The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-12-15
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE

PER ANNUM, in ADVANCE
sgination of the freshest and purest quality,
he tells them in a natural and unaffected way,
without GrrtsrepeRsee Of tina older people who
are sometimes aimed at over the little ones
neads by the writers of juvenile books. Mr..
Scudders stories are inspired by genuine love
for children and sympathy with their tender,
inexperienced little minds, that love wonder
tales dearly; but need also good, bright open
air thoughts to blow away the curious mists Of
their baby brains, to which all things are alike
new and puzzling. 1t is exceedingly rare TO
meet book for chidrep that seems to fulfil all
desirable conditions as does this dainty Bod
leian library of fairy pictures and sougs, old
Time ballads and stories of genuine, sweet and
happy children. Mr.. Scudder's fun is of q
klnd that children appreciate and fully enjoy,
and the tone OF the book is perfect in its qusli-
ty, wholesome and refined. The illustrations
are numerous and excellent; and the covers, in
japanese style, are brilliant and original. The
designs that illustrate the fairy poems, are in
common with them, from the delicate pen of
the late Miss Annette Bishop. While speak
ing of fairy-tales-Mr. Scudder's own essay in
that line. Master High Flyer, is in the very
spirit of Hans Andersons wonder-stories, vet
preserves the tone of everyday American life.
Among all the holiday books none deserves
more entire praise or is more charming than the
Doings of the BOdley Family.
All Around a Palette, is the title of vol
ume of very fanciful stories by Lizzie w.
Champney, illustrated by j. w. Champ
ney. Boston: Lockwood, Brooks & Co.;
Portland: Dresser s. McLellan.) The plan OF
these stories is unique and fantastic; two little
children meet the Pathology in the stu
dio Of an artist, the father of one of them: and
the obliging imp tells story suggested by each
color upon the palette which forms his face.
The stories are ingenious and contain much
that is interesting in the way of information in
pleasant guise. They are refined and graceful,
and very brlght-each one having some connec-
tion, more or less fanciful, with a color. For
instance, Ultrsmarine is the story of a boy who
was so very ultra-msriue in bis tastes that he
ran away to sea; Naples Yellow tells tale of
Neopolitan oranges; aud Bitumen. the story of
the little Egyptian princess who married Solo
~-NAs NNNSO
ry; and Ivory Black as the end man of the
palette, sings foolish song In colored diatect.
Mrs. Champney succeeds in telling very en-
tertaining stories-but they are sometimes too
''grown-up' to be quite desirable for little
girls. The volume is tastefully bound, and
Mr.. Champney's illustrations spirited, though
carelessly done.
The Budget is delightful holiday book for
little children, full of the prettiest pictures aud
incest rhymes and stories-5ome very short
not to tire the wee ones attention, aud some
longer for the insatiate little people who never
get enough of story. The Budget is in every
way suited as a nursery companion, and may
be recommended as an unfailing pleasure for
the children and potent aid to mothers, at
their wits end to supply the demand for more
stories. The type is large and clear the paper
aud illustrations good and the cover bright and
pretty in design. My Own Book, My Pet
Book, and My Primer, are of similar style and
though smaller 10 size, equal in quality to the
Budget. No prettier and more pleasing books
could be found for the youoger clients of Santa
Claus. These volumes are published by Messrs.
j. B, Lippencott & Co., Philadelphia; port
land: Loring, Short s. Harmony
Another book to delight the boys is Cant
Macy's story of adventures in whaling shin.
There She Blows. 1t is a thoroush-goiug sea-
story, written by a man who has experienced
the exciting scenes he describes and who strick-
en- with total blindness for the past nine years,
recalls for his young friends the perils and de-
lights of his earlier days, and spins q yarn for
which even the vocabulary Of the average boy
will be thoroughly ransscked to find adequate
adiectives. The Macys have been whale
fishers ever since Nantucket was first settled
aud Capt. W. H Macy proves himself wor-
thy descendant of the line and bears his har-
poon bravely. 1t is doubtful whether, with
the exception of the late Jonah, any man was
ever better fitted than Capt. Macy to tell the
boys what he knows about whales. (Bostou:
Lee & Shepard; Portland: Bailey s. Noyes.
Qninnebasset Girls, by Sophie May (Boston
Lee & Shepard; Portland: Hall L. Davis is
the best book that the author of the "Pruoy Sto-
ries" has ever written, and deserves a most
cordial reception. Islis fresh, healthful story
for the older girls; without any foolish or SEN
timental lapses, it has genuine and honest ro-
nance; it Is practical, sweet and womanly in
tone and the style is decided advance in grace
and refinement as we'll as power, upon auy of
Sophie Mays former Writings. 1t is almost
equal to Miss Alcott's Little Women; and tor
tunate is the girl who will, on Christmas
morning, open the pretty brown doors with
their bright doorplate which bears the name oil
the Qdiunebasset Girls, aud form the covers of
this delightful volume.
The Chatterbox is an American re- print By
Messrs. Estes 8 Lauriat with identical letter.
press aud illustrations of the original English
edition. Failing to secure copies in England,
as they expected to do, the publishers were
obliged to ind some way in which to fill the
advance orders gilmore than 5000 copies, already
contracted for. Accordingly, in two months
space 200 woodcuts were made, over 25 tons Of
paper manufactured for the purpose and an
edition of 10000 copies printed and bound.
This promptnpss and enterprise have secured
to American children fund of amusement in
the possession of a volume fall of pictures and
stories suited to all ages and of great variety
andsinterest. (Portland Lofiog, Short s. Har-
moD.)
Aclco VI tue Ocd ~ bno laSt VO.umo OF OnVer
Optics series, Young America Abroad. (Bos-
ton; Lee & Shepard; Portland: Hall L. Davis.
While retaining all the charm that the stories
of this popular writer have always had for
boys, the spirit of lawless adventure, to which
objection has suitably been made, is omitted
from this series. The Isles of the Sea is the
story of the Academy ship, and its young sea-
men, on the return voyage after the many ad-
ventures recorded in previous volumes of the
series. 1t contains many entertaining and
valuable particulars of geography and history;
and the story is in Oliver Optics lively and
offhand STYLE 1t may safely be commended
to parents to boys it needs no commendation.
Messrs. Estes & Lauriat of Boston publish
pretty collection OF silhouette pictures, to be
followed by more of similar style. They are
gracefully aud neatly done, and form an mex
pensive and tasteful Christmas gift.
MAUazina Naffaac