The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-25
Recent Publications.

"REMINISCENCES OF FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE
IN 1s6O-6l. By Abner Doubleday. New York:
Harper g. Brothers. For sale by Loring, Short s.
Harmon.
In this work Gen. Doubleday has given to
the country one of the most valuable mono
graphs of the war. He was second in COM
mand ct Fort Moultrie when the secession
movement began, and went to Fort Sumter at
the time the transfer was made by Major An
derson. The account he gives of the defense
of Sumter, of the attempts at relief and of
the state of feeling in Charleston, is full, and
from the letters, memoranda and documents in
his possession he has been enabled to furnish
some valuable facts not heretofore made pub
lie. Gen. Doubleday is not happy however in
the history of circumstances which have not
come under his own observation. For example
in speaking of Robert Barnwell Rhetrs har
argues in which that fre-eater attempted to
excite the prejudices of ibis hearers by telling
them that Mr.. Hamlin, the Vice President,
was a mulatto, our author gravely remarks in
foot-note: "Hamln's father named four of
his sons Europe, Asia, Africa and America
The fact that one of them was named Africa
gave rise 20 the statement that he was an
African"
The HISTORY or MY FRIENDS, or Home Life with
Animals. From the French of Emile Achard IL
Illustrated. New York: G. P. Putnams Sons. For
sale by Dresser, Mcclellan & Co.
This is series of sketches of family pets,
and stories Of child life in connection with
them. Nothing is more delightful in family
histories than stories of animal pets and their
adventures, aud none are more charmingly told
than these stories of Achard. He was most
fortunate too as most boy readers will admit,
in having had among his dumb friends an os-
trch, deer, bear, an American puma, and
a monkey, besides several noble dogs and other
animals, and numerous birds, which he loved
devotedly, and tenderly mourned when they
went to the happy hunting grounds. This
win therefore be favorite among the holiday
books.
THE LIFE OF LORD BYRON, and Other Sketches.
By Emilio CASTELAR,. Translated by Mrs. Arthur
Arnold. New York: Harper & Brothers.
American enthusiasm over CASTELAR, has
measurably died away, but whatever the mag
nificent rhetorician has to say is still eagerly
sought after by multitudes of readers The
man shows at his best in this brilliant sketch
of Byron, vertable Turner in words, and in
mig plcLuFeS-tuty CduuOt Uo Cdiicu
of Victor Hugo, Dumas, Emile Giradin, Dan
lei Marin, and Theirs. The translation appears
to be singularly able one, reproducing most
happily Castelar's ornate diction and the long
sweep of his sentences.
CHATS WITH THE LITTLE ONES. From the French
of L. Sauveur. Boston: Estes g. Lauriat. For
sale by Dresser, Mcclellan & Co.
In this handsomely bound and illustrated
volume we are presented with asprightly trans
lation of Prof Sauveur's Cduseries dUec les En-
fdnts The translator assumes with reason
that the many little ones who do not under
stand French will find as much pleasure in
reading the fables of La Fontaine or the for
tunes of Reynard the Fox as their more fortu-
nate companions. The volume is elegantly
gotten up for the holiday trade.
BETTY's BRIGHT IDEA. By Harriet Beecher
Stowe. New York: j. B. Ford g. Co. For sale by
Loring, Short q Harmon.
In neat brochure daintiy illustrated, Betty
and her bright idea are given to the young peo-
pie. The children are taken too to Deacon
Pilkin's farm and then told of the Fi1st
Christmas of New England. The little vol
ume will command warm welcome from the
children.
AN INDIAN PEARL, by B. L. Farjeon. New York:
Harper g. Bros. Portland: Loripg, Short g. Har-
mon.
A pretty little story of sailor, wife, mis-
understanding, shipwreck, desert island,
and happy reunion. Octave, paper covers.
IS cents.