The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-09
Recent Publications.

Recent Publications.
THE PARLoR CAR. By William D Howells. Vest
Pocket Series Boston: James r. Osgood s. Co
Portland: LoriDg, Short g. Harmon.
1t is pity that with so fine a literary gift,
Mr.. Howells practically declines to do
''grown persons work. His volume of Vene-
tian Life, and some of his poems, evidenced
fine and versatile talent, at once delicate and
dignifed, but of late he has substituted for the
excellent writing of which he had proved him
self capable, the very crochet-work of litera-
ture. Their Wedding Journey was clever and
entertaining but would have come with better
grace from woman's pen. Private Theatricals
was less wholesome, and added to the woman
ish direction of his style a certain sophomore
quality of airy scepticism as to human nature;
and now comes The Parlor Car, farce, which
is simply puerile. Mr.. Howells ha1 an un-
doubted right IN his capacity ofedtor to include
it between the yellow-paper covers of the At
lant;c Monthly, but in stiff covers it is as inap-
propriate as Freshman 10 silk hat. 1t is, by
the way, quite interesting to see how the At
lantic is becoming place for such farceaTs as
Mark Twain aad now Mr.. Howells to dsport
themselves. On the part of the public this will
be considered a pleasant change; bot one
thinks with sympathy of the sensations of the
bound volumes of its earlier years when their
younger brothers are set by their side upon the
bookshelf-how the heavy metaphysics will
turn the cold shoulder and the sublimated
verses hold back their skirts from touch of the
newly arrived. Seriously, however, Mr.. How
ellis is to be warned against exaggeratng and
consequently distorting the line of his talent,
which is in its best and native estate graceful.
sufficiently strong and very charming in
thought and expression.
THE GALLERY OF GREAT ARTISTS. Boston: j. b
Osgood & Co. For sale by Loring, Short & Har-
mon.
Osgood & Company have added another
to the superb folios, 10 which famous pictures
are reproduced in beliotype, they are issuing
this season. The Dresden gallery and Titian's
Paintings are followed by the gallery of Great
Artists, collection of portraits which will be
of peculiar interest to all lovers Of art as convey
ing to the eye the features OF the great masters of
the palette. The collection ranges from Leo
nardo da Vinci to Gilbert Stuart. The hello
types are all from engravings by eminent en-
sravers, ard the engravings are for the most
part from portraits by the artists themselves.
Thus in addition to their value as likenesses
they possess the merit Of coming from master
bands and of serving examples OF each
masters style.
Accompanying each portrait are biographical
and descriptive sketches, carefully drawn from
the best authorities and conveying much valu-
able criticism upon the painters mentioned as
well as interesting information concerning
them. The portraits are twenty-four in num-
Der, and number among others those of Michael
Angelo, Raphael, Correggio. Rembrandt, Van
dyke, Rubens, Murillo, Landsee, Turner and
Vernet. The book is a worthy ompanion
volume to its predecessors.
All H-CHIN-LE ON THE CIVILIZATION OF THE WEST
ERN BARBARIANs. Translated by John Yester
Smythe, Esq. of Shanghai. Boston: Lee q Shep-
ard. For sale by Bailey & Noyes.
Ah-Chin LIE purports to be mandarin OF the
frat class and a member of the enlightened
and exalted Calao," whatever that may be, but
the book, which is a duodeclmo of three hum
dred pages, is feeble imitation of Goldsmth's
Citizen of the World, probably-by an American
writer, judging from the style, though it bears
the imprint of London printer. The copy
right is in the name of j. B. Swasey, whijh
may give the authorship. The principal butt
of his ridicule is the Christian religion, but he
lacks the pleasant humor and fine insight into
human nature wh cb distinguished Goldsmith,
so that his book is rather ill-natured than
witty.
THE EARLY PLANTAGENETs. By William Stubbs.
Vel Co,.l
strong & Co. For sale by Loring, Short s. Har:
men.
The admirable Epochs of History Series is
strongly reinforced by this volume from the pen
of Professor Stubbs, the author of the latest and
| best of English histories. The work is one nat
| urally to he expected from the author, strong
| simple and faithful to truth. The epoch is one
| of the most Interesting in the life of Europe.
| In England it covers the time from the Begin
| ming of the constitutional growth of a consol.-
| dated English people to the opening of the long
| struggle with France. 10 France it witnesses
| the constitution of the monarchy. In Germany
it covers the fierce fight between the Empire
and the Papacy. Within the compass of a
clearly set forth all that is needful to know Of
| JnaJ mOmentOuS Time.
| MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES. By j. T.. Headley
| New York. Scribner, Armstrong s. Co. For sale
by Loring, Short s. Harmon.
| The auther gives simply collection of mar.
| ratives of the most famous mountain ascen.
sions, but as there is scarcely anything in liter
ature more thrilling it makes very entertain
ing book. The extract from Clarence King's
Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevaaas lately
| published in the Atlantic is the best of all
| There are forty-one illustrations, all very
goo5.
| THE STORY OF RUTH. From the Holy Bible
Boston: Roberts Brothers. Fer sale by Bailey
s. Noyes.
Roberts Brothers offer as their new hol6 ay
book the Story OF Ruth, taken from the Bible.
Tho book is superbly gotten up, tastefuly
bound and printed on clear, heavy paper, with
red lines The illustrations are fifteen full page
wood engravings after Bida's drawings, begin
ming with Ruth in the harvest field and follow
ing her story to its final triumph in the birth o.
her son. AS introduction is given a sonnet by
Ell. H., written for the volume.
| SEAsHoRE AND PRAIRIE. BY Mary P. Tahcher
| Published by j. Il. Osgood & Co. For sale b,
Bailey & Noyes.
Miss Thacher has an exceedingly graceful,
easy and pleasant style, without fippancy ol
affectation. Her observation of nature il
fresh and sympathetic, aud her love for bird
and little animals finds earnest expression il
pleas for tie preservation Of their innocent live
"a special pleading more feminine aud gra
cious, than clamor for 'woman's rights i
fact, Miss Thacher's talept is thoroughly femi
nine, and lacks neither grace nor strength. Al
article on Old York is of especial interest il
this hundredth year of our country; and th,
sketches of Western life are piquant and full
of interest.
PoEMs OF PLACES: Scotland, Vol. III. Edited b,
Henry Wadswo:th Longfellow. Published by j
r. Osgood s. Co. Boston. Portland; Loring, Shor
& Harmon.
The picturesque scenery of Scotland and it
quaint dialect have combined to give it man
poetic associations; and it has been no Difficult
r task for Mr.. Longfellow to select many fns
3 poems descriptive of Highland and Lowland
, | f.o.x, .ba opic of Spntt's hraezu yorsa