The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-11-06
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCES.

English people during his stay abroad as Secre.
tary of the American legation at London. The
volume might well be entitled Contrasts" for
he is continually on the watch for the points Of
difference between the English people and our
owD. The work is a valuable contribution to
our knowledge of the old country for the rea-
son that the author has lett the beaten track,
and has given us the results of original re-
search. The volume is anything but book of
travels; If is in effect collection of essays on
Epglish thought and manners. While Mr..
Nadal has not neglected to use his eyes he has
used his reflective powers as well. Instead of
pictures of England we have the thoughts and
conclusions suggested by the pictures He oh.
serves and thinks fer himself, and does not
hesitate to disabuse us of many of our precon-
ceived ideas in regard to the mother land. II
appears from his statements that those of us
who read English social novels Tor their pic
lures of English society life have been mis-
led; that the novel is not true 10 the facts.
The style is simple, easy, unaffected and en-
tertainng, its usual quiet tone relieved now
and then by touch of gentle satire. The au-
thor, while at all times preserving his loyalty,
has not hesitated to commend whatever Is
good abroad or condemn whatever is bad at
home.
GLIMPsEs OF THE SUPERNATURAL. Edited by
the Rev. Frederick George Lee. Vicar of All
SAINTS. Lambeth. New York: G.. W. Carleton
& Co. For sale by Bailey & Noyes.
The cover Of this book is stamped with three
very skinny hands, which wave and beckon
the reader to a perusal of the mysterious with
| in. The title page informs him that the vol
ume contains facts, records, and traditions re-
| lating to dreams, omens, miraculous occur
| rences, appaiitons. wraiths, warnings, second
| sight, wtchcraft and necromancy. On turn
| ing the pages he learns of these catalogued
horrors. The standpoint of the author is that
| OF faith. He frankly avows his belief that the
| age of miracles has not yet passed, and that
angels and demons are warning for the possess
| sion of the human soul. Satan occupies an
alarmiDgly large share of his attention. The
volume is good as a collection of curious occur
rences, striking condolences, legends and un-
substantiated statements. To those interested
In the literature of horror it will prove enter
| tanning 1t certainly is not dull and not to be
| recommended as one of those books which we
sometimes take in hand at late hours of the
night to assist us in wooing sleep; as a recipe
| for wakefulness it is equal to a cup of coffee.
| The author writes in devout spirit and aims
sharp thrusts at the materialism of the day.
LITTLE CLASSICS. Edited by Rossiter johnson.
| Sixteenth volume. Authors. Boston: j. X.
Osgood s. Co. For sale by Bailey & Noyes.
The sixteenth and concluding volume Of the
i dainty Little Classics" is fitting completion
of the excellent series, containing as it does
biographical sketches of the hundred and fifty
authors represented by prose or poetical selec-
tons in the fifteen preceding volumes. These
sketches are all entertaining, and some of them
are of people of whom we know but little, of
whom no biographies have heretofore been
| penned. A general index to the sixteen vol
umes is appended, which will be found of
| much service to those who own the set.