The Portland daily press., 1875-03-20
Recent Publications.

GoETHE's HERMANN uND DoRATHEA. Edited by
James Morgan Hart. New York: G. P. Putnam's
Sons. For sale by Loring, ShoIt 8 Harmon.
The Putnams have had for some time in act
i've preparation series of German classics
for American students, and for those who wish
to possess in neat, attractive, handy volumes,
the masterpieces of German literature. 1t is
intended that each volume shall contain an in
PRODUCTION, setting forth the circumstances
under which the work was composed, The ma
terials used, and its relative standing in Ger
man literature. This is followed by running
commentary, explaining peculiarities in the
use of words and difficulties in the grammati-
cal structure of sentences, and discussing allu-
sions to the personages and events of history,
to the authors contemporaries, to national or
provincial peculiarities of manner, customs,
and opinion. The series is edited by Professor
Hart,-sufficient assurance that the work will
be undertaken in faithful, understanding and
comprehensive manner.
The first of the seres,s Hermann Und Dora
thea, is out and amply ful6lls the promise of
the publishers. The text, remarkable for its
accuracy, is that of Kurz, modernized in SPELL
ing and punctuation. As the editor says
''The fitness of Hermann und Dorathea to serve
as the initial volume of such progressive Sc
ries is self-evident. The student, or reader,
having to deal with only few characters and
incidents, can take the time to master
thoroughly the nieeties of diction which mark
the poem. With a view to faciitating.t this eff
fort have introduced a novel feature-which
will not be repeated in the subsequent vol
ooff ha car;oa-namaly hrinf U1o
and an analysis of certain grammatical pecu-
liarities"
The volume is neatly gotten up, and is ex-
cellently adapted to the wants of students, pub
lie or private We regret to notice that the
notes are a little blurred in printing. 1t will
be followed in the series by Sehiller's Piccolom
ini.
The NEW GLOUCESTER CENTENNIAL, September 4,
1874. By T. H. Haskell. Portland: Hoyt, Fogg
& Donham.
This attractively gotten-up volume contains
full account of the celebration of the New
Gloucester Centennial, in September of last
year. The account embraces Mr. Haskell's his
torical address,-a clear concise and entertain
ing history of the town from its earliest begin
nings down to the present time,-and the pro-
ceedings at the dinner, where letters of great
interest, and abounding in "reminiscences, were
read from the Hon. P. ". Chandler, the Hon.
S. G. Fessenden, and others, and speeches
were made by many sons of New Gloucester.
Not the least entertaining of these is the full and
satisfactory account of the Shaker settlement
given by Elder Otis Sawyer. An appendix con-
tains the record of the Falmouth convention of
1774, a roll of the soldiers of the revolution, of
1912, and of the rebellion, list of senators and
representatives in the legislature, curious ex-
tracts from the old records, and sketches of
many of the old inhabitants.
Mr.. Haskell has done his work thoroughly
aud well, and has gotten out volume which is
of great interest to every past and present in
habitant of New Gloucester. He has been ma
terially aided in his work by the verbatim re-
ports made by Mr.. Reuel Small the accom-
plshed ssenographer in attendance on the Gel
braton.
In HONOR BOUND By Charles Gibbon. New York:
Harper & Bros For sale by Loring, Short q Har-
mon.
"In Honor Bound" is vigorous and whole
some novel. having many excellences and few
defects. 1t is surprising how effective natu-
raj, unpretending story can be made by an au
tbor's good taste and careful management.
As this book opens, a fortune is going a beg
eing. which materially influences the action
and tenor of the story By its alluring gla-
mour, the Laird graciously becomes democratic
and condescending and consents to the mar
rage of his son with Christina, the beautiful
| daughter of fisherman, thus abandoning the
| long cherished matrimonial projects of the
| family, namely, union with a cousin Grace, a
nice, unselfsh girl with much lucre.