The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-06-19

r. Osgood 81 Co. For sale by Bailey &c Noyes
When Do Lewis attempts to be funny he
makes failure, When he attempts to be Sc
rious he is sometimes very funny indeed. His
latest WORK is written in the serious vein. 1t
is like his systems of gymnastics and Of diet,
amounting to very little, but serving to amuse
people. What he has to say in favor OF the
exercise of moral suason in suppressing drunk
enness is good, and he does full justice to that
great agency. But the book is disfgured and
made unreliable by his usual extravaganza of
statement, and his wild denuncations of all
law except for the suppression of crime. Gov
erament, he says, is only for criminals, the
governor of the state is only "the commander
in chief of the army of criminals" and legisa-
lures should devote their attention solely to
crimes. Drunkenness is vice and not a crime,
and consequently not under the jurisdiction of
government. This is an outline of his argu-
ment. Prohibition is in his view, the great
obstacle to the cause of temperance, but license
also is an infamy, because alcohol is poison
that never should enter.the stomach under any
pretext, even at the communion table. What
he proposes to do about it is not quite clear
WHAT Young PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW. The Re-
productive Function in Man and the Lower Ami
mails. By Burt G. Wilder. Boston: Estes and
Lauriat. For sale by Dresser, MLellan & Co.
That Professor Wilder has treated a delicate
subject with all necessary delicacy and yet with
sufficient planness no reader of this work will
dispute. He is one Of the first anatomists in
the country, thoroughly understands his sub
jectand presents it in form that cannot offend
fbap ;I.t.or Al. d. L
mas fallen into the error of treating the subject
in technical manner, and has made his treat
Use SO difficult to master that only those VIII,
do not need to read 1t can understand it. Chit
dren certainly will not peruse it thoroughly.
They may turu 20 the pages which satisfy their
curiosity, but will pay little attention to the
opening chapters on comparative anatomy IL
is an attractive idea 10 interest the child IN
the structure and reproduction of the
plant then of the lower forms of animal
life, then of the higher, so that the
will bring to the study of the reproductive
functions of man only scientific curiosity.
But Professor Wilder has, it seems to us, failed
in his first step. and does not succeed in inter
esting the child on the start.
SHIFTLEss FOLKS By Christabel Goldsmith. New
York: G. W. Carleton & Co. For sale by Bailey
& Noyes.
The author announces On the title page that
'Shiftess Folks" is an undiluted love story
but she has diluted her sentiment with religion,
temperance, poles of dissent, deep sorroWs, ON
nous terrors, speculations on human soul life,
the fretting of the divinity in man against his
carnal inclinations. and such. The story starts
off with three heroines and four heroes. AS
the young women must all be mattel, it be-
comes with the young men game of "Puss in
the Corner" and rather an entertaining game
it is too. The action of the book is lively, the
plot suffic emily intricate, and some of the
misunderstanding good. So long as the au.
thor confines herself to her loye-makiug and
does not wander off into abysmal philosophy,
she does well.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR. By DIR. R. Morris. New
York: d. Appleton g. Co. For sale by Bailey s.
Ncyes.
''English Grammar is one of the literature
primers brought out ir England and edited by
j. r. Green. The volume is by the Rev.
Richard Morris, president of the pathological
society, and author of Historical Oatlines of
English Accidence 1t is, as the name of the
author leads us to expect, a simple, clear and
comprehensive statement of the history
and principles of English grammar. By a
mastery system of condensation the chief facts
in regard to the language are put into small
compass, but clearness .or knowledge are no
where sacrificed to brevity The little volume is
the best outline of the subject that has come
under our notice.
EUROPE FOR 50 Day by NJ. F. Sweetser Bos-
ton: j. H. Osgooa & Go. To. saio by -Baiicy 81
Noyes.
This brochure is designed for the instruction
of tourists of moderate means who desire to see
Europe but who have not much money to spend
on transatlantic trip. The writer speaks from
experience, and shows that the tour of Europe
can be made by any one possessing ordinary
strength and health comfortably and pleasantly
for two dollars day. The reader is told just
how and where money can be stved. what
routes to take, and what hotels to stay at, and
much other necessary information is impaired.
The book is pleasantly written, and some per
sonal "reminiscences of travel add to its interest
WHAT AND How TO READ. By G. A. F. Van
Rhyn. New York: d. Appleton s. Co. For sale
This handy book is intended to be guide to
recent English literature, and contains mi
nutely classified list of the best books pub
lished in England and America during the
past five years, with critical remarks and sug
gestions, and an instructive introduction by
the editor. About seven thousand books have
been classified under two thousand heads, and
there is full index of titles. Short explana-
tory and advisory n ties are given, and the con
tents and literary worth of the principal publ
cations discussed briefly. The volume fulfills
its purpose WELL
DEAD TO THE WORLD. From the German of Carl
Detlef Translated by MS. Boston: William f.
Gill & Co. For sale by Loring, Short & Harmon.
Dead to the World is powerfully written
story, dealing with love, hatred, revenge, aud
several other passions. Its most powerful
scenes are laid in Russia, an the despotism of
that country furnishes tne excuse for some of
the more improbable pictures. The delneation
of character is strong and effective, and
the story is skilfully told Intending readers
will be delighted to know that the heroine, who
rejoices in the name Of Olga, has slender,