The Portland daily press., 1879-10-04
Recent Publications.

Recent PUBLICATIONS..
Lessons from My Masters, Carlyle, Tenny-
son, Ruskin. By Peter Bayne, M. A, LII. D.,
Author of the Chief Actors in the Puritan
Revolution, Life and Letters of Hugh Miller,
ETC., (New York: Harper Brothers; Portland;
Loring Short & Harmon) 1t is not often that
a volume of critical essays appears more ap-
preciative and effective, of more thoroughly
literary quality, or which gives a pleasanter
impression Of its author than does Professor
Bayne's Lessons from My Masters. Some of
the papers which make up the volume were
originally contributed to the Literary World,
but are now revised and extended. The chap
ters upon Ruskin are newly written. 1t was
ths authors plan, he tells us in his preface,
not so much to write critically of Carlyle, Ten
nyson or Ruskin, as to point out to the admi-
ration of his readers the superb traits of these
masters in literature OF course it was not pcs
sible to keep strictly to the line of action thus
laid out-a man with the literary conscience
and keen and delicate appreciation of literary
technique which Prof. Bayne possesses, could
not fail to criticise, both in praise and in dis
praise, many notable passages in the writings
he discusses The dominating quality of his
criticism is sympathetic and self-forgetting ad-
miration for whatever is worthy; and this
warm, unstinted enthusiasm of his is the guar
antee of the soundness of his praises. For he
understands too instinctively and well the ten
denotes and capabilities of the three great au-
thors of when he writes, to let pass any words
of theirs which are unworthy of their best
work. But Professor Bayne writes with the
desire to prove these men great, and rightly
considers that their fame cannot be tarnished
overmucb by the frank admission that they are
not perfect. In the case of Tennyson, it is not
often necessary to "mingle praise with blame
even against the example of 'rusty, fusty
Christopher''-for among the poets of this CEN
tury, no one has reached a more even height
Of many-sided perfection than has Mr.. Tenny-
son. He can hardly be said to have speciality.
He reflects strongly and brilliantly every pass
ing phase Of the civilization of his time and
sets it in words with the utmost skill and mel
ody. Every essay which has been or will be we'll
written upon the English Laureate is so much
direct benefit to the reader who wishes to ap-
preciate the best in literature, and to the stu
dent OF poetry. An indefinite amount of criti-
work, Of which each paragraph should an
nounce some poetic truth, either Of thought or
of musical fitness of wording, which should be
of great use to the literary student. The
changes in his poem Maud, which Mr.. Tenny-
son has thought best to make in recent years,
are noted in an interesting manner by Profes-
sor Bayne. Each essay of the volume con-
tains so much that is notable and which would
be desirable to quote, that special citation
seems partial, and would not fairly represent
the sustained brilliance of the work. 1t is an
admirable volume, written with artistic in
sight, and critical Judgment as generous as
it is Just.
Count Du MoncePs work on the Telephone
Microphone and Phonograph (New York: Har-
per & Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony is valuable manual, presenting in
compact form the astonishing record of recent
discoveries in electric science. The number
of cxperimenters upon the telephone and its
kindred machines, the variety and scope of
their discoveries will greatly interest the read
er, and seventy illustration assist the text.
Count Du Moncel is member of the French
Institute, and has had, of course, every oppor-
tunity for collecting materials for his work.
The translation, authorized, enlarged, and
corrected by the author, may be relied upon
AS readable history of the leading inventions
of the time, this volume will be widely appre-
ciated.
What Mr. Darwin Saw in His Voyage Round
the World in the Ship Beagle. (New York:
Harper & Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmon. This is most delightful and in
structive book for young people. 1t consists of
great number of extracts from Mr.. Darwin's
narrative of his tour around the world; and
except some verbal changes for sake of easier
understanding is in the great naturalists own
words Every child is sure to be interested in
animals, birds, and stories of strange countries
and people. Mr. Darwin's observations are, of
course, scientific and reliable; and persons
who would object to his doctrines of evolution
as tending to lessen the religious faith of young
readers, will not find any expressions of this
theory in the volume. 1t concerns itself simp-
ly with facts, and puts them in pleasant and
graphic manner. Some of the stories-and all
the pictures-will please the little ones though
the general tone of the book suits it for boys
and girls from twelve or fourteen to seventy
five or eighty. The elegance of type, binding
and illustrations, the clear large type and
thick, creamy paper, are specimens of Messrs.
Harpers' book-making.
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnetts latest nov-
ell, Haworth (New York: Charles Scribners
Sons Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony can
be more thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated
in Nc bOolr hon cario1
workmanship is too fine not to lose some of its
effect when set forth in detached numbers. It
is a stronger and ripper work than the authors
Lass O. Lowrie's-less striking, indeed, for it
contains no character of the vivid and fine per-
sonality of Joan Lowrie-but it proves the con-
slant growth of Mrs. Burnett's talent, and is
larger in its scope and more complete IN its in
terest than is the admirable story which pre-