The Portland daily press., 1877-05-05
more than publishers could be reasonably ex.
pected to offer for its price, which is one dollar
and seventy-five cents. C.W.B.
Bellies Lettres.


The three latest volumes of Mr.. JonofeIlow's
roems Oh fiaces are devoted to Italian scenes
and associations, so full of poetic beauty and
inspiration to the singers of every time and
land So many noted names are represented,
such poetic wealth and variety displayed in
them, that the Italian volumes are the most at
tractive and valuable which have yet appeared
In the series to which they belong A curious
little error of Legendary att has ciept in with
the insertion of Mrs. Cora Kennedy Aitken's
Venezia-a graceful song in which the authoress
repeatedly asserts that Santa Lucia is the pat
ron saint of Venice and quotes the popular Ital-
ian oarcarole as Venetian song in praise of
her. 1t is Neapolitan fsherman's song-as
witness the stanza beginning:
80 dolce Napoi,
o suOl beatot'
and it is Naples that owns the guardian care of
the Jealous maiden who, because her lovely
eyes were snare and delusion to men removed
them and carried them in uncomfortab able fash
ion upon plate. while st. Mark and his lions
were responsible for the welfare of Venice.
Poems of Places are Published by Messrs. j. r.
Osgood q Co, Boston. For sale by Messrs.
Loring, Short & Harmon.
Miss Sarah o. Jewetts Deephaven Boston:
D. II. Osgooa & Co. Portland: Loring, Short
q Harmon) is thoroughly charming work,
II is fresh, natural and bright, wholly unaffect-
cd and full OF clearness Of observation, health
ful, strong and womanly feeling, and genuine
line humor. 1t is made Of q series of sketches
OF people and scenes in quiet seaboard village
OF New England-it might be that York or
hittery would supply some of its subjects; the
Unread OF narrative is very slight-a summer
Pleasantly passed by two young girls, with no
excltements beyond those that quaint and home
~ characters, or the everchanging wonders ,of
the shore supplied-yet so full of life and really
artistic, though extraordinarily simple, beauty
Is this little volume that it gives to Mis- Jewett
place among the writer's who have been most
successful in translating the spirit of New Eng
land life and scenery.
Out OF the Question Boston: j. r. Osgood
Co. Portland: Hoyt, Fogg 8 Donham)is
tue title OF Mr.. Howells' comedetta, published
IN several successive numbers of the Atlantic
Monthly, and now appearing in a tasteful VOL
ume. Notwithstanding its wholesome and
bright way of putting the truth that "a mans
man for a. that'-the comprehensive phrase
and hose OF Beacon street-and also notwith-
standing some clever touches of character, Out
OF the Question is not up to the standard of
work that Mr.. Howells talent gives the public
rignt to expect The subject and treatment
are not as dignifed as man of his gifts should
adopt There is some literary influence that is
at work to the weakening of Mr.. Howells' style
and from which he should free himself. He is
using q cambria needle with hands that are
strong and skilful enough for graver's tools
MIR. Bret Harte's Two Men of Sandy Bar
(Boston }. r. Osgood & Co.; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short q Harmony has already tested its
success behind the footlights, and certainly
possesses many good acting qualities. All the
familiar characters are there-Col. Starbottle.
the New England schoolmistress, Mexican
heroine, noble gambler-in short, all Mr..
Harte's favorits stock company, and managed
with his usual vivacity and effect. Oa the
whole, Two Men of Sandy Bar reads well,
without having any special claim to immor-
tality.
Will 1t Be? by Mrs. Ford, Boston: Lorinp:
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony is poorly
written, with complicated though original
plot, and abounds in italics and even small
capitals.
Milly Darrell, by Miss Braddon, (Nsw York:
u. w. Carleton & Co.; Portland: Loring.
Shoit q Harmony is a collection of short sto-
rles BY this popular writer, the first one of
which gives its name to the volume. The
stories have variety and interest, together with
force and grace of expression.
Miss Nancy's Pilgrimage by Virginia w.
,In VAntr
Portland: L1ring, Short & Harmony is a nov
Ell describing the incidents of an European
tour-reminding the reader little of Mrs,
Whltney's Patience Strong-though, let il be
said to its credit without the constant tendency
to improve the occasion evinced by that unioue
spinster Miss Nancy is a worthy person
whose good hap the reader will reioics in. and
Blanche and Howard are fresh and pleasant in
their character of heroine and hero respect
lively.
A Winter Story, by Miss Peard, to whom
the public is indebted for those yery
lovely works, the Rose Garden and Una.
wares-has the artistic touch, the pathos and
unfalling elevation of tone of its authors
manner. The theme of the story is sad one,
and even its happy ending hardly is able to
brighten the gloomy monotone of its tintine.
1t is the dark hours before the dawn of content
in the life of an unfortunate man that are
herein represented; man who had given poi
son by mistake to the brother of the woman
he was to marry, and for this reason, sank into
melancholy from which kindliness and love at
last aroused him to hope. The novel Is writ
ten with real power as well as tenderness ard
yet is not precisely an agreeable oue Boston:
Roberts Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony
Nick Whifies, by DR.. j. II. Robinson New
York: G. W.. Carleton. Portland: Loring,
Short Il Harmony is of the dime novel order of
things, and appeared originally in the NY.
Weekly. The purchaser will have his moneys
worth OF incident ard sensation, if those be his
requirements
Modern Mephistopheles (Boston Roberts
Brothers. Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony
is the latest volume of the No Name Series,
and seems even to have been suggested by the
sinister air of that ingeniously designed set of
volumes. 1t gives an impression OF effort, of
desire to write something striking and power
full, and lacks reality, while its interest is de-
cidedly painful. The Modern Mephistopheles is
a cold, wicked aud embittered man who from
desire to study human nature and experiment
with it, undertakes to mould and to shatter the
life of a young man, poet who is his protege.
There are also "a young girl whom he con-
trives that Canaris, the poet, shall marry and
whose tragic death serves to break the un-
hallowed charm of her husbands master-and
tropical woman full of devotion to the diabol-
ical JASPER Helwyze. There is an unwhole-
some and dsagreeable essence throughout tho
book; it is powerful to some degree, the purity
and tenderness of Gladys and the strength and
fervor of Olivia are clearly marked and display
good purpose in the authors workout the
whole effect is that of a nightmare, oppressive,
frightful and slightly incoherent. The oldtime
fashion of getting forth the traits of personages
by their names obtains here-Jasper Helwyze
is the flinty-hearted philosopher.fend, whi'e
Canaris is the singer caught in the bars of
gilded cage. The work strongly suggests Mr..
Julian Hawthorne, together with touch that
seems occasionally very feminine. Asa whola