The Portland daily press., 1878-11-02
Recent Publications.


Onsrles Scribne,'s Sous; Portland: Loring,
snort q Harmony brought before US 10 undress.
Ine DOCK is made up of letters addressed by
nlsmaick to his wife, sister and others (the
otners being his brother in-law, Freiherr Won
Schleinitz, "a Prussian Diplom atist'' aud "Not
Named) } in the time betwe n 1874 and 1870.
that is from the year he appeared as a leader
OF the Junkers to the year of the German con-
tict with France. The publication of these
letters unsvoidaby ex ,ites the suspicion that
we nave not caught the great German iu dis
haoille, with towzled hair and united crayat;
and one is forced TO the b sief that he has at
least put on his best dressing-gown 10 auticpa-
ton OF early morning callers. However that
may be the letters are entertaining aud GER
tainly throw a softer light over Bismarck than
that which fiercely beats upon thrones. They
are, with few exceptions, written to mem oers
OF his family, have little to do with public
affairs, and relate chiefly to domestic interests.
We learn of the warm affection he entertained
for bis sister, the earnest devotion he cherished
for his wife, the kindly regard in which he held
bis friends; aud the knowledge is pleasant to
acquire. All things concerning great mea ara
of interest. The trihes of their lives become of
Importance to lesser ones So these letters.
though the suspicion will intrude itself that
like the impromptu speeches of our own states
men, they are revised for publication, are very
entertaining reading. The translation, by
Fitch Maxse, is done into smooth and geuer-
ally correct English.
The latest, and in all respects the best.
OF the excellently edited Epochs of Ancient
History, is Professor lines Early Rome from
the Foundation of the City to its Destruction
by the Gauls. New York: Charles S,ribuer's
Sons; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony.
Professor lime belongs to the destructive school
othistorical criticism, and in this little volume
makes short work of the legends of the kings
and the old stories of the foundation of the Re-
public But he does not leave US with only
ruin on our hands. The known facts concern
Ing the establishment Of the great common
wealth are clearly stated, and the probabilities
carefully weighed. As result we have a his
tory marvellously co Apact, written in sincerity
and with philosophical insight The authors
style Is elegant without being horid, and the
oft-repeated story has never been told moro
charmingly. To all students Of history, wbeth-
er in the lower classes or "frst.form bows" the
work Can be heartily Commended, None Of ma
unless it be the very few who have devoted
themselves to historical studies, can fail TO
hnd profit in it. As those few can be counted
on the fingers of one hand it is eminently safe
to recommend the book as worthy the studious
attention Of all our readers.
Gen. Wingate's Manual for Rifle Pfactics
New York; W. G. & f. P. Church) is now the
standard authority for all rihemen, giving as IL
does full and practical directions to practicers
at the target, and establishing the laws that
govern matches and prize-shooting. The nav
edition of this work (the sixth) will be ereeted
with pleasure in view of the great interest ak.
cited by American victories a. Wimbledon and
Creedmoor. In Maine the Creedmoor sr,ncasa
has given marvellous impetus to rifle oractice.
aud the result has been an exhibition of manly
skill in which the State as well az those imms-
diately concerned, takes an honorable pride
The new edition will be fund Indispensable IN
our rifle cluos. All the alterations in the svs-
tenn that have been introduced sjnca 1879 ara
clearly stated ard elsborately expl ,ined. Ths
mannai mas oean thoroughly revised aud to q
considerable extent rewritten. The author has
aVailed himself of the experience obtained
Though the Creedmoor practice, and so suc-
ceeded in producing hsndb ok that no rifle
man can afford to be without
The Vision of Eohard and other Poems (Bos-
ton Houghton, Osgood s. Co., Portland: Lor-
ing, Snort q Harmony is a volume containing
the m,st recently published poems of Mr..
Whittier. They are marked by the yigor, the
elevation iof thought, and the prophetic fire
that characterize his verse; and have all the
sweetness and harmony that his song has
taken on since the stress of its earlier. sternsr
mission is past over. The noble humanity, the
untiring and large imaginings Of the Vision of
Ecnsrd are entirely representative of Mr.
Whitters genius. The ballad of the Witch of
Wenham is dramatically and finely designed,
and has the spontaneous accents and the mo.
tlon and terseness of expression that bsloog to
genuine balla1 poetry. Tue Seeking of the
Waterfall is poem of the most exquisite
hneness, and richness of color-clear and ele-
va'ed and with voice as alluring as the song
OF far.awsy waters. The spiritualizing element
too nnely touched to be called didactic or
even moralzing-so frequently met in Mr..
Whlttlers verse Is present in its delicate euiss.
The Dunkers Hymn is fervd and full voiced
In the Old South has the tone of ancient pro.
phetic feeling, in which Mr.. whittlsrs genius
seems allied to tha. of the oldsn Hebrew sing
ers-a solemn inspiration, lamp of song lit by
the Goals OF the altar The sonnets on M.
Thiers are notably fine, and the sonnet form
seems peculiarly plable in the hands of the
poet. The Two Angels is a poem almost with
out peer in its blending of large and striking
imagination and tender beauty. Solomon aud
the Ants is quaint and mystic with no touch Of
sffectation; and its words aud metre are chosen
with much musical fitness Red Ridiag Hood
is simply charming; it is picture OF New
England home in winter, aud the cold gray
and white tints of snowy street and bare
branches are warmed aud lighted By the de-
licious figure of the little girl, melting with
her warm mouth round space on ths frosted
window pane, through which she sees her
friend OF the last summer-ths blue jay and
the crow, suppliants at her door, and she cries:
The squirrel lifts his little legs,
Because he has no hands, and begs;
He's asking TOR my nuts. know;
May not feed them on the snow?
and. so forth goes the little alden to tne aid of
her pensioners. The Problem is a poem COM
prising two sonnets upon capital aud labor, full
OF the peacemakng and practical wisdom of
the poet. The final sonnet of the volume is
entitled Response, aud is addressed to the
many friends who last year so gladly expressed
their pride and Joy in tbs post that the people
delight to praise, and their warm wishes TO.
the continuance of his life through many for
tunate and honored years.
Songs, Legends and Ballads. By John
Boyle O'Rsilly (B jstoD: Pilot Pub ishing C,n-
paay; Portland: Bailey s. Noyesl Mr. John
Boyle OReiley is strong and brilliant addi-
ton to the choir of Ameticau poets. "rhe
questi4n first askei," says Mr.. Sedmsn in his
admirable critical volume upon the Victorian
Poets, "with regard to either post or singer,
is, has he voice? aud then has he execution?
We have lastly to measure the passoo, imag.
ination, invention to which voice and method
are but minister's" Judged by this test-whicn
is fair and reasonable one-dr O'Rsilly will
be found to meet its requirements 10 more than