The Portland daily press., 1877-09-22

DresenE
Probate system; and to secure funds to estab.
lish horticultural schools for women. Mrs.
Stow has had three years experience in Pro.
bate, therefore she ought to be practically in.
telligent upon the subject, which she handles
without gloves. She has lost a large fortune in
this court and feels justly indignant at her per-
sonal wrongs Besides the information con-
tanned the book will De. "a handsome addition to
any library, for it is we'll made.
The Age OF Anne, by Edward E. Morris ia
the tenth of the excellent series of historical
handbooks published under the name "Epochs
OF History" by Scribner, Armstrong & Co..
New York, and for sale in this city by Loripg.
Short & Harmon. 1t admirably answers its
purpose in giving a trustworthy, entertaining
and succinct though comprehensive account of
one OF the most interesting and important peri
DDS OF European history, period embracing the
War of the Spanish Succession, the formation
OF the Grand Alliance, the campaigns of NAL
borough, the union of LEngand and Scotland
the careers of Peter the Great and Charles XII.
the establishment of the ProtestAnt;Successiop
and the development of that great literature to
which the epoch has given its name. The
authors brilliant style gives new charm to
story which must always deeply interest the
student of history
On Poetic Interpretation of Nature by Prof j.
q. Sharp (New York: Hurd 81 Houghton; Port
land: Dresser & McLellan) is a volume con.
tanning seriessof chapters, originally given as
lectures to the students of the United College
OF ST. Andrews. These lectures were designed
as literary supplement" says the author,
to several longer and more systematic courses
OF lectures on physical subjects, such as Chem
istry, Geology and Physiology" given by other
Professors at the same college, and are we'll
designed to leadlthe interest of the students to
the higher signifcances of these great facts.
The conflict of Poetry and Science engages the
attention of some of the thoughtful literary
men OF the present time; and in their several
ways various essayists have endeavored to solve
this problem. Prot. Shairp's remarks in the
chapter entitled VIII Science put out Poetry,
are exceedingly sensible and judieious:
Let, Let us well understand, he says, what are the
conditions on which alone imagination can wed it.
self to scientific fact. The poet who shall SING tba
songs Of science must first be perfectly at homie in
all the truths, must move among them with as
much ease and freedom as ordinary men now do
among the natural appearances OF things, And NOT
the poet only, but his audience must move with
ease along the pathway which Science has onened
FOR IL the poet has first to instruct his readers in the
iacs winch ne wishes imaginatively render while
ne eApouhus ne VIII become frlgid and unpoetic.
This instantly approves itself as the only sat-
isiactory resolution of the difficulty; the prob
le mis- to solve itself gradually under the steady
growth of illumination that is constantly trans
mtted from the discoveries of scientific facts.
to the people, Last OF all these, perhaps, must
come the poet, the dreamer to his eyes, filed
with shadows, the new sunlight is dazzling and
hard and he will not lift his lids to find family
trodden ways that lead up unfamiliar heights.
Prof. Shairp's remarks upon the mystic side
of nature, its effect on mythology and on Ian
guage are, fine.s Other chapters speak of nature
as interpreted by various poets, from the age of
the Hebrew writers and of Virgil; through the
sunny poetic MONDAY of the Elizabethan era
when Nature was no more mystic goddess, a
power to be dreaded and propitiated, appearing
in storms and shaking of seas, but loved with
the healthful unconsciousness of childhood,
unoppressed by supersttious fears and made
glad by the singing of birds, the blooming of
daisies and the rising of clear suns after nights
filled with stars,-and finally of Wordsworth's
verse. Prof. Shairps work is full of learning
and of genuine appreciation of the worth of
poetry, though it lacks somewhat of enthusi-
asm and OF clearness, somewhat of understand
| ing OF the tuneful element of verse and of it's
dramatic impulses His style is unaffected, a
times rather involved and dry but everywhere
evidencing thought and adequate preparation
for his task. Allowance is also to be made in
view of the design of these chapters as lectures
to young students who require certain facts
and quotations that those more experienced in
literature scarcely need. But whoever reads
the volume will enjoy its solid appreciation of
the poetry of nature and its sincere desire to
communicate the enjoyment. 1t is a work
which will afford much new thought to the
learned man and to the accomplished poet, as
we'll as for the youth for whom it was especi-
ally intended.
Nicholas Minturn, DR.. Holland's recent
novel printed in current numbers of Soribner's
magazine New York: Scrbner, s. Arn strong:
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony is by far
the best of his stories. In kind and degree Of
interest, in refinement of tone, in delineation
of character, and in construction it is astonish
ingly superior to his eeding work. He has
very wisely made the respectable villain of the
novel second ary character, and given the
most prominent person ages claim upon the
respect ard affection of the reader. The char
acter of Mr. Benson-a successful hypocrite
who has Kept running account with the
world, with himself and with the recording
angel; and who is as much astonished as any
one else when in face of sudden danger and
fear he proves himself coward and worse;
who, after specious self-confdence is broken,
rapidly sinks into rascality, bypocritical even
in DEATHS very dramatic and finely carried
out. The purpose of the book is the considera-
ton of the subject of pauperism, how best to
prevent its increase and check its continuance;
and the comments of DR.. Holland show much
practical sense and healthy spirit as regards
this social problem. OF course there is de-
cided vein of romance in the story, very pleas
antly done; the minor characters, among
whom are to be especially noted the Coates.
family, are drawn with skill and point. Or
Holland has written nothing that should re-
ceive more cordial attention than this excellent
and entertaining novel.
Spirite, Fantasy by NJ Theophile Gauter,
is the third volume of the Collection of Foreign
Authors New York: d. Appleton s. Co. /;
Portland: Bailey s. Noyes }. 1t is a romance
materalz alton of spirits. The plot is sufi-
ciently simple; it is to the subtle, brilliant and
imaginative treatment that the romance owes
its power. A young man of wealth, elegant
tastes and impressl BILE by all that is beautiful,
wonders at the coldness with which charm
ing woman of the world and very potent in her
circle, inspires hun. IN declinIug en- invita-
ton from this lady he fl ds his pen controlled
by ghostly hand, ard learns that this is the
effect of the celestial jealousy of his destined
spirit bride, who writes his reply in terms
little soothing to the feelings of the hostess.
After this, and assisted by friend who is
learned in the mysteries beyond the door of
the tomb, Guy de Malivert reco gnizes his sim
gular fortune, and endeavors to elevate him.
self to deserve the love of the maiden to whom
the conditions of another world allow frank
ness which the decorum of earthly society for
bids. 1t is death which gives happiness to the
loves in uniting them at last. The impossi-
bilities, the incongruites which cannet
but obtrude themselves in such a
romance are almost overlooked in the rapid