The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-18

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land family; but the Unborn dramatic gift of
the italian has served Sgnor Montl well-ths
dramatic instinct as opposed to the merely
theatrical the initiative sense which is SYM
pathy, which gathers rapidly and intuitively
not only the action but the intention of a scene,
and with scarcely conscious effort translates
the whole into gesture, speech or written words.
The Adventures of Consul has the whole.
hearted and natural charm that brings not
only praise but love to a book-a quality that
with notifications of time and manner is to be
recognized in signor Months work as in the
Vicar of Wakefield, for instance-a quality
that has grown rare in our day.
The Fall of Damascus, by Charles Wells
Russell, Boston: Lee s. Shepard; Portland:
Dresser, Mcclellan s. Co.. is highly wrought
fiction, of the semi-historical sort Damascus
was-and no one is in position to deny author
itatively any statements that Mr.. Russell or
any other man may choose to make concerning
the sayings and doings of the fashionable
youth, the Damascus blades, in the days pre-
ceding the fall of the city. 1t is therefore evil
dent that it is upon matters of taste rather
than OF positive fact that one can meet for dis.
cussion with Mr.. Russell His catastrophe is
borrowed from the opera of Aida, though after
being quite thoroughly asphyxiated, his hero
emerges from a non-ventilated apar.ment-a
living tomb is the conventional name for such.
The liveliness of the exit was perhaps in
creased by the presence in the tomb of the pow
erful and malignant contre-herotne, the An,-
1aeris instead of the Aida of the story. There
is much language, often effectively employed,
and there i5 evidsnce of considerable historical
reading in this novel, which may bs said to
possess some merit and degree of interest,
while it is BY no means a notable success.
Deceivers Ever, is the sweeping Shak.perian
title chosen by Mrs. Lovett Cameron for her
latest novel (Harpsr's Library of Select novels,
Harper Bros, New York; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmony The conclusion that the
authoress arrives at and distinctly enforces up.
on the readers mind is that "blue-eysd men are
self-indulgent, selfish and cruel, and set at the
same time gifted with a fascination and mag
netic power of attraction which no woman
with nature superior to a frog is ever able to
withstand" 1t seems almost impossible that
together with such preposterous nonsense there
should be any merit-but it must in justice be
said that there is some sparkle and liveliness in
the story, together with unsuccessful attempts
at more of the same sort, and much unprofita.
be dreariness.
Putnam's Art Handbook Se,I includes
small and attractive volume upon sketchng
from nature, edited by Mrs. Susan N Carter,
Principal of the Wornen's Art School, Cooper
Union, from book by the English artist, Mr..
Thomas Rowbotham. 1t contains principles of
perspective &c., with hints as to selection of
subjects aud treatment which will ba found
very acceptable to students of drawing. The
compact form and light weight of the volume
render 1t a comfortable and portable aid to the
sketcher, and its counsels cannot fail to be of
much assistance. Illustrations and diagrams
add to the clearness of its instructions. Uor-
ing, Short & Harmon: Portlaud,)
The adventures of Vasco da CANA by George
M. Towle Boston: Lee & Shepard: Portland:
Dresser, Mcclellan & co., is volume of the
Heroes of History series for young readers.
The voyages of ths brave aud noble Vasco da
CANA are much better reading for young sea-
lovers than the coarse and silly stories with
which the book market abolnds Mr.. Towle
has made delightful volume, and one thor.
oughly to be recommended as likely to please
the fancy of the boys while giving them dis
tinct ideas as to thu history and voyages of
Vasco da CANA whose life was romance of
the sea.
A Year Worth Living, by VIM. NJ Baker,
author of The New Timothy, etc., Boston
Lee & Shepard; Portland: Dresser s. McLel-
LAM is novel of some vigor and vividness of
thought and description, written with spirit
and enjoyment on the authors part. and en-
listing the interest of the reader. There is a
slight, indefinite but pervasive favor of coarse>
ness, sometimes an excited tone, and too
great desire for originality, that mar the book
which is well intended and has soma good
points.
Less Black than We're Painted, By James
Payn Harper Bros. New York; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony is novel whose name
would imply that the author had gone into an
undesirable partnership, "and spoke for self
and partner; but the story proves to be mod
erately entertaining, fairly well written with
some tiresome witticisms, some conventional
bohemianisms and also good degree of inter-
est and originality.
The Youths Health. Book (Harper Bros,
New York; Portland: Lorng, Short & Har-
mon) contains many useful and practical hints,
and is written in a familiar style adapted for
young readers, as we'll as for those persons hav-
| ing the care of children. 1t does not prescribe
remedies for, but modes to prevent colds, fevers
and the effects of bad air and unwholesome
Har per's Half-Hour Series.
The Reading Club and Handy Speaker, ed
tied by George M. Baker Boston: Lee s.
Shepard; Portland: Dresser & McLellan) con-
tains some good sele ctions, some well-worn
and some of the cheapest Danbury News pat