The Portland daily press., 1877-03-31

The asterisks following the proposition in the
title are, it is to be hoped, not intended as
suggestive and decorous substitute for profani-
ty-the interrogation mark affords loophole Of
escape from that unpleasant probability. Tho
plank might be supplied by the name Of Mr..
Julian Chambers, author of that diss2reesble
work, "a Mad World" if evidence of style,
expression anc thought be sufficient ground for
conviction. The former work was more or less
limited in its sensationalism by an evident de-
sire to approve the author as a humble instru-
ment by whose means reform In the treatment
OF the insane might be accomplished. In the
present volume no cor siderations hinder the
ground and lofty tumbling in which the author
IS given to indulge. among scenes Of all degrees
of responsiveness, accentuated by references to
chapter and page of all sorts of unsavory sta
tistics of lunacy and crime. The motive Of the
story is the murder of young cler-
gyman by his unsuccessful rival and the subse-
quent detective proceedings. The early chap
tiers are very poorly written with o certain
coarse. irreverent and affectedly cynical tone.
AS the story proceeds, the reader cannot fail to
note an exctability aud eagerness of interest
in disagreeable details that plainly show that
the mind of the writer is in real danger from
his studies in these unwholesome departments
An essential coarseness and distortion of
thought that need careful repression and cor
rection by means of healthy work. So much
has been said of thoroughly bad book be-
cause it seems worth while to hint to the writer
his imminent danger, and to warn the public
against volume which is characterized only
by entire lack of ordinary moral perception,
BY repulsive sensationalism, and from . litsrs-
ry point of view is without interest or merit
and whose sole possible excuse is the frmiiar
one emotional insanity" induced by morbid
attention to disagreeabls and unwholssome
topics.
SILENT LOVE. A Poem. First American, from the
fourth English edition. Philadelphia: Robert II.
Ball. Portland: LoriDg, Short s. Harmon.
This poem is to be traced to the influence of
the earlier part of the centuryI!rathsr than to
that of the musical and brilliant manner of
the singers of the present time. 1t Is in ten
syllable metre, even, smooth and unbroken;
and though it contains some good llines ss
well as good thoughts-is rather very respecta.
BILE verse than genuine poetry. 1t is of the SEN
timental. decorously ordered sort of verse that
our great grandmothers liked to have In their
albums as tribute to their charms, indicative
of pleasant emotion without any disastrous
Consequences should the lady prove unrespond-
ing. The writer has studied Pope's poetic
amenities, and is fellow-countryman Of Mr..
Tupper; he has good ear and facility in verse;
and his poem is to be considered in the light of
literary essay in graceful though conyen-
tional department. So far as refined and real
ly elevated feeling, acquaintance with certain
good models, and ease in writing, without the
poetic gift or originality either of thought or
manner, can combine to make the merit of
verse, such merit may be acknowledged in the
present volume.
BEN MINERS woo1Na. By Holm Lee. Boston /:
Roberts Brothers. Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmon.
This charming, fresh and dainty novelette, is
the first volume of a new series entitled 1Town
and Country;" and if the succeeding volumes
are as good in their way as this Messrs. Bob
erts may congratulate themselves upon success.
The plan of the series differs from that of the
mo Nsme:" the writer's names are given and
from the titles of the volumes already an
nouuced as forthcoming it will be seen to in
olude widely differing kinds of work-novels,
poems, even literature which is distinctively
polemic.
Ben Miners Wooing is q story that i'm.
presses one like first spring crocus, or q
sunny morning-it is bright, delicate and sweet.
l II is book with fragrance Of its own, and Is
uncommon for its merit in literary way
moreover. Pattie is a delicious little heroine
with no tendency to the so1brstte in hei
piquancy. Ben is fise, attractive and emf.
| nently sensible hero; and Miss Phoebe ID
| as natural in her kindly primness a. 9
tall autumn aster in some old-fashioned garden.
1t is. altogether as pretty . story as can be
found of true love which never yet ran smooth
but in this case ripples pleasantly over BY no
| means insurmountaole obstacles.
THE MAN WHO WAS NOT A COLONEL. By High
| Private. Boston: Loring: Portland: Bailey &
| Noyes.
A very lively and pleasant little book, of the
delightfully."- irresponsible series of which Hell.
ems Babies was the appropriate initial volume.
1t pretends to no great literary worth, the plot
Is exceedingly slight. but the whole story ID
very amusing little extravaganza, and is told
with real refinement of feeling though not In
variable polish of phrase. 1t Is jolly, health
full and entertaining'history of the fortunes Of
aiyoung man whose only fault was that his
title of Colonel was decidedly by brevet and
whose "noble brow was not in the milipgtary" {"
The comic embarrassments which ensue, the
glmpses of genial and natural character AND
the happy ending of the woes of Colonel Smith
and his actual promotion to militia rank make
an exceeding readable book.
Notes.
Scribner. Armstrong s. Co., will issue, April
| 1st, a book by Major John NJ. Gould, of this
city, entitled "How to Camp Out,"in 135
PIP. 16mo. 1t is written more especially fol
young men, such as students on their summer
vacation. The contents will be:-varioul
Ways to Spend Vacation; Walking and Camp
lug; Horseback Tour; Permanent Camp
Large Parties and Small; Stoves:and Cooking
Utensils; Cooking; Clothing; Tents-how te
make the Various Kinds; Marching-How tc
March to prevent footsoreness; and Hygienic
Notes applicable to Campers. It will be
pocket manual, exhaustive in its line, telling al
which an inexperienced young man will seei
to know about camping in settled country
while old campers will find many valuable sug
gestions. Major Goulds experience ha
been full and varied. He campe,
out in the South all through tn
the war, commencing with the first regimen
and ending up with the grand review in wash
ingtop, has made several pedestrian tours dur
ing our northern summers and has never failed
since he left the army to spend his summer
under canvas, so that he is qualified to speak
and he has taken great care in the preparation
of the book which he has been at work on 70
seS eral years. Readers who are familiar Will
his regimental history will know that nothini
worth remembering escapes his watchful eye
D. Appleton s. Co., will publish in q fey
days two new volumes of the popular Liters
ture Primer Series; Classical Geography. by q
f. Tozer, NJ. A, author of the Classical Geos
raphy of Greece, and Philology, by John Pells
They have also in press New Lands within tn
Arctic Circle, narrative of the discoveries O
the Austrian ship Tegetthoff in the years 1877
"a, by julius Payer, one Of the commanders o
the expedition, profusely illustrated, and trans
lated from the German with the authors Or
proval.