The Portland daily press., 1876-03-20
Recent Publications.

MISS HIrcHcocK's WEDDING Dress. By the au.
thor OF Mrs Jern1nghams Journal" New York:
Scribner, Armstrong & Co. For sale by Loring,
Short s. Harmon.
There are few who will take up this book
without reading everything between its covers
The story is not long, covering but about two
hundred aud fifty pages, and interesting Incl
ients follow close upon each other. The open.
ng chapter is boldly conceived and somewhat
Improbable but the author maintains the posi-.
Ion well and we willing give ourselves up to
ne iiluslOn Mirauda and her older sister
Sophy, daughters OF deceased clergyman have
Established themselves as seamstresses in the
city of London. The opening chapter fnds
hem at work upon Miss. Htchcock's wedding
iress. The time is evening and when tired
With her weeks work the older sister retires
Miranda cannot resist the temptation to fold
Ier charming self in the wedding garment.
But as her apartment does not possess o mir
or adequate to the occasion she enters the
'front.' parlor, which she knows to be unoccupied
at the time, and there, drawing on pair of
gloves opportunely dropped, she enjoys the ef-
'ect to ber hearts contenG Soon she hears car
rages stopping at the door of the adjoining
house and the sound of the music tells her that
ball is in progress. Upon the impulse of the
moment arrsyed as she is she gides out of the
door and follows party just ascending the
steps into the house. Here she meets Lady
Gregory's nephew" or in other words Mr..
'ressingham. Now this Mr.. Cressingham is
the gentleman engaged TO be married to Miss
Hitchcock, hut he has already begun to doubt
the genunness of his love for her. Mrauda's
spparition confirms his doubts and be straight
way falls irrecoyerably 10 love with the seam
stress incognito. This is accomplished in the
first two chapters. The remainder of the book
is, of course, devoted to the satisfactory break
ing off of the first engagement aud the con-
traction of the one ideal. There is a pleasant
by-play,lin the friendship formed between Mr.
Gauut, artist and physician, and Maria Leslie,
the denouement of which is left entirely with
the reader. The characters of Miranda and
Mr.. Cressingham are altogether perfect, and II
one does not meet such in the flesh il fistters
ones vanity to be persuaded that such perfec-
tion might exist Their dialogue is often
quite bright but never profound The peculi-
arities of Mr.. Gauut's character are also very
well colored.
The book is certainly not psychological
study after the manner of George Eliot, but
rather brisk, sprightly story very we'll told,
and will entertain few hours of leisure very
pleasantly and herein it no doubt meets the in
entions of its author.
PAUsANIUs THE SPARTAN. By the late Lord Lyt-
ton. New York: Harper & Brothers. For sale
by oring, Short s. Harmon.
Pausanius the Spartan is an unfinished his
| hu Late T fI,..y
wer). 1t is but fragment, one of the three
volumes contemplated, and incomplete at that,
but brief as it is, it shows the touch of the
master hand, giving admirable sketches of By
lantine and Spartan life, which are evidently
the result of faithful study. Some of the
scenes, such as the Fight with the Helot, the
interview With the Greek Captains, the Ban
qaet of AutagOras, the Review of the Fleets
aud the Interview of the Spartan Lovers, are
very forcble and will go into literature as fine
reading. Like all unfinished works of great
authors it is most Disappointing to lack the con-
cusor, yet the editor must he thanked for Civ
ing us SO valuable fragment
THE AMERICAN KENNEL AND SPORTING FIELD.
by Arnold Burges, late Editor of American
Sportsman. New York: j. B. Ford & Co. For
sale by Loring, Short q Harmon.
The Americar4KeDnel is a volume devoted 10
an account OF Setters Pointers, Spsniels, Re-
-risvers, aud Small Hounds, dogs especially
,dapted to the pursuit OF American game. Tho
oame of the author is sufficient guaranty that
be work is uuderstand,p pgly written, aud that
It will be of high authority with sportsmen.
10 ADDITION to descriptions of the best breeds
aod some of the best known specimens. chap
ng SC. list of pedigrees of he best dogs
~ the country is also gwen, and tie volume is
illustrated with portraits OF some celebrated