The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-02-16

others upon the subject of Household Art, will
arrive at is that two senses must be added to
the original i've for success in this difficult de-
partment--the sense OF the fitness Of things,
and the sense of the ridiculous.
Field Paths and Green Lanes, by Louis ].
Jennings New York: d. Appleton & Co.;
Portland: Bailey & Noyesl is a series of
charming papers descriptive Of rambles through
the pastoral scenery of Surrey and Sussex
counties, from the pen of gentleman well
known as brilliant and efficient journalist
The volume seems like summer days set sud-
denly in the midst of our winter. The leisurely
careless rambls through the lovely lanes of
England, pausing to notice the bird on the
blackthorn or the breaking of light through the
darkness of the leaves, has an enchantment for
the reader in its contrast with the bracing cold
and the sharp light of our American February
With the tact of the interviewer" Mr.. Jen-
nings was able to gather many very interesting
facts from the inhabitants of the villages
through which he strolled, and he transcribss
these variations with keen enjoyment of their
quaintuess and simplicity. Occasionally the
American and reportvrial personality of Mr..
Jennings is little too obtrusive in the land
scape, for instance, where lie mars sppreciably
the effect Of his talk with the delightfully."- dra-
matte SEXTON of the mould SO mouldy-by his
own too conscious assumption of the part of
Hamlet, aud too evident taking of his cues.
Again he is led-though seldom it is true-to
avail himself of certain Yankee smartnesses
of expression that do not harmonizs with the
Old World scenery aud with his own very
beautiful treatment Of the subject. But these
faults are minor matters indeed, and we have
to thank Mr.. Jennings for one of the most
charming OF volumes in the landscape style in
which modern literature emulates the art of
the painter.
Mr.. E. E. Hales What Career Boston; Rob-
erts Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short s. Har-
mon) is one of the best aud most practical Of
the writings of that good and practical helper
in the worlds work. The genuine, brotherly
and warm philanthropy of Mr.. Hale always
takes the form of helping people to help them
selves; and he sets about such task as the
writing of this book for young men with such
earnestness and conviction that it, overfowing
with generous qualities, imparts them to the
reader This is no didactic address upon the
oUlcmultlcS VI cAletCuCr. IL ID AICous
book by writer whose goodness is kept bright
for use by constant friction of, and contact
with, the world. Mr.. Hale's deltneation of
the independent journal is pointed and
vigorous, and calculated to let in much
fresh air and good sunlight to the minds
of those who. too indolsnt or too narrow
minded to form their own opinions, place reli-
ance upon journals that have not trust in the
country, her representatives or her future.
Every young man who reads Mr.. Hals's What
Career will be the better for it. 1t ia thor
oughly noble and wholehesrted work, while its
literary style is at its authors best character
lied by force, frankness and fervor, without
the verbal extravagances and signs of haste;
which, when they appear in his writings, are
to be more than pardoned to a man whose
hands are so full of work for Heaven and for
mankind.
The Hal-Your Series of Messrs. Harpers
| portland: Loring, Short & Harmony receive
this week valuable addition in two volumes
of Lord Macaulay's Essays, containing respect
| lively the papers entitled John Milton and Lord
Byron, and John Hampden and Lord Bureigb.
Another volume of the series and an exceed
| ingly readable and attractive one, is transla-
tion of Count Moltke's letters from Russia;
which, written to a member of his family, have
the ease and charm of detail of home cores
pondence; and are written in SO manly, sensi-
BILE aud fresh style that the readers enjoy
meut is not marred by any sense of having in-
| truded upon family condolences, but has been
| allowed to hear the agreeable chat of famo as
man
Messrs. Harpers Brothers add to their Libra
ry of Select Novels, Two Tales of Married
Life-a volume which includes two stories, one
| by Mrs. G. NJ. Craik and one by Mrs. M. G.
Sterling. These novels are quite well-written.
but not precisely wholesome or agreeable; while
they have the merit of good intention. port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony