The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-03-11
A Great Publishing Enterprise by
Estes a. Lauriat.

The veteran statesman, historian and Christian
philosopher, M. Guizot, as he completing his
eighty-second year, five years ago, was induced to
put in full FORM and to give to the public materials
which he had prepared in slight notes. to be expand
ed from his memory in narration-fnr the simple
purpose of instructing, while amusing, his own
grandchildren. With spirit and intent like that
which prompted Sir Walter Scott to put the history
of Scotland into stories told his grandson,
Lockhart, M Guizot essayed to deal in the way
with the history of France. The carrying out such
purpose, whether orally in writing requires and
result in a work which comes just midway between
mere compend Of dates and facts and an elaborate
1t not exhaustive treatment of a nations annals,
with dispositions and minute investigations on all
complicated and controverted incidents in it.
M. Guizot had been furnished by the studies and
labors of lifetime for the task which he under
took, and his busy and practced pen had acquired
facility in style admirably adapted to the special de-
mands of the work. When he made he made his
French translation Of Gibbons great work. which he
illustrated and some Of the critical matters of which
he challenged to good purpose in his valuable notes.
he became master Of the scholarship OF his present
theme. As professor of modern history in the Uni
versty of France he had delivered many courses of
lectures on the history of civilization, which were
afterwards wrought into his admirable work under
ehoo s4eAC LID AduOHS udFt Detu ldlluIul III many
other special and comprehensive fields of histsrica
literature.
Concluding to write out in a more complete text
and with sufficient elabo alton the notes which he had
actually nsed for their first and only intended pur-
pose NJ CT izot prepared Tor publication in France
work to bear the following title: 1.-THE History of
France from the Earliest Times to the yoar 1885, Re-
lated for the Rising Generation" This answers to
our title Of popular history. The whole work. ex-
tending to three and possibly to four substantial vol
umes, is in the hands Of the French publishers A
translation of the first two volumes, by Mr. Robert
Black. has appeared in elegant form in London.
Messrs. Estes & Lauriat of Boston, have under
taken the costly enterprise of reproducing the Eng
lish translation in an even more sumptuous FORM
The enterprise expensive in it's outlay to them is
entered upon with confidence that it will be appreci
ated and well sustained in this community. Their
proposition is to issue the complete work in seral
semi-monthly parts, OF these, eight have already
appeared. covering about four hundred pages.
The English edition is illustrated with two hum
dred new and elegant wood CUTS in the highest style
of the art. Of these, Messrs. Estes & Laurat have
secured eleetrotypes by the famous artist, A. De
MELVILLE. In addition to these, the American pub
fishers propose, peculiar to their edition. FORTY
magnificent steel line engravngs The paper, TYNE,
and whole mechanical execution of the work make II
as creditable, rich and luxurious piece of finished
execution as has ever appeared here
This American edition will be comprehended in
between forty and forty-eight parts issued, as we
have said two in each month, at cost of fifty cents
each. This price is reasonable that only gener
GUS patronage can remunerate the publishers. The
work is timely one for two especial reasons.
France is before the eyes and minds Of all Christian
people. in state of chronic revolution continual
ly engaging wonder and our sympathy. The
causes of all the revelat and excitements the
tragedies and disasters, the gores and the recuper-
aVe energies of the nation lie back in its earliest his
tory. Filled as this is, with romance, heroism and
the alterations of triumph and defeat II has al ,ha
charm, fascination and absorbing interest which
ages OF human activity and endurance can connec+
with the scenes of mans abode And AGAIN tb;
work nils great gap in Astounding literature
There is no good and trustworthy volume or so+ 80
volumes on our shelves with which this can en.o-
into rivalry. 1t has the field to ITSELF We have
amned both the English edition of the first two ~,
umes, and that portion of them which has bee, =.
produced here. The elegantly printed pages and IN.
Astounding anC beautiful illustrations of stor,as
scenes, places incidents and persons all presented
in the harmonies of time, scenery surroundings and
costumes have all the richness Of the old illustrate,
chronicles. While the publication is in progress No
would commend it to general readers and especia,l
to parents as work which will renew in their bouse
holds repeated and fresh pleasure fortnipb+
There is just enough of the characteristic ouat;es
of an old age of wisdom and virtue in the venerabo
writer to engage the attention Of the young and re-.
tain the interest of the mature reader.
Subscriptions received by