The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-21
Recent Publications.

PAccHIARoTTo AND OTHER POEMS. By Robert
Browning. Published by j. r. Osgood s. Co.,
Boston. For sale by Bailey g. Noyes.
In this volume Mr.. Browning appears to
better advantage than in his previous publica-
tion, The Inn Album" Some of the poeti-
cal traits that seemed lost in the chaotic dark
ness of his later style, reappear again-as for
example in the ''Prologue," Natural Magic"
and 'St. Martins Summer" poems that re-
attest Mr.. Browning's possibilities of poetic
thought and expression, rarely gracious or
musical, but possessing certain sorority as
we'll as power and significance. As for "Pac-
chiarotto and how he Worked in Distemper"-
it were better named Browning, and how he
Worked out of Temper"-for this inartistic
performance is simply an ebulltion of disgust
at the unanimous disapproval with which crit
les have been obliged for some years past TO re-
gard his work. To this disaffected class Of his
readers he applies the term, ''the ring Of rueful
neighbors," apparently considering that liter
ary history repeats itself, and that each VEN
ture of his which has encountered critical dis
approval is but new edition of 'Tbe Ring
and the Book" In modern literary and politi-
cal warfare, indeed, favorite mode of attack
is to call ones opponents RiDg-and to con-
slider whatever genius may not agree with ones
self as slave of the Ring. A ring may be
multitudinous-as in the case of Mr.. Brown
ing's critics; it may bs composed of one
indivdual-as in Mr.. Browning's own case;
but everywhere each interest is supposed to be
encircled by ring. So far a digression-to
mark a curious tendency of speech in time
than which none was ever more notable, in
literature or ia politics, for free, untrammeled
discussion and desire for honest work.
Ostensibly to defer to the opinion of the
critics who have cried for sweetness and light
in Mr.. BrowniDg's verses, be has written
"Paccharotto" in the baldest manner with the
most absurd and ear-torturing sounds. Like
the other Fable for Critics "Paccharotto"
abounds in extraordinary rhymes, but the
bizarre effects that served to point Mr.. Lowel's
kindly if caustic humor, are exceedingly dis
agreeable in Mr.. Browning's outburst of puerile
petulance; Mr.. Lowells poem is like the priv
ileged jester, Disgusting wisdom with wit
"Pacchiarotto'' resembles the utterance of
idiocy. moved by some trife to incoherent
| trag-comedy of anger.
The long blank verse poems contained in the
volume are better in manner than most of Mr..
Browning's work in that form; they are less
| involved, and less strongly favored with pecu-
liarity, while they by no means lack power and
| incisiveness. 1t is pleasant to recognize that
Judging of this volume as whole, and set
ting aside the evidences of dislike to his critics
which has been able to affect Mr. Browning s
| style at once fof the worse and the better-the
| present volume shows signs OF return to traits
| that were seen when the world greeted the
early uprising" of the poet; and which have
l been greatly spoiled and wasted by false modes
/ of expression and coarseness of thought aud
manner, and unjustifiable disregard of the
healthful restraints of art. 1t is sincerely to be
hoped that Mr.. Browning will emphasize the
good points of his talent; that he will reassume
literary sanity and responsibility and reform
the singular dissonances that he has mistaken
for music, restoring the voice-never over
sweet but stropg and orignal-now japgled
out of tune and harsh.
THE HUNTING OF THE SHARK; An Agony in Eight
Fits By Lewis Carroll, author Of Alice's Adven-
lures in Wonderland. Published by james r. Os-
good & Co... Boston. For sale by Bailey & Noyes
1t has already teen observed in an essay up
on the fruitful subject of the oddities of hui
man nature, that the imputation most thor
oughly, implacably and vigorously resented By
human being is that of possessing no sense
of fun; and the essayst went so far into the
| nightside of human nature as boldly to assert
! that there are in existence individuals so dense