The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-02-09


a mental struggle of five minutes duration, and
some posing of himself as martyr Then this
modern Saint Kevin, having pushed the lady
over the precipice settles comfortably into
parish where he converts a muscular young
doubter and is at peace with both worlds. At
ter much depression, the innocence of Beatrx be-
ing proven,the curate condescends to marry her
stating that he had all along cherished q belief
in her rectitude but chat his wife like Caesars
must be above suspicion. The readerlis not as
sisted however, to a solution of the question
how nearly the Rev. O. Culverhouse resembles
Caesar. Perhaps the answer may be found in
Miss Braddon's next work.
The Silver Country, or The Great Southwest,
is review of the mineral wealth of Mexico
and the territory ceded to the United States by
that country. 1t is written by Alex D. Ander-
SOD, published by Putnam, New York, and re-
ceived through Loring, Short s. Harmon. 1t
shows that the Southwest produces two-thrds
of the silver of the whole world, but does not
discuss the relative merits of gold and silver.
1t is interesting to note that this to US new ter
ritory is the only portion of North America
which was occupied by civilized native races
prior to the conquest, and it may therefore be
called the Oldest. 1t is territorislly twenty-five
times as large as New England, is mostly high
table-!and, and is blessed with an admirable
the gold and silver of New Spain from 1921 to
1904 to be over two thousand millions Of dollars,
and since that time it has produced about three
thousand millions more. OF this, nearly three
fourths has been silver. This is about one
third of the whole production of the world in
the period mentioned. In 1875 the Southwest
yielded seventy-fve per cent OF the silver prod
uct Of the world. And this yield is rapidly in
creasing Its agricultural capacities are no less
aattering as described by the author, and for
minor attractiocs it has river flowing between
rocky banks mile high, ruins Of buildings
over three hundred feet long, and of pyra-
mid as big as two of the biggest in Egypt, and
this once had temple on top of it, Although
the author contents himself by lucldly setting
forth the facts, it is evident that he thinks
this magnificent country should be developed
and that the proper way to do it will be by
building certain railroads in that direction.
Ways Of the Spirit and Other Essays, by
Frederick Henry Hedge Boston: Roberts
Bros; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony.
That distinction which SHOULD divide with a
difference between the foremost and the head
foremost thinkers of our time is most happily
apparent in the writings of DR.. Hedge, the
natural poise of whose mind is adjusted to that
delight of the Lord, an even balance, enabling
him to 'divide rightly"-to recognize differ
ences both of kind and degree, and to subord-
nate in all the less to the greater. He finds
free use for reason in religion to the glory of
both-no more artagonisn than the healthy
eye has for the daylight. He never runs so
hard with science as to cutstrp the sky and
clash with the horizon, but with full breath
and steady eye keeps up in ths race with the
best. The style Of Dr. Hedges writing is fit
ting to his thought; forcibls and elegant, yet 80
appropriate and clear that its beauty NIGH
almost pass unperceived, save as the reader,
noticing the unwonted glow which his own
mind has taken on, should trace its source
1t would avail little to give sum mary of the
topics of which the present volume treats; the
treatment is the main point, and that car
hardly be reproduced without great loss in less
space than the number of pages which these
essays occupy.
A handsome volume, strongly bound and
we'll printed, is The American Almanac fol
1878 New York: Americsn News Company
Portland: Fessenden Brothers) prepared by
Mr.. A. R. Spofford, the Librarian of Congress,
a OH nd al Ia v1st
out rival, and is indispensable to one who
desires to keep informed 10 regard to public
affairs or who makes uss of books of reference
No topic of national interest is left untouched
in its 400 pages. Its leading features are full
ness of detail in statistics relating to fnancia
and economic questions, which are now Of thu
highest possible interest. 1t contains numer
GUS compilations carefully made from publ
documents of the United States and other ma
tions, bringing into one view the statistics o
public debts, revenue and expenditure, imports
and exports, army and navy, pensions and pa
tents, tariff and internal revenue, population
shipping. immigration, agriculture, education
etc. 1t embraces. also, tables of temperature
vital statistics, prices, dividends railroads. tee
graphs, savings banks, periodicals, elections
etc.
Nearly twenty-five years ago Parke Godwil
compiled Cyclopedia of Biography which a
once commanded approval 5y its thoroughness
compactness aud accuracy. A quarter Of
century has greatly heightened the neurological
list and made new edition of the Cyclopedi
necessary. The new edition New York: G
P. Putnsm's Sons; Portland: Loring, Short
Harmony is handsome volame of 1853 pages
containing in addition to the original content
q copious supplement In whi ,h the names o
all the people of note who died previous t
August 1877 are to be found. The value o
this work as book of reference cannot easil
be overestimated, and it should have place i
every library in the country. II is of peculia
value to Americans because of the great atten
| ton it gives to American biography. This an
! the companion work, The Worlds Progres:
are two volumes which no working library ca
afford to ba without.
The Nabob is another novel of NJ. Alphons
| Daudet, and Is included in Messrs. Estes g Lar
rats "Cobweb series," portland: Loring, Shol
| & Harmony. 1t is an exceptional books
| Daudet's works usually sre-brilliant, crowde
with figures and full of movement. 1t is un
| doubtsdly Paris that is brought before the read
| ers eyes, in its bswlldering confusion of th
| good and bad-M. Daudet omits always the il
different 1t is not precisely agreeable, nj
very desirable, the view that he offers. Ii OF
cares for such novels, if one has taste for III
wholesome excitements at second hand-this
perhaps as good specimen of that kind IS ms
be. M. Daudets romauces are, happily, TO
eign to the spirit of American life as to il
locality. The transpl lanting of them to our so
is matter of at least doubtful taste and suit
bility.
Romances Of the East, from the French
Comte de Gobineau New York: ID. AppletC
& Co.; Portland: Loriug, Shor. s. Harmony
a collection of remarkable tales, charaeterist
of the customs and spirit of Oriental life.
de Gooneau preserves in them the fascinatiC
Of the Eastern story-teller whils retaining b
own keen sight and pointed expression of IL
Freedman. The impression left on the rea
er's mind is not unlike that resulting from Il
perusal of the Arabian Nights, while-thoue
The intense power of the narrations OF Scheher
| zada over the imaoination cannot be rem