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

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Recent Publications.
Marmorne, the most recent volume of the
No Name Series (Boston: Roberts Brothers;
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony is a novel
admirable and artistic throughout; and i'm
measurably superior to the most Of the other
romances of the series. With the exception of
Will Denbigh-a very good work in its own
pleasant way-the novels of the No Name
series have been marked by curious incomplete
ness, that savored of literary affectation; they
appeared to be an outgrowth of certain ambi-
tious and impractical theories of ease, art and
power in novel writing peculiar to the aspirant
after Couture" Marmorne is clearly the work
OF a well trained hand. Those who know and
enjoy the beautiful writings of Mr.. Philip Gil
bert Hamerton will hardly fail to recognize in
Marmorne sufficient resemblance to his work to
justify its claim to so honorable an origin. 1t
has the point, delicacy and sureness of Mr..
Hamerton's touch-in his literary work is
always to be felt his quality of the etcher; one
constantly notes the sympathetic emphasis Of
the needle, the clearness and fine decision of
an art where every stroke is indelible More
over there is a certain colorlessness, not the
result Of any lack of feeling, but the literary
tone which would naturally be acquired by an
artist who draws as he writes, in black and
white. This is not to say that Marmorne needs
more plot or more vivid delinearion-the first is
admirably original, strong and effective; the
second finely touched with the subtlety and
point of the best French novelists and nobil-
ity and genuine delicacy that they. usually fall
to reach, by some overstra aimed sentiment, or
desire of effect Marmorne is a psychological
story, but, happily, with enough outside motion
and interest to keep it from morbid mouliiness
The heroine, Ada, is a character that very few
noyelists would have drawn successfully; the
battling and unresponsive traits that are almost
unperceived in the splendors Of her beauty and
happiness, until singular mental malady is
developed from those traits; the impassive apa-
thy into which she falls, the sadness of her
arousing, and the painful memories that even
are able to cloud the happiness restored to her,
are drawn in mastery manner. Ada de Mar
morne is scarcely an attractive heroine, but one
follows her fortunes with singular interest. As
to the end Of the romance of Abeille and Adol-
phus-the reader has the right to complain; !;
when stroke of the pen or even no words at all
would have left those charming young people
happy-why was such content denied them?
There was nothing expected of them but to en-
joy-they and the reader are left dissatisfied
The scene where Ada, partially awakened from
her sad stupor, prepares breakfast to celebrate
her lovers expected return, and is compelled
to bs the unwilling hostess of some Prussan
officers is admirably dramatic, and treated with
reserve and power not often equalled. In
brief, Marmorne is novel remarkable for
many traits that combine to stamp it as the
work of a genuine and original artist; who,
familiar with country life in France, entering
into the nature of the country and people he
describes: has been able to write charming,
unique and powerful romance.
Among the Turks, by Cyrus Hamlin, duo
decimo of 1873 pages, issued by Robert Carter
g Brothers, New York, is a contribution
upon the Eastern question by our we'll
known and beloved missionary from Maine,
who has devoted his life to the dissemination
of education and Christianity in the Ottoman
Empire. He sketches briefly the growth of
that empire from its origin A. D. 1900, in an
| obscure tribe of about four hundred families,
| dwelling ON the banks of the river Sangarius
which flows from the Bithynian Olympus into
the Black Sea, until it ruled over many fair
| countries, and argues that its tolerance of
Christian subjects by exempting them from
service in its armies, must eventually result in
| its downfall from the fact that the Turkish
population is at standstill while the Christian
| rapidly increases. He goes on to describe his
| own early experiences in Constantinople in
| 1887, and shows how the Turks ruined their
own manufactures by adopting the English
theories of free trade. Then follow sketches
of his life among the Turks and Armenians,
told in gossipy way with many interesting
anecdotes to illustrate them. He says the
Turks always build a high gate, a "subime
porte" even if they cannot afford to build the
wall itself high. The ceremony of host giving
guest food from his own hand, Mr.. Ham
lin says is a sacred pledge of protection. That
the Sacramental Supper is founded on this
custom which is as old as the human race, and
that the giving of the sop to Judas was sig
nifcant act to make his faithlessness the more
atrocious
Mr.. Hamln alludes to the three systems oil
missionary work advocated by different parties
aud thinks that of educating while you con
vert Is the best. He gives an account of the
founding Of Robert College. Mr. Christopher
r. Robert, of New York, contributed 100000
for the purpose, and it has Greek, Armenian
Bulgarian, German, Italian, French and Turk
ish, as well as American professors. He re
ports that education is rapidly increasing
throughout the empire. and With it religion!
liberty is gaining. The people are growins
more tolerant, and civilization is being devel
oped. But the country is bankrupt. As
prescription for all their evils Mr.. Hamlin pro
poses "Peace, Time, and Education"
An Open Verdict New York: Harper Bro
thers; Portland Loring, Short s. Harmony il
from the pen of Miss Braddon, usually bril-
liant, effective and skilful novelist. This story
however is based on foundation so incongruou
and comically weak that it is really no small
praise to the writer that she-aiding, abstting
propping, hoisting and bracing the totterin!
structure-was able to make of it fairly wei
told tale. There was once upon time W
learn, cruel pareni with one fair daughte
who, without the consent of the conventions
domestic tyrant, became betrothed to a youn
curate. He is the typical English young curate
fond of croquet, weak tea, and open to gifts o
worsted work. He is also jealous and given t
instruction at all times-!hs British cousin c
the ubiquitous hero Of the author of the Wide
Wide World. The heroine, having on one OF
casion roundly asserted her affection for he
lover-and perhaps as an effect of shadow
relieve this too brilliant light--her dislike for he
papa, the Rsv. Cyril Culvsrhouse takes her
task with an indescribable mixture of self Sc
ficiency and morality. Shortly after the fatht
ofBeatrix is found dead. The late mother OF tt
I young lady was an Italian, apparently fond {
indiscriminate flourshes of dagger and bow