and trade. The authors criticism on
the protectionist theories carrent in this
country is also very entertaining.
The old battle-ground of the relations CT
the demand for commodities to the wages OF
the labor producing them is very thoroughly
gone over, the heresies of the trades unions
thoroughly exposed, and the term ''normal
price, very clearly treated from an altogether
new standpoint. But the most valuable por-
ton of tie book is the discussion of interna-
tional trade, decided advance over the con-
fusing seventh chapter of Ricardo, and an
improvement even over Mr.. Mill's exposition,
This elucidation of this subject alone renders
the work valuable acquisition to the science
Of political economy.
| HOMES AND How TO MAKE TBEM BY L. c..
Gardner, Boston: j. r. Ossood & Co. For sale
by Bailey & Noyes
Mr.. E. c. Gardner, Springfield archi-
tect, takes occasion in this little volume to
give to the public his ideas on house building
and house decoration. The book is in the
epistolary form, the author supposing that
| certain friends of his write and make in
| quires how to build an inexpensive house
how to build the handsomest house in town,
| how to repair an old house &c. The archi-
teet is very frank and full in the advice given,
most of which is excellent. He everywhere
keeps comfort and good taste in view, and
is outspoken in his condemnation of shams,
such as French roofs, towers, cupoas, su.
perfuous bay windows &c. He firmly be-
lieves that houses are made to live in and
to be enjoyed. The book is very readable
and contains truths and speculations inter
estipp to all