The Portland daily press., 1878-11-02

inNiin0u " pelleVe tnaG tne STORY readS better
! as it is published from month to month than
it will read between muslin coyers,-and for
thls reason: the descriptions of Ulva and
Colonsay and Staffa are charming for once
we do not even mind repetition OF them
each month, for in the intervals between the
repetitions we half or wholly forget
the descriptions; when, however, we
set ourselves to read the book at two
or three sittings and find the Erisgeir
rocks, and the green shores Of Ulya
and Staffa all shining in the sunlight, and
the point of Gometra, confronting us at
every other page, shall we not feel dreadully
weared, and sympathize with Gertrude
White in her nervous impatience?
"A correspondent of a Boston paper fumes
because the giving of concerts ''has de-
generated into money making business"
SIT is strain on modern civilization" he
says. Seemingly he objects to paying for
concert tickets. As far as he goes he is in
sympathy with those of our fellow citizens
who believe that payment for anything-ex-
cept by note-is relic of barbarism which
should be done away with. Doubtless this
"Concert- -Goer" would have no objection to
paying for his concert ticket with a note that
was never to be redeemed. That surely
would do away with the ''money.making
business he so strongly condemns.
Edison, judging him from accounts that
appear in the newspapers and magazines.
quite realizes the popular idea OF a genius, a
A,,+ls -.
good for nothing in common affairs. 1t ap-
pears, by an article in Scribner's, that he has
spoiled about everything, except inventions,
he has undertaken. He started in business
as train.boy, built laboratory in the cor
ner of baggage car, and while experiment.
ing with the chemicals, blew up the car.
Shortly after,-a few minutes after, in fact
he went out of that business. Then he be-
took himself to to the study of telegraphy
got situation as operator, but never could
confine himself to his post, and after wreck
ing Two or three trains was discharged. His
revenge for that discharge was the invention
of an instrument that has doubled the facili-
ties of telegraphy. Certainly he approaches
periiously near the usual conception of a ge-
nius-a man who is fool in all things but
one, and extraordinarily clever in that one.
Speaking of Scribner's one fiuds the al
legged portrait of Mr.. Longfeow very unsatis-
factory. 1t is handsome head, and doubt
less good work of art and all that, but it
doesn't look like Mr.. Longfelow.
Commenting on the fast time now made
hu hal rE,1 do
veopment OF speed Of late, the Boston Post
asks: "Why don't the men improve as rap
idlyW They do, they do; there are great
many more fast men than there used to be.
Isn't there some cant and much incon-
siderate haste in the outcry against the dime
novel and the boys stoiy paper? Haven't
boys always run away, betaken themselves to
strange courses, wandered into forbidden
paths, and long before Faust and Gutenberg
lived? How many runaways has "Robinson
Crusoe", that no one condemns, inspired?
Do not books Of considerable reputation.
found in respectable libraries, produce like
effect upon imaginative minds? Yorick re-
members finding in his boyhood tattered
copy of"Paul Clifford" and drinking in deep
delight of robbery as he lay under the friendly
shadow of bed in the guest.chamber. He
was almost persuaded to be highwayman.
and had the facilities in the quiet little coun-
try village been greater would perhaps have
taken to the road. A better book than "Paul
Clifford, has something the same effect.
Scott's "Pirate" awakens desire to be a
wicked rover upon the seas. Boys are sharp
enough to see that Cleveland, had he not
hung about the dark-haired Minna so long.
might have escaped to plunder many rich-la.
den vessels, and as the boy is not usually SEN
timental and has poor opinion of girls, he
naturally thinks he could avoid Cleveland's
fault. Besides, boys are taught to believe
that tagging is mean thing, and their
logic, not corrected by contact with men and
affairs, leads them to the conclusion that the
Gagged" be man or woman.
Other saunterers along the pleasant paths
of literature doubtless have slowed away sin
some odd corner of the brain," wise things or
witty, gathered from miscellaneous reading.
that they are too indolent to forget. From
Iucm IoriCh WUulu ike 10 near, and Will
heartily welcome them as contributors to his
literary rag-bag. Nor them alone He be-
seeches the aid of the students as well. 1t
matters not whether one 'shas been at the
great feast OF languages or stolen the scraps'',
whether one be vagrant or tourist, be travel
ing with the object of getting somewhere or
for the pleasure OF the journey, whether he
wear the TESTERS cap or the scholars gown,
the elegant garments of the society-leader,
the careless dress of the man of affairs, or the
blouse of the laborer,-if he can add patch
to the Joseph's Coat of this column, he is in
vited to bring in the cloth. IT it doesn't suit
it can be rejected. To begin with Yorick will
open the round game with query, and who.
ever answers it shall have a decoration of
mandarin Of the gilt button,-a proper litera-
ry distinction. Who is the author of these
lines?
After singing-silence. After roses-thorns,
All the darkest midnights built ON golden morns
After fowermg-fadng. Bitter after sweet.
Yellow fields of stubble after rpening wheat
After gurging waters-dry, unsightly beds.
After exutaton-lovely dropping heads.
Who's got the button?