The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-05
Recent Publications.

lUu duluOI VI ut luIellecUudl LlIe elc Illus
trated. Published by Roberts Brothers. Boston.
For sale by Loring, Short g. Harmon.
1t is always especially delightful to hear
man speak of his meter, always provided that
his language be not so entirely technical as to
confuse the hearer, or that he have no narrow
views of his specially, bounded by the imper-
feet theories of his clique or his individuality.
Mr.. Hamerton's style is an admirable example
of genuine art criticism. 1t is at once frank
and reserved-evdencing poetic appreciation of
the delicate fancy, the swift passion of the
masterpieces that he notes; and at the same
time, leaving the technical element unobscured
by excess of verbal graces. A peculiarly clear,
direct manner of work "ot first intention"
vigorous, manly and delicate sentiment, a point
and sense of proportion and balance in Mr..
Hamerton's literary work are in entire harmo-
ny with his talent and art of etching. While
an enthusiastic follower of that branch of il
Illustrative art, he appreciates carefully and ju-
dicialy its points of superiority and inferiority
as compared with drawing in crayon or pencil,
engraving or painting in colors or mono
chrome, etc. Etching presents peculiar diff
culties, and of a nature impossible to be wholly
depth of shade, the aerial quality of the
lights are not the result of repeated touches of
color, or of the increased pressure of the in
strument-an unconscious emphasis of the
artist which gives brilliant and legitimate
effect in the pen and ink croquis or the crayon
drawing. 1t is the aquafcrtis, untameabe and
unreliable, which corrodes at its pleasure, and
whose working can be watched and regulated
but partially. Some of the qualities, too,
which the study and practice of etching de-
clare to be justifable, e,-admirable-are of
sort not readily appreciated by the non-tech-
nical observer-for example, the frankness of
treatment which, disdaining to efface its pre-
vious touches, left donkey with four ears and
a man with superfuous member, twin hands
upon one wrist; or the transparency of the
left boot Of Rembrandt's "Beggar," Of which
a copy is among the illustrations of the volume
On the other hand, even superficial study
cannot fail to note the capabilities fer direct
ness, passion, andsa certain spiritual quality
of suggestiveness in the arbitrary conditions
of etching, trait which, having given much,
leaves also much for the sympathetic imagin-
ing of the observer. who becomes in his turn
artist in interpreting lhe art of the etcher. The
fresh beauty, the sincere charm, and the self
respecting, honest and wholly artistic merit of
Mr.. Hamerton's book cannot be understood
without careful reading of it, the limits of
journalistic notice are inadequate to hold and
express it. The very numerous criticisms of
etchings by representative men of the French,
English, Dutch and other schools, the prelm-
hon fhn nfrit and of
etching and the supplementary ones upon its
practical points, will tend, in the highest de-
gree, to assist thu reader to appreciate the
beauties of this form of art-at once the most
unconventional and yet bounded by singular
conventionalties necessary to it-by under
standing not only its results, but its processes,
its aims, its means and its ends. Numerous
etchings illustrate and adorn the letterpress,
and the mechanical execution of the volume
is very fine in every way. Etching ard Etch-
ers'' is book that every lover of his art,
whether he be technically educated or not,
should add to his library. 1t is an admirable
work in every respect, and tends to popularize
the understanding of its subject, while every
where emphasizing and upholding its dignity,
its meaning and its practicability.
A PAYING INVESTMENT. By Anna E. Dickinson.
Boston: j. r. Osgood and Co. For sale by Bailey
and Noyes.
Miss Dickenson's theory is that it costs more
to neglect our duties than it does to perform
them, and so the Paying Investment" is to do
faithfully and we'll whatever we undertake, and
never to shirk our responsibilities The book
is made up of suggestions, keen and earaest, as
to these duties and the proper methods of dis
charging them. All the urgent social and po-
litical questions of the day are treated, and
remedies for the crying abuses freely offered.
We must see that our immigrants ara educa-
ted. We must teach our five millions litter
ates to read We must reform our Jail systems
which now only succeed in making the limo,
cent guilty and the unfortunate criminal. We
must treat our drunkards as insane. We must
make our workmen thoroughly learn their
trades. The essential lack of American work
men," she says, sis stick-at-iveness. q. .
A steadily narrowing limit of apprentices, a
shortened time of apprenticeship, an entire
lack of training-schools and polytechnic COL
leges-that is the state of the case in America" :"
They must depend upon their skill and indus
try, and not upon the trades-union. Tue
trades.unions are strongly condemned, and the
case against them summed up in this epigram-
matte phrase: ''All despotism is bad. but tie
worst is that which works with the machinery
of freedom
The book is excellent throughout and there
is not person living who will not be the bet
ter and wiser for its perusal. Miss Dickenson
contends that much of the work of social and
political reform must be accomplished by wo-
men, and uses the following pertinent language
on that point:
The work of this world will be done only
when ever map and every woman snail DO his
and her share to the full. Say some men and
some women, "Women cannot fight; therefore
they should not vote. Women cannot enforce
disputed authority; therefore they should not
assume it. Men will never consent to the equal
rule Of women, since women have not the