The Portland daily press., 1879-02-01

Il
which those quoted are only q few. anecdotes
from various sources are grouped to show the
| action OF these traits in DR.. johnson. An
| Introductory page gives q list of the principal
events OF bis life with dates appended. 1t may
justly be said of the work that it is methodicsl
and well-arrssged; and presents many very in
teresting and valuable points in regard to its
subject. Together with some memoirs of DR..
Johnson-and there have been several good
biographies of him lately published-Mr. Ma
sons volume will be found great aid to the
understanding of DR.. Johnson's character and
life.
Twelve.Months in Europe Washington: j,
bradley Adams) is written by Hon. Horatio
King, Ex-Postmaster-Gs General. It's a simple
and uupretending journal, bat hardly. In a
literary sense, worth printing, for the route IL
describes has become so familiar to a large pro-
portion of the authors countrymen that a
book OF European travel should possess de-
cided merits of appreciation and expression 10
excite interest. Mr.. King is evidently not
especially posted in the matters of art and
history tnat associate themselves with Europe
and his work has merely the interest of an
honest and unaffected bat Commonplace de-
scription.
The pygmy army Of Half Hour volumes stead
lily advances 10 solid files Its recent numbers
are an interesting Primer of Spanish Litera-
ture, by Mrs. Helen s. Conant; Mr.. Henry
James's lively, piquant and discussion proyok-
isg Daisy Miller; Mr Edwin P. Whippls's
able and spprecia tive "reminiscences of Rufus
Choate; and Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefeld-
how quantity surprised DR.. Primrose would be
TO see his Olivia and Sophia the beroiues Of a
stage play, aud setting the mode for caps and
kerchiefs! New York: Harper Bros Port
and: l.oring, Snort & Harmony
Now that the holidays are fairly over and
gone, novels assert themselves again. 10
While away the long winter evenings. Messrs.
Appleton & Co. of New York portland:
Dresser & McLellan) publish a pleassn,
and very feminine story by Ada Cambridge.
Ii is very sweetly told, and though at times IL
Is mildly silly, is usually lively and particular
ly readable. Modern Fishers of Men. an
anonymous story, has a fishhook set up like an
Interrogation mark for all its signature. II
Is rattling story, of perhaps average
merit, and is well intended, Tales from the
German of Paul Heyss are well translated.
aud p'efaced by an interesting sketch of the
author. Of these stories L'Anabbiata is the
most artistic, and is remarkable for its idylic
beauty and simplicity of treatment. The
other tales have merit, thcogh in somewhat
less degree.
Tie new series of No Name volumes (Bos-
tou: Rjbsrts Brothers; Portland: Loring.
Short & Harmony begins most briliautly with
a novel entitled Signer MonaldinPs Niece.
liz Is not too much to sS of it that it is rothinp
less tnan exquisite. 10 1t the beauty of words
touches the border.laad of poetry, and the rich.
ness and dellcacy OF its fancy are extraor.
dinary. It is brilliant, fsrvent and pure AZ a
flame. Whoever the writer may be, she-for
it surely is the work of a woman's haud-must
possess a rarey sensitive artist-nature. pene-
trated with tie sad sunlight and the ancient
shadows and the Immortal gladness of ths
Rome OF today. The story has no lack of
motive or 'f movement, indeed over-criticism
might ssythe finale is hurried and crowded:
but the reader will not think 50, any more
than be would criticize the sudden shining of
the suh out of thunder cloud as too bizarrea a
hgure In black and gold. Camilla, the heroine.
is tbe most exquisltely noble and passionate
creation OF recent fiction; and her figure is
painted with delicate but telling touch. The
enthusiasm that seems little cold and far-otf.
the vagus exaltation of very young girl,
appears the living, moving soul of passionate
woman as the story progresses. The hero is
very tine also; man, whose gtately bearing
erave, soor~~~y ~eN sVr0EK ara1r are ciearly de-
picted The sketches of social life i'm Roma a,o
rapuiy uVue, "iSn eno o"So anu suroneSs q
practised hand and thorough Acquaintance
with the subject Signor Monaldini's Niece is
the most brilliant and poetic novel Of the day,
and reading it quickly, as one is tempted to do,
in haste to know its result, it is fairly neces-
sary to retrace the path through its pages to
enjoy folly every delicate aud glowing beauty
that it offers.