The Portland daily press., 1879-05-03
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 8.

OF the Lotus-eaters, in Mr.. Tennyson's poem.
The close of the epic is exceedingly fine and
would have been able alone, with much less
introduction of modern reflection in the body
of the poem, to have made the point which the
of the parallels are, it must be conceded that
Mr.. Morris has done his work as well as it
could be done In his chosen way. He will take
place among the best of English poets; his
freshness, directness and entire purity OF
thought his music and grace of words and his
dramatic power promise much for Mr.. Morris's
future.
Mr.. Frank R. Stockton's delightful Rudder
Grange, which has appeared as serial in re.
cent numbers Of Scrbner's Magazine, is pub
hshed-and 10 exquisite taste of binding and
decoration-by Messrs. Scribner Of New York
portland: Loring, Short &. Harmon( The
charm of Mr.. Stockton's humor is very nearly
akin to that of Pinafcre-though his manner of
setting forth his comic corceits is entirely his
own. The grave, reasonable expression of nm
reason, the quiet acceptance of the impossible,
and the delicious xaggeraton by understate-
ment are the qualities of Rudder Grange which
render it irresistible. The characters are ex-
cellent; the master Of the house, kind, open to
conviction, and full of admiration for the clev-
erness of his Euphemia; the wife, with every
trait OF lovable woman just enough exagger-
atad to make her irresistiby amusing; Pomona,
the domestic, with her theories of life based on
Beadle's Dime Novels; the bcarder with bis in
tricate connections by marriage; and several
minor characters-not forgetting Lord Edward
the watchdog-are actors in successive scenes
of genuine comedy. Rudder Grange is an ideal
book to take into the country for summer read
ing.
The Great italian and French composers, by
George 7. Ferris New York: d. Appleton &
Co.; Portland: Dresser & McLellan) gives q
rapid and agreeable sketch of the most promi-
nent composers of Italy and France, from Pal
estrina to Gounod. There is much that is read
able as we'll as valuable in it; and it contains
numerous anecdotes of musicians. Mr.. Ferris
writes with warmth, and most of his remarks
are judicious, while musicians will discount a
little from some of his estimates. His style is
very good, bright, pleasant and dignifed with
out affectation. These companion volumes up
on the great composers should be in the hands
of all music-lovers, and will not fail to afford
both profit and enjoyment
The PRESS is indebted to the courtesy of
Messrs. Scribner for the bound volume of their
Monthly Magazine. The richly embossed olive
green binding inclodes the numbers from No
vember to April 1889. No magazine in
America the paradise of periodicals-is supe.
rior to Scribner's in variety and worth of read.
ing matter, and beauty of illustrations. The
latter are notable for the originality both Of
design and treatment--so that the subscriber tc
this magazine has great opportunities for en-.
joyment in an artistic way as well as in the va
ried departments of literature which it repre-
sents. 1t is a remarkably well-managed maya.
zine, constantly and generously supplying the
popular need Of good ard agreeable reading.