The Portland daily press., 1878-06-08

est The frank, outspoken and vigorous style
Of Mr.. Clark, directed always by wide char
ity and by sympathetic knowledge of human
nature. renders these sketches from his pen
at once ife-like, agreeable and reliable John
A. Andrew, Charles Sumner, Prentice and
Others of contemporary note are the subjects
OF striking description-Ghe sketch of Prentice
being especially sharp in its outlines. The brief
memoir of Miss Susan Dimock, whose sweet and
steadfast soul was suddenly taken from the
world when the waters closed over her young
but honorad head is of pathetic interest. A
curious incident of j. B. Booth is the subject
of an entertaining sketch. In an essay upon
Shakespeare, Mr.. Clarke's fine eloquence is
with which he confronts those who deny that
Shakespeare ever existed-save like some some
heather demigod as personifed assemblage
of traits. deeds, or natural phenomena-is a
sustained and brilliant literary effort, which
later rises to a noble climax in recountipg the
proofs that Shakespeare lived aud lives to-day
in mems minds so long as Hamlet ceases not
to question the fate of man, with wisdom that
looks down the sloping way that leads to mad
dooo3 VI oo lOuS uo IA 1CpCbu obIlhcS3 WIN ooS-
ger in his old day, or with bribery and deceit
in ours, ct the royal life of his land to gain
miserable reward. Other essays in this volume
by Mr.. Clarke have perhaps not less of inter-
.est and value than these, especially denoted
but each reader will select for himself the pas
sages that best please him in this work of at
fearless, eloquent and strong-souled man.
Constantinople, by Edmondo de Amcis,
translated from the 7th italian edition by Car
oline Tiltop. is published by G. P. Putnsm's
Sons, New York, and is received from Loring.
Short & Harmon, Portland. 1t is very bril-
liantly written description of Stamboul and
its environments, series of pictures, not an
itinerary. Italian eyes see some things differ
emily from Yankee eyes, but the impressions
described are perhaps all the more interesting.
Even the fraternal impulse which makes his
heart warm to his compatriots domicled there
in humble station, evokes sympathy, for we
think how we should greet "boy in blue"
whom we might find grinding hand-organ in
the Sultan's capital. Nowhere else does one
find such vivid sketch of the mingled mag
niicence and squalor which make up the Turk
gather SO strong an impression of the approach
ing downfall of Turkish dominion, although
the writer makes no special argument to prove
it. The growing imbecility of the rulers, the
introduction of foreign customs. the increase
of mixed and strange population, the accu-
mutation Of new vices, all bespeak decay
such as befel imperial Rome, aud the book may
find place in history as the last and best pic
lures, the dissolvipg views of the Ottoman
Empire.
The Primer of Design, by Charles A. Barry,
Boston: Lee & Shepard; Portland: Bailey &
Noyes) contains many useful and practical di-
rections for elementary design. Mr. Barry Is
the supervisor of drawing 10 the public schools
of Boston, in which great attention is paid to
designing ornaments and geometrical patterns.
The pages explaining how to derive convention
al decorative designs from natural flowers, and
the remarks upon the laws of ornament will be
found interesting and instructive. Examples
of incorrect and unsuitable designs are given,
with explanations of the errors therein con
tanned and several pages are devoted to designs
that comply with the requirements of art, some
of which are very good, while others are, though
technically correct, not especially tasteful Mr..
Barry's volume, though containing good rules
and suggestions is by no means perfect 1t is
instructive, but not wholly satisfactory a, to
tasteful ess, grace and effectiveness in its de-
signs. 10 the hands of student of some org-
nality and natural talent it will undoubtedly
afford many good hints for development
Bluffton, by M. j. Savage (Boston: Lee s.
Shepard; Portland: Bailey s. Noyes) is novel
of Western life, written with earnestness and a
good degree IF spirit and interest. 1t is relig-
ious, or rather polemic novel, whose romance
seems to turn upon the more or less belief in
future punishment and other matters of creed
avowed by the characters of the story. 1t Is Gu
rious to see how after discussion has been agi-
tated in popular thought, works of fiction bear
ing upon the discussed subject follow the heat
of the serious debate as dreweed springs up on
the site of burned forests. A novel of this sort
is not apt to have the last graces and refine
ments of literary art, it is stiffened and limited
by its definite purposes of argument or dogma
but Bluffton will be found to have average
merit as story, and much liberality and hon
esty in its religious aspect.
Rothmell, by the author of That Husband of
Mine Boston: Lee & Shepard; Portland:
Bailey & Noyes), is in some respects more sue
cessful, and in others less SO than the authors
previous work. The title is not of the sort be.
come so common and so tiresome; there is
more construction, the writer's style has i'm |
proved somewhat by practice and is usually |
quite good, barring some sentimentalties and |
\ few malapropsms in foreign and domestic |
tongues. There is however, always more
safety in depicting truthfully and brightly
familiar actions of pleasant everyday people,
;han in seeking to paint hgh.wrought, myste. |
.ious and sensational scenes of which few,
happily have much experience-and certainly |
Rothmell is open to the charge of Something
100 much of this"
Aspirations of the World is the title OF VOL
ime of brief quotations of a religious and NOR
II nature, arranged from writer's of the most
rarious lands and times, by Mrs. L. Maria
jhild 1t contains many striking and bsauti.
ul thoughts; and not the least of its interest
8 in the constant proof that its pages afford.
low nearly the highest aspiration of the
houghts and imagination of man is the same
hrough all ages-dlffering somewhat in form,
'ut keeping its heavenly essence. Boston:
Roberts Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short q
Harmony
Messrs. Houghton, Osgood 81 Co, publish
n their appropriate, fine and substantial River
ide edition OF British Poets, two volumes con-