The Portland daily press., 1878-12-07

s'e 10 poem OF much merit, in q limited COM
/ pass OF voice, but practised and M tlodious, and
sprobiblV By an Eaglish writer. Loves Day
IS 10 Mrs. Louise Chandler Moulton's brilliant
and impassioned map.ner Gardeo Peril Il
very like Mr. G. p. Lathrop Miss Phelps is
lKeiy 10 nave W Witten q Womsn's Death
"ouod. Low <r's Fest is by any young per-
sou OF boston, fond of mental philosophy, aud
win the corAprehensive style OF mind that can
8ork 10 c.swels, hear Beethoyen's Fifth SYM
pnouy and eat caramels, all at once Mrs S.
VI, S. Piatts unique and fascinating voice,
4 tuli oil expression OF intense womanly feeling.
- heard in Her Word of Reproach-reminding
oue OF DR.. Holiness phrase, "the locust-cry of a
fdll-thtoated soprano" Forgiven is in the
cnarmlDgly melOdious, but over-sweet and not
very healthful style of Violet Fame, Who has
way OF singing wrong till it sounds like unfor-
tunate right. We Twain has the curious ring
and characteristic falling of Miss Christina
Rossetti's lighter verse; and certain Limitation
OF music, as IL she were playing on an olden
instrument, that is often noticeable 10 her poe
try. A Fallen House has the large design aud
effective vagueness, and the cold, sonorous
chords Of Mr.. Dante Rossetti's sonnets, and il
adelicate rondel, good enough to be Mr. Tenuy-
sons, and quite in the manper of the incident
al songs in his recent dramas. At Twilight
has the pathetic quality, the luminous cloudy
atmosphere Of Mr. Philip Bourke Marstou, one
OF the truest-voiced of English SINCERE No
poem in the volums is more notable for scope,
varied and effective manner, and powerful and
original thought than The Marshes of Glynn.
It's nobe piece of work, mauly, and full Of
genuine poetic essence; and has Q strong
winged music that carries it far upward. Its
resonant and forceful csdeuces have constant
correspondence with musical art, ard les streu-
uous earnestness recalls the mounting chords
OF some great orchestral composition On the
suppositiop, warranted By the poem, that il is
Mr Sidney Lsnier's work, a word in regard to
one-unsurpassed by any other Of Americas
younger singers in some essenti is Of the poetic
nature-will be appropriate. Mr.. Lanier is q
practical musician; and, as all musicians who
have literary taste must do, he recognizes the
continual likeness and mutual reliance Of
music and verse. Judging from his poetry, it
would seem that bis musical studies had not
been In the line Of severe counterpoiut; bat
thst, to the ordinary ele aents OF musical study
he had added orchestration without tbs ueces-
| e.sary discipline of canon, fugue aud counter
point. He understands the voices OF strings,
| wood aud brass-but knows little of the build-
ipg of note against note. Hence his harmonies,
always effective, are often disallowed and un-
resolved; the liberty that his large talent needs
becomes license; bis compositions are, in brief,
precisely to poetry what Richard wazuer's are
to musc-with this saving difference, Wagner
is confirmed in bis errors, believing himself the
apostle of a new musical creed; Mr.. Sidney
Lanier has taken the bitter tonic of popular
lsnghter-more than he deserved bat not prob.
ably, more than was good for him; and his
talent, which needs strict training, has enough
luxoriapce of life to endure and reward disc-
pine. In the bright, delic ate and dainty song,
The Angler, with its sunny atmosphere OF
June, is recognized one Of the hsDpiest
sketches of Launcelot well known to readers
| of the PORTLAND PRESS. The Rebel Flower
may be from Mrs. Thos G. Appletou's pen.
| The Bride of War is in Dr. Hollands manner
From Herzegovina has the ballad-rina Of Mr..
Walter Thornbury. Raining the Blockade,
With lis fiDe refrain-as admirable in its beat
OF rhythm and strong baritone quality as ever
| yet was hunters soDg-hss the freshness and
decision of Mr.. John Boyle ORALLY. The
Rhone Crsdle-so-calied because there is so
much rock about it?-is good description bat
lacks movement aud is in Mrs. Helen Hunts
manner. John Carman is probably by MIR. J.
| L. Trowbridge. October Sunday is affsctedly
| original, and may b. credited to Mr. Christie
pher Cranch. The Unseen Preacher is human
and heavenly enough to be the work of the
kindly friend of every thing good-Mr Whit
tier. The Chiliren's Song is childish rather
than cbildlike. My Heart 1 Canuot Still
II, is an exquisite little song. Theoc-
ritas is most musical and refined poem
with its harmonious irregular measures
and its delicate, defined atmosphere, alter
mating the golden Grecsn air with the sharp
blue of Northern skes-and is clearly from the
polished pen of Mr.. Edmund c. Stedman. Six
Medallion Heads are fairly cut, but not espec
tally interesting; they are probably from the
studio OF Mrs. Margaret j. Preston. Eumeui-
des sounds like an orpbic utterance Of Mr.. A.
Bronson Alcott. One Huudred and One sounds
Ike Mr. Emerson. Tee fine poem, Traosfg-
uration, IN its high quality and delicate word
ing suggests Mr. Lopgfsllow as its author. Pill
grlms is effective, bat in an unfamiliar voice.
Avalon has the dreamlike cadences, perfect
medl@val tone and notable refrain of Mr..
MorrIs-but is in his earlier manner. As TO
Guy vernon, the novelette, in verse, IL takes
up disproportion of space and, though fairly
we'll done. is tedious; it is not much Of a novel
and still less of poetry; Its double rhymes are
often Ingenious; bat the reader ressnts q little
its prominence in this singulaIly attractive
volume II is probable that among the writer's
represented in the Masqus of Poets, there are
many of local reputation, and sone who have
yet their spurs to win-which increases the
difficulty in identifying the poet that the ra-
viewer deems fairly caught 10 Messrs. Roberts
merry game Of Blind Mans Buff
Another volume of Mr.. William j. Rolfe's
useful and Convenient editions of Shakespeare's
Plays, is published by Msssrs. Harper Of New
York, portland: LoriDg, Short & Hrmon).
1t contains Much Ado about Nothing, that
ancient fiagon of champagne whose bead and
bubble have been mirsculously preserved
by Shakespeare careful bottling. 1t il diff
calf to say anything about the dramas Of the
Swan of Avon-for in the years that separate
his first imprints from the Portland PREss-so
much has been said and so well said that il leaves
little comment, except of wonder, why, since
Shakespeare was SO particular iu regard to any
Encouragement of his bones, he did not also for
bid the curious embroidery with which critics in
slst upon decorating, in these late days. the
stately singing robes of him.
In Messrs Appletou's Handy Volume Series
cortland: Dresser & McLsllaD) appears VOL
ume containing memoir Of Lord Beacous-
field, BY George Mskepeacs Towle. I,is ex-
ceedingly lively, graphic and entertaining.
written with care and fir nness, aud is an seree-
abe and favorable specimen Of contemporary
biography.
From Messrs. Estes & Lsuriat of Boston
portland: Dresser& McLellau) comes a PAM
phlet containing the cartoons from Pauch
which relate to Lord Beaconstield. They are
many and severe. Soma of them ara 70 he