The Portland daily press., 1878-11-09
SATURDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 9.
agreeable one in its excuses of misery, and
gives the reader too little pleasure

agreeable one in its excuses of misery, and
gives the reader too little pleasure.
M. Victor Chetbliez has written-and
Messrs Appleton publish in Englisb form-a
new novel, Jean .Deterors Idea portland:
Dresser & McLellan) 1t by no means equals
his Samuel Brohl-perhaps it is too mucn 10
expect that he should so soon again rise to the
level of that exquisitely Brilliant. healthful,
witty romance-but the extraordinary Verue and
point of M. Chez baliez's style never fail. The
scene where Nine. de Juines, the "woman who
looks on life as penance, and who disciplines
herself on other peoples b.cks," ander mis-
taken impression of identity, allows her niece
to have an interview with Lionel, is in the most
entire spirit of elegant comedy. 1t is always
safe to take up a novel of M. Cher bulez, if one
wishes entertainment.
Cupid and the Sphinx, by Hartford Fleming
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons; Portland:
Loring, Short s. Harmony is named after the
design of Mr.. Story-and is a novel of Egyptian
travel, naturally recalling Miss Dudu Fletch-
ers graceful story upon the same theme 1t Is
well-written, refined and sometimes picturesque
in style, though it has not so penetrating an at.
mosphere Of Egypt as had Miss Fletcher's
work. 1t has the merits of good construction,
easy style, and at least average interest
Behind Blue Glasses, Is a story translated
from the German of F. W. HIGHLANDER by Ma
~ A. Robinson New York: Harper's Half
Hour Series; Portland: Loring, Short & Hsr-
mon). LISA slight, pleasantly told story, and
will pass the prescribed half hour very agrees-
bly, to the reader.
Messrs. Harper publish in their franklin
Square Library portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony Miss Burney's celebrated novel, Eve
lima. In these days of the revival of old fash
ions, the minute record of society of the last
century which Evelina affords. will bs read
with interest. The recent republication in the
same series of Lord Macaulay's essay upon
Miss Burney Mime. d'Afblsyj will heighten
the popular wish to read her romances.
L wonder If the readers of the PRESS are
aware how very interesting Mr.. Thomas Nee
han has made the first volume of his book on
"The native flowers and ferns of the United
ososcc' ~ 10 d uUuh lOr iOfoIb VI
botany or lovers of fowers-much less for
poetical sentimentality is book that inter-
ests and instructs all intelligent readers-min-
Cling philosophy, philology, history, art, horti-
culture. science and poetry, in such an easy.
natural way that the reader is aroused in
structed and benefited, while he thinks he is
reading only for pleasure This first volume
contains plates of forty-sight native flowers
and ferns, some Northern, some Southern some
Western. The plates are chromolithed by
Prang & Co., in their best style from drawings
by Alols Lunzer. They are admirably DONE I
was disposed at first to find little fault with
some as not quite natural; for example, 1
thought his Spring Beauty too high colored; it
certainly was made brighter than those on the
banks OF the Presumpscot. But on reading
found Meehan saying, $50 deep rose (color)
as that shown in onr plate is not however,
often met with; and we selected this speci-
men," &c. After that, concluded that the
plates were good representations of the partcu-
lar flowers given to Mr.. Lunzer to copy. They
are beautiful pictures and also scientifically
correct, and the only fault that can be found
with them is that in two or three instances out
of the fifty the particular specimen is little
handsomer or little palmer than usual; it
does not give perfect idea of the average good
specimen.
1t is equally difficult to find fault with the
text. A few sentences in the 200 pages might
be objected to by fastidious taste; but nothing
more serious has caught my eye than the use
of the word commence" when "begin" is so
much better. Mr.. Meehan's knowledge of
botany and of practical gardening T was well
aware of many years ago; and knew also how
keen an observer, and how original thinker
he was. But was surprised to find how easily
and gracefully he writes upon his theme; and
how naturally his historical, philosophical, and
poetical readings recur to his mind; and either
bubble out in apt quotations, and happy allu-
sions, or lead him to some serious discussion of
the great themes Of modern thought. He is no
partisan for or against the Darwinian craze
but it is evident that while he inclines to treat
Charles Darwin with all the respect that his
wonderful genius and learning demand, he
cannot quite refrain from little quiet and
good-natured fun at the expense of some of his
theories. The scientific remarks are wonder
fully clear; they possess fascination to those
who have any botanical taste; the directions for
cultivation are very plain and practical; the
historical and biological notices of the names
and uses of the plants, and the poeticsl quota
tions would prove attractive. should think, to
every cultivated reader. T.H.