The Portland daily press., 1878-07-27

o"n eeyiO coineS 10 tne lrOnU, anu Tue VOICE OF
Victor Hugo is lost for a moment, but quickly
reasserts itself. The essay is mine of bright
quotations. Among American humorsts no
one more perfectly combines the conditions of
wit and jest with manly and strong literary
style, or is more even and satisfactory in quality
than Mr.. Warner.
Drifts from Two Shores is the name Of Mr..
Bret Harte's latest volume of sketches, most of
which have already appeared in print, but
deserve their present more substantial shape
They are unmistakable and characteristic aud
are, for the most, in Mr.. Harte's best vein.
Two Saints of the Foothills is a comedy i'm
possible outside the rougb kindly, hwless,
credulous mining communities. 1t is inimit-
able. jimmy is character study of a mule,
and strongly reminds one of Mr.. Charles
Rsade's deceptively frank aud impossibly real
istic portraits of women. Mr. Harte writes of
his long-eared heroine: she "kinder holds her
self in and, SO to speak, takes her bearings
sorter feels round gently with that off foot,
takes her distance and her rest, and then with
that ar foot hoverin' round in the air softly,
like an angels wing, and o gentle, dreamy
kind O look in them eyes, she lites outp' The
Man whose Yoke was not Easy is story of the
most powerful imagination and sudden tragedy.
1t is one of the sketches that fairly entitle Mr..
Harte to wide and lasting praise of striking
and original literary genius. The Hoodlum
Band is a condensed novel and rather common
place. The Man on the Beach is not among
Mr.. Harts's best stcrIes-it has not the tone of
reality or the fineness of his best work. With
the Entrees Is clever and well carried out.
The Office Seeker should be printed for dstri-
button as an effsotive tract for the politically
ambitious. Five O'Clock in the Morning Is an
exceedingly well done glimpse Of the wakenipg
of great city, at the hour when all revels are
over and the daylight makes the gaslight and
its glamour fade and grow ugly, and the busy
world of the workers awakes aud strs. On
the whole this volume fairly and we'll repre-.
sents Mr.. Bret Harte's style in the telling
sketches in which he is an acknowledged artist
Boston: j. r. Osgood; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmony.
= The Golden Treasure Boston: White, Smith
& Co. Portland: Ira Stockbrldge) is a collec-
tion Of psalm tunes, anthems, and part-songs
for choir and convention practice, arranged by
Mr.. T. p. Ryder of Boston, who has had much
experience in such matters. Many of the
tunes are of his own competition, and are of
perhaps average merit. In hasty examination
of the volume, oae is amused and little exas.
perated to find Tedrai Cdriao and the King of
Thule converted to purposes of the sanctuary
and figuring as hymn tunes. Don Giovanni as
psalmist is too much in the line of "the devil
monk would be-" and the charming, medita-
tive splnning-song of Marguerite is uncomfort-
ably twisted and fitted to the hymn, They who
seek the throne of grace. If such things were
not the most purposeless treason to music they
would be subject for laughter; but in no de-
pattment of art-unless it be when Raphaers
chsrubs are autographed for the adorning of
tooth-powder bottles-is SO bad taste and 60 lit
tie conscience or sense of the fitness of things
displayed as in this matter of conveying tunes
to church from the opera or concert-room
Either music means something or nothing: if
an air be suited to the pretty coquetries of Ze-
lima, or the song of the hard-drinking, high
couraged old king in Thule, true till his day of
death-that melody is obviously worse than
meaningless when set to the words of some ia
miliar hymn. Every musical work that has
any worth has its own significance, either of
feeling or of technical thematic structure; and
those who will deny the simple truth of this
theory will find much ghostly comfort in "that
blessed word, Mesopotama.'
The Bible for Learners (Boston: Roberts
Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony
is translation from the Dutch of DIR. Ort, pro-
fessor OF Oriental languages at Amsterdam,
and DIR. Hooykaas, pastor at Rotterdam, with
the assistance of DR.. A. Kuenen, professor of
theology at Leiden. OF the two volumes at
present issued the first includes the generations
before Moses and from Moses to David. Vol.
End gives Kings and Prophets; beside an index
to the Old Testament. A Sd volume is prom :
ised which shall contain the New Testament
These volumes are in the same spirit of free,
yet Heaven and self-respscting enquiry with
other religious publications lately issuing from
the Dutch school of thinkers, presenting a fine
mixture of Difference for true authority with
healthful challenging of the traditions of the
elders-and of the youngers.
Whoever, attracted by the honey of free in
quiry, looks here to find the casting off the con-
straints of the true Christian religion will find
himself only under still stronger bonds whose
obligations both faith and reason compel him
to acknowledge. To many the idea of new
translation of the sacred Word gives a painful
shock. Yet when it is seen how useful this
may be as commentary whose new rendering
departs only enough from the old to illuminate
its spirit, much of this right, natural feeling en-
lists itself upon the other side, finding old fad
ed coloring restored, outlines made clear, fore
and background lightened, and carefal connec-
ton made of disiointed parts. The maps and
index also afford much help for reference; clear
types and plain, tasteful binding are in style
suited to the text.
A suggestive and useful little work is DIR. 81.
G. Angels How to Take Care of our Eyes
(Bsston; Roberts Brothers; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmony DR.. Augell has wide and
we'll merited reputation as one of the first
oculists of the country, and his. practical skill,
profoul scientific knowledge and sympathetic
insight contribute to his success together. The
present volume is written for popular use; as
free from technical terms as may be, and those
which occur IN it are carefully and clearly ex.
planned. The causes, prevention and cure of
weak and defective sight are treated in a sens-
BILE and exceeding pleasant manner. The good
that such book as this may do. is incalcula-
ble-directing, as it does, the popular attention
to the weaknesses and diseases Of the eye,
which overwork, carelessness of use, bad light
or position may produce and develope; and
which care and simple means of remedy may
prevent or lessen. Dr.. Angell's book should be
in the hands of those who have the daily care
or education of children, in the hands of stu
dents, Of literary workers--and indeed of all
In the Trilemma the author offers three
propositions, among which, he AYERS, choice
must be made; these are endless punishment,
or entire restoration, or the survival of the
fttest. He holds to the latter doctrine, which
it might seem there will be, as in Selkirk's
dominion, none to dispute. Who are the
fittest will still be the open question, to be
decided between free grace, election, faith