The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-06-02

Snort & Harmony is one of the curiously
unreserved class of domestic stories. whose
favorable type is Helen's Babies. Literature
nowadays seems to be an Exposition where
every one deems it his duty and pleasure to
make such an ''exhibit" as he can-whether it
be rare webs from eastern lOoms painting or
Getting of gems, or patchwork quilts and butter.
heads. To descend from metaphor-"Me" is
very well-intentioned, very incoherent and de-
cidedly commonplace
Notes and Announcements.
Au Essay on the Growth of the Musical
Scale and of Modern Harmony, by j. NJ. Capes
is just published in London.
Professor Dowden has finished his Shakes
peare Primer for Mr.. j. r Green 5 series of lit
erature primers.
Another Dame Europa pamphlet, Dame Eu
ropas Remonstrance and Her Ultimatum, is
attracting attention in England.
new work by Charles Darwin, The Differ
ent Forms of Flowers on plants of the Same
Species, illustrated with woodcuts, is nearly
ready.
The third volume of Prof. Stubbs's Corstitu-
tonal History of England will be ready for the
press in October, and may be expected before
Christmas.
Estes & Lauriat will publish as soon as prac-
ticable The Nabob, by Alphonse Daudet. whose
Sidone had such successful run. His Jack
is now in preparation by the firm.
The initial volume in Lockwood, Brooks &
Co.'s Wayside Series of novels is not N'Importe
but Nimport, which may stand for sea-coast
town OF New England. Its author is Boston
gentleman who withholds his name from the
public.
1t is understood that Mr.. Haywood one of
the foremost literary men of London, will con-
tribute an article on Lord Abinger to the next
number of the Quarterly Review Lord Abin.
ger was the original Mr.. Subtle in Warren's
Ten Thousand Year. Lord Brougham was
the Mr.. Quicksilver of the same work.
Harper & Brothers will publish this month
Charles Reades A Woman Halter, which has
run through the pages of Harper's Monthly
without signature. The Half Hour Series
which has proved SO successful, will soon be
enlarged by additions of Eugene Lawrence's
Primer of Greek Literature and Primer of
Latin Literature.
1t is not yet apparent to the critics whether
the mysterious new Backwood writer be man
or woman. But the story-the Modern Minis
ter-gets plenty of praise. The Modern Minis
ter is thus happily introduced: "Of all the
clergy who had supplied Brighton tea-tables
with gossip, Wesley Garland. was the most
provoking; he was so mysterious, so hand
some, so wealthy, 50 talented so unmarried.
james R. Osgocd & Co. will publish this
month the volumes in Poems of Places which
cover Spain and Portugal. They are projecting
an extensive list of the Vest-pocket Series In
addition to the volumes recently issued from
Emerson's Essays they will bring out A Moose
head Journal, and Aldrich's Rivermouth Ro-
nance, and Miss Mehetable's Son. Antoher
undertaking which they have in hand is
series of Autobiograph;es, edited by Mr.. Will
liam d. Howells of the Atlantic,
The Scribuer edition of Harry was set, stereo.
typed, printed, bound and on the market with
in twenty-four hours after a copy of the edition
from English plates came to hand, This recalls
the lively days when competition over English
books ran hottest, and the Harpers brought out
an edition of Scott's Peveril of the Peak in
twenty-one hours. This, by the way, was one
of the feats of the late Fletcher Harper, who,
IN his later days, was wont to lament that
there were no longer the old opportunities to be
enterprising.
The Italian prize TO. work on Oriental His
tory, in honor of the coming Orientalist Con-
gress at Florence, amounts to 5C0Oslire, which
will be awarded to the writer of the best work
on The Vicisstudes of Aryan Civilizat ton in
India. Learned men of all countries are invited
to compete, and their manuscripts, in Latin,
Italian, French, English or German, may be
nf fhran &c r.
The work SHALL commence with an historical
and critical. essay on the primary constitutive
elements of Aryan civilization before It's smisr:-
tion toward the Punjab, as revealed in the Lam.
guage, mythology, religious beliefs and customs
of the race; and it shall then set forth in dis
tinctive manner the subsequent history of that
civilization in India, tracing the elements
which have modified it in the various localities
which it became established"
G. p. Putnam's Sons will issue this month
John Habberton's The Scripture Club OF Valley
Restor Sketches of Every body's Neighbors The
book has been delayed on account of the illness
of the author. Other Peoples Children, by the
author of Helen's Babies. and a sequel to that
volume is now in course of preparation and
will be published in July or August The mum.
~
Her Sacrifice, story of English life, by a new
author whose name will not be given; Lectures
on the History of Protection in the United
States, by Prof. W. g. Sumner of Yale; a book
BY President P. A. Chadbourne of Williams.
on The Strength of Men and Stability of Ma
tions, and new edition of r. L. Dugdale's
Jukes will appear in rapid succession A novel
entitled My Soldier, by Miss Warner author of
Wide, Wide World, will be published in Au-
gust with the third and concluding volume of
Van Laun's History of French Literature, The
johnson Manor, story of olden time In New
York, by James Kent, the grandson of Chan
aellor Kent, and The Worlds Progress, a die
tionary Of dates brought down to the preseut
year. The Life of Gerrit Smith, by o. B.
rockingham, prepared from materials placed
in his hands by the family, will be ready for
the fall trade. The Scripture Club of Valley
Rest, or Sketches of Everybodys Neighbors.
reports the proceedings of club composed of
representative citizens of a country town who
met to search the scriptures and who OBJ
tained from them, each, confirmation of his
own doctrines. Tie story, while orthodox and
reverent, is intended to sugges. liberality in
creeds.
One OF the important literary events Of the
month will be the publication on June 9, by
Scrbner, Armstrong s. Co., of Thomas De
Quincey's Life and Writings, with Unpublished
Correspondence, by H. A. Page, in two vol
umes. The editor, Mr.. Page, has been intrust-
ed by the family of De Quincy with his entire
literary remains, including many letters from
the lake poets, Prof. Wilson, Thomas CARLYLE.
aud others, and has had the cooperation of all
who could add anything to the interest and
value of the biography. Many letters from De
Quincy to the members of his own family, for
the first time made public, give cheerful view
of his home life and affections, which will
probably remove the sadness and gloom often
associated with his name. James Hogg De
Quincey's former publisher, who was upon
terms of intimate friendship with him during
the later years of his life, has contributed some
"reminiscences, and DR.. Eatwell, f. R. s., has
written in an appendix upon tha Mad;cal U;a,-