The Portland daily press., 1875-04-17

Therefore woman is adorable" Whereupon
our reviewer Witty says that many men have
drawn the same conclusion from less abstract
premises.
The second paper in the number, by w. E.
Griffis, treats of Recent Revolutions in Japan
Mr.. Griffis takes the position that the change OF
national policy in that country, and the vast
proiected system of internal Improvements, are
due to movement from within the empire,
and are not, as we have fattered ourselves, at
tributable to the influence of European culture.
In the course of his article Mr.. Griffis exposes
the most curious price of diplomatic deception
on record, stale falsehood in the light OF
which the boldest lies in the annals OF Euro
pean diplomacy show an extreme poverty Oh III
vention. He says that the common opinion I'D
regard to a secular and spiritual emperor Is
entirely erroneous; that the "Tycoon ohis
existed in japanese fancy and European oieo
ulity; and that the potentate Win "ho'n We
treated was but vassal OF the empeioi' nav
ing no right to make treaties.
The third article, by Charles L.. Brace, Is an
able treatment of the disturbing proolem Oh
Pauperism The paper is based on o1hc'al re-
morris in England, France, Germany, and the
Tinted States and the conclusion is drawn
sthat in all countries there is degree of sue
cess in the struggle with the evil. The gloomy
forebodings of Malthus have not been real
ized.''
The fourth article, and one which by reason
of its subject and by it's beauty of treatment
will command the most general attention, is
James Russell Lowelps paper on Spenser. Mr.
Lowelrs poetic sympathies, refined taste and
wonderful critical abilities, render him peculiar
ly fit to undertake the study of the. author OF
"Ihe Faery Queen" The article is both bril-
liant and profound, and the thoughts are
clothed in a felictous and oftentimes splendld
diction enlivened by the play of wit and fancy.
Hear him: "Ihe land of Spenser is the lana
of Dreams, but it is also the land OF Rest 10
read him is like dreaming awake, without even
the trouble of doing it yourself, but letting IL
= be done for you by the finest dreamer that ever
lived, who knows how to color his dreams Ike
life and make them move before you IN music.
No man can read the 'Faery Queen and be any
thing but the better for it. Through that rude
aee when Maids of Honor drank beer Tor
breakfast and Hamlet could say gross thing
to Ophella, he passes serenely distracted ana
endure unmixed delight, whoever can tolerate
music and painting and poetry all in one, who
ever wishes to be rid of thought and to let the
busy anvils of the brain be silent for time'
let him read the Faery Queen There is the
land of pure hearts ease, where no ache MOI
sorrow of spirit can enter"
The concluding paper of the number is an
instructive and discriminating article from the
pen of Charles Francis Adams jr., on The
Granger Movement. Mr.. Adams holds that the
Granger excitement, though extravagant was
not causeless. The immediate causes he finds
to be absentee ownership" and the bad man
ners of railway officials. "Taken as class. y
he says. "the manners Of the employees of the
Western railroad system are probably the
worst and most offensive to be found in the
civilized world"
The critical notices display the ability and
discrimination characteristic of the book re-
views in this quarterly.