The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-08
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE.

iuborn gift of the historan-which includes
the vivid and admirably sustained interest
which he imparts to his work. In so fine and
complete history, little error stands out in
full relief; even so slight as the mistranslation
of old French in the footnote to p. rs, Vol.
H., which says that Montgomery was reported
to bear con his escu tcheon man pierced by a
lance (un heaume perez dune lance) in allu-
sion to the accident by which he had given
Henry the Second his mortal wound in the
ioust at Tournelles." 1t could only have been
in the haste Of transcribing that Professor
Baird would have confounded hea aH1e helmet
with homme and as the wound received by
Henry ii. was in the head, the helmet with
out the whole king would have sufficed to
Montgomery's escutcheon. Such slight errors
as this, however, not at all affect the worth of
Prof Baird's exceedingly valuable and inter-
esting work.
BIessrs Harper of New York (Portland Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony publish fine, large and
substantial Latin Dictionary, founded on the
translation of Andrewss edition Of Freund's
Latin German lexicon, which is now re-
written, corrected and much enlarged by Drs.
Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short. The
science Of language has made great march in
recent years. Ancient manuscripts have con-
firmed and corrected existing theories concern
ing classic texts; and comparative philology
has detected fine shades of meaning and deri-
vations of words. The editors of the Diction-
airy have availed themselves of the fullest and
latest researches into the treasure-houses of
speech; and accuracy is insured by careful
proof-reading and the general thoroughness OF
every detail OF bookmaking which character
ICES the publications of the IIarpers
Another aid to the student of olden litera-
ture is Mr.. Frederick g. Ireland's convenient
little Pocket Classical Dictionary--which, side
by side with the Lexicon just reviewed, looks
like mouse hob-a-nobbing with mammoth
Nevertheless, this mouse will be able to gnaw
the net of classical allusion in which may be
caught some young lion Of all undergraduate.
In plain words-ths is an exceedingly handy
and useful little book of reference, when, as so
often occurs in reading, some allusion to an
cient myth or legend battles the memory. The
yPO lo SlO"lJ tO p"AeS oiiVio "AiA W sAAS
point and the entire volume well arranged.
In the list of books received, printed in the
Press of last Saturday, the price of this little
Classical Dictionary was set down, by mistake,
at 1925. 1t should have been 70 cents a very
small price for so much condensed learning.
published by Messrs G. p. Putnams Sons,
New York For sale by Loring, Short & Har-
mon.
An exceedingly attractive and timely con-
tribution to historical literature is the transla-
ton by i. B. Long of the History of Russia, a
work crowned by the French Academy,
written by NJ. Alfred Rambaud, Chief of the
Cabinet Of the Minister of Public Instruction
and Fine Arts at Paris; Corresponding Mem
ber of the Academy of Sciences at st. Peters
burg, etc., ETC. The translation has been
edited by Mr.. Nathan II. Dole, who adds to it
History of the Turco-Russian war of 1878
Russia is a country which, somewhat remote
in distance from the centres of civilization-is
yet more remote in sentiment. Few readers
have any clear idea Of Russia; superb barbaric
palaces, sledges, ladies wrapped in fur, codhi,
droScbkies, with sombre background of ST.
IBERIA, the whole illuminated by the romances
Of TourguGneff- up the nebulous Russia
of our imaginations. But the actual Russia
has not lacked a history-it has not had such
happiness. NJ Alfred Rambaud still young
man, has thoroughly qualified himself for his
work by visits to Russia and by wide and criti-
cal knowledge Of Russian literature. the geog-
raphy, the primitive conditions, the medieval
saints and heroes the later rulers of the coun-
try are described in a manner both brilliant
and solid The reign OF Catharine is the SUBJ
iect Of fine treatment, as is the time Of Ivan
the Terrible. The first volume-published for
subscription, by Messrs. Estes & Lauriat OF
Boston-ncludes the period of Russian history
as far as the year 1852; and two other volumes
to follow, carry the recital down to 1873
Print and paper are fine, and the binding sub
stantial. The volume is illustrated by some
fine steel engravings and maps, and by nrmer-
Gus excellent woad-cuts
Recreations in Astronomy, by DIR. Henry
White Warren New York: Harper Brothers;
Portland; Loring, Short & Harmony is popu-
lar treatise upon the wonders OF the heavens.
Creative Processes and Progress, Celestial
Measurements, the Sun, Planets as Individ-
uals, the Stellar System, the World and the
Word are some of the titles of chapters. The
work is written from religious standpoint,
quite as much as from scientific principles.
Illustrations and maps are added to the letter.
press.
Mr.. Bret Harte's latest volume of short sto-
res, The Twins of Table Mountain, Boston:
TT g. OcooaJ. poptlop1. I Corno Short
& Harmony is, on the whole, not in the au-
thor's best vein. The first story, which gives
the book its title, is written in Mr.. Harte's
distinctive manner; but, one would say, with
effort and constant reference to his former
writings. There is the same stock company OF
actors, but not the same free action that was
SO refreshing in the authors stories. Former
ly, Mr.. Harte would let fly nugget through
our front windows; now he politely offers us
pyrites. There are good touches in the story,
but it is not in Mr. Harte'S rapid and strong
style Of old. An Heiress of Red Dog is, how
ever, in the genuine vein. Mr.. Jack Hamlin
appears in it-and of course makes things diff
ficult for tue wicked, and lively for the virtu-
Gus. When in the course of inhuman events it
became necessary Tor Mr. Harte thought it did
to remove Mr.. Jack Hamlin from the card
tables of the world the world was greatly
loser. Tears were shed for Mr.. Jack
Hamlin by readers who were ignorant Of eucre,
and who considered poker as an instrument
FOR the stirring of the neither flames. Mr..
Hanlin took his posthumous revenge. Mr..
Harte could not got on without him. Per
ceiving this, Mr.. Harte now gives himself up
to "reminiscences, and tells us Of Mr.. Jack
Hamlin's doings in those happier days. As
man, memory or ghost, however, Mr.. Hamlin
is Mr.. Hartes right bower, and the latter
knows it. The Great Deadwood Mystery is
fairly successful attempt TO show what hap
pens when Western life meets Boston culture
and an irresistible force strikes an insurmount-
able obstacle. A Legend of Sammstadt is
good and very ingenious comedy. Views from
German Spion is reminiscence of days
abroad.
The Prehistoric World, Translated from
the French of NJ. Ellie Berthet (Philadelphia:
Porter & Coates; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony is, Notwithstanding its somewhat