The Portland daily press., 1878-04-06
Recent Publications.

Seola. Boston: Lee & Shepard; Portland:
Hall L. Davis.) This anonymous performance
upon the trapezs of literature isuniq1e of its
Sort 1t part t,kes-to drop the gymnsstic sim.
ile-of the "pious and paiofalle'' nature of the
allegory with the elaborate aud uncomfortable
style of thought into which Massachusetts,
philosopher might fall in the attempt to write
supplement to the Arabian Nights It is
apparently cleaning from the waste-basket of
comparative mythology, and jumbles Aryau
myth and Mosaic tradition, Morse eddas and
Roman legend in a way that would be open on
al sides to criticism-were it not for the in
Conference, fatuity and f.bby responsibility
that disarm judgment. What gobbler among
the domestic faathered tribe would elevate the
red insignia Of his comb and swell his proud
throat with inarticulate defiance against a
boned turkey? "Honor and arms scorn
such foe." he might say with the
librettist of of Haudel's Samp psou, "though
conld end him at blow" aSeola,"
says the author, "is fantasy revealed
to the writer wh,la listening to the perform
ance of an extraordinary piece of music" The
performance must have bsen as "extraordi
nary" as the composition-for oae is at a loss
to name the sonata symphony or song that,
acting normally upon the brain, would have
been likely to produce this result. In artless
phrase the writer admits that the book sis
neither history or theology" thus relieving the
reader of the necessity of belief difficulty
that but for this kind concession might never
have occurred to him as existent The writer
proceeds to apologize for calling two of the
principal personages of the story by their Lat
in names. "a concession to popular prejudice
and sacrifice to euphony." 1t is easy to i'm
agine eager crowds around the authors front
door-caiing upoa him tv insert Lucifer as
sentimental hero and make good match for
him (tor the mob will sometimes 90 to lengths
OF violence so far as 10 make puns), and let
Hesperus restrict his beams for the peusive
second hero of the occasion; aud 1t is easy to
snuf the incense which arises to tho nostrils of
Eaphony as the novelist binds his Latin die
tionary upon the altar. The time of the story
is that of the days before the deuge. Perhaps
this should have been said earlier in the review
but little more delay can make no great
difference siace the world has waited so long
and With such apparent patience for this reve-
lation. The writer was so fortunate as to find
the journal of Seola, wife of Japhet, and has
tens to communicate its contents to the reading
public. The statements made in this diary,
the oldest inhabitant himself is not in posi-
tion to contest; but that the aptediluvian period
was given to abstract statements that would in
terest a modern Boston audience, aud that
lady. resident even in the ''oity of Sppara
City of Books as the author tells us, would
have hapn qbla q oy horsalf M L.
in the hieroglyphcs which were the fashion of
that daJ-seems at least matter of doubt. So
much space may be given to the absarditiss of
the book for the amusement of the reader The
coarseness Of tone, thinly yelled by excited
transcendentalism is not subject for sport
and the book may be dismissed from judgment
with the verdict, foolish, fantastic and in every
way Improbable.
The Cadet Button. By Frederick Whitaker,
author Of "a Life of Gen. Gustav" New
York: Sheldon & Co.; Portland: Dresser s. Nc
Lellan) is bright. graphic aud quite well writ
ten story of army life, at West Point and in the
stations of the western country. 1t is evidently
the work of a man who has been thoughtful
and intelligent eyewitness of the scenes that
uo udo Cuooct aS tuo udChgrUuuu OI us dgItod-
BILE and interesting story. The contrast be
tween the morale of station occupied by
drunken and discontented garrison, and that of
a post where the influence of refined and hon
orable officers and their wives prevails, is
striking and evidently justly taken point The
romance Of the novel tnrus upon the giving
and taking of cadet button, and is we'll de-
veloped. This is a thoroughly American story,
and is original and unfailing in iaterest, while
its literary merits are at least beyond the av-
erage of popular novels.
The Lawrence Mother Goose, (Lee & Shep-
ard, Boston; Hall L. Davis, Portland,) is
ltbre.to with words, music aad stage directions
for bringing out Mother Goose lyrics as a play
10 the fashion in which it was given BY the
Swedenborgians 10 this city two years ago
rhe music is mostly taken from j. W. Eiliott's
Nursery Rhymes issued in London by Novtllo
Cinderella, uebeard and Aladdin who do not
exscty belong there are lugged 10. Complete
directions for dressing the parts and getting no
The properties are given, and as there has been
considerable enquiry for printed directions for
the exhibition from those who wished toget mp
pleasant entertainment for small audiences,
this will undoubtedly be welcome, The price
Is 75 cents.