The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-11-03

Harmony is rather heavy and protracted
novel, with a distinct flavor Of the comic
drama about it, 1t lacks fineness OF touch,
ana the situations appear, to American readers
az least, improbable, theatrical and tiresome.
The translator is careful and easy In style.
forbidden Fruit belongs to the popular
"Cobweb Series fiction.
LIE Parnasse Francois, is the title which Mr..
James Parton gives to a careful and we'll.
arranged selection of French poetry from 1850
to our own time. Boston: j. r. Osgood & Co.
Portland: Loring, Short s. Harmony 1t will
Dc seen that the range of authors and of styles
rs very great;, and affords ample scope for
choice. Mr.. Parton has carefully adapted the
WORK Tor school and for family use. An i'm
itatlon OF the first canto of Mr. Longfellow's
Hlawatha, In the polished phrase and conyen-
tional metre OF NJ Charles Baudelaire is Curl
Gus. The genius of this intense but wholly
sophisticated poet handles the Peace Pipe with
an air OF languid delight that transforms 1t TO
the luxurious hookah of the Orient. Mr.. Par
tons volume is exceedingly valuable as afford.
ing convenient and judicious selection of rep
resentative French poetry
Mercy Philbrick's Choice, which has appeared
in the strikinglyIdesigned binding Of the No
Name Series, is now published in paper covers
at the price of 80 cents Its merits have been
already too thoroughly discussed to need moro
than the mention of the fact of a new and
inexpensive edition. Boston: Roberts Broth
ers. Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony
Diana, by Miss Warner, author of ''wych
Hazel" the "Wide, Wide World" etc. NEW
York: q. F. Putnam's Sons: Portland: Lorinr
Short & armon) Is q decided advance upon
the writer's former novels. There is more
action, more force of description and concise
ness OF language; and the style is much i'm
proved. There still remains the tendency to
details OF housekeeping and of exercises of
mind, which leads the reader to wish that the
author would write cook book and volume
OF sermons, and free her mind upon these topics
before beginning her novel But these are of
the minor morals of literature, and 'Diana"
is to be commended as 6 well written story of
which the aim is thoroughly good and the ex-
ecution gives evidence of progress In the style
of writer already an established favorite. It
is the best of the long line of Miss Warmers
popular novels.
AAS ~AANOdeuhoS VI 0ul1blaue8 66L6rklu EauI
is the mouth-flling and high-sounding title of
volume of rhymed stories for little BOYS,
written by John Brownjohu and;illus.ratsd by
l.. Hopkins Boston; d. Lothrop & Coz. It's
gaily Illuminated cover and profusion of pic
tnres some Of them, especially the vigne.tes.
exceedingly pretty-give an attractive air 20
the book. The rhymes themselves are less for
tunate; they have not the tuneful jingle dear to
childish ears, and are not of o kind easily nm
derstood by the little ones Moreover, they re-
cord deeds not greatly to the credit of the hero,
and not desirable as examples for young read
ers. The Thanksgiving excessss Of Miltiades
and the consequent visit of the turkeys ghost
would be apt to frighten children-not enough
perhaps to destroy their appetites for the bird
OF our forefathers, but quite sufficient to render
bedtime an houf of dread to their tender little
souls. On the whole, the Adventures of N.
z. P. is not recommended to parents and
guardians
Adrift in the Ice Fields, by Capt. Charles w.
Hall Boston: Lee & Shepard; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony, is story of adventures
in the maritime provinces. A party of English
gentlemen visit these regions to shoot the abun-
dant sea-fowl. Their exploits and escapes are
exciting and well told; and the stories with
which they beguile the evenings, seated around
their camp fire, give an idea of various
modes of life among the inhabitants of these
provinces, who, coming from nations and peo.
pies the most opposite in their manners and
qualities, afford opportunity for much lively
description. The story is slightly sensational,
but is quite well written. The silver icebergs
on the covers give quts an arctic aspect to the
prettily bound volume.
Baby Ballads (Boston Lee 8 Shepard; Port
land; Loring, Short s. Harmony is for the wee
ones, full of dainty pictures from the pencil of
Mr.. Oscar Plescth; and little songs that fairly
sing themselves The little volume is choice as
a pink rosebud, and Santa Claus will find
many little stocking expectant that Baby
Ballads will be laid beside 1t on Christmas
morning. Tinted paper and tasteful binding
add, if possible, to the charms of this prettiest
of little books.
Favorite Poems by Collins, Dryden and Mar
veil, aud by Mrs. Hemans, and Shakspeare's
Songs are the recent volumes of Messrs. Os-
goods Vest Pocket Series. PORTLAND: Loring,
Short So Harmony. 1t is becoming apparent to
even the unthinking mind that man needs q
million vests to carry about the rapidly accumu.
lating treasures.
Messrs. Harper Brothers add to their Half
Hour Series three volumes of George Elioss
novels; Mr.. Cliffs Love Story, The Sad For
tunes of the Rev. Amos Barton, and Janets
Repentance. The A B of Finance, clearly
written explanation of some Of the questions
of capital and labor which are before the coun
try, is from the pen of Simon Newcomb,
L L. D., and is also included in the Half Hour