The Portland daily press., 1880-11-06

OF travel in the French provinces; the ideal
school-reverse OF the medal of Dotheboys
Hall, one may be sure; and of the ideal
household, are natural and vivid as the ad :
mirers of M. About would expect. Not the
least of the merits Of this Story of an Honest
Man is the intention with which it was
written to give pleasure to that large and
rightminded class OF readers who reject the
average French novel of which the bon mot
holds true that there is nothing so bad as
French immortality except French morality
Life and Letters of Horace Bushnell IIar-
per & Brothers. very interesting volume
concerning very interesting man. Dr. Bush
nell was horn in 1902 and died in 1876. Origi-
nal and imaginative from his youth, early con-
secrated to the service of Christ, he always
stood fast in the liberty with which Christ had
made him free; he had his own opinions on
points of theology and he uttered them freely;
but always speaking the truth in love- he was
loved and admired even by those who differed
widely from him in opinion. His love for
Christ W as stronger than his speculative in
terest concerning the nature and offices of
Jesus; his love for men and his desire to win
them to righteousness and faith, much strong
er than his desire to convert them to his opin-
ions. 1t is curious to observe from this vol
ume that his intimate friends were both of the
Trinitarian and Unitarian clergy; and equally
drawn to him by his manifest love of Christ
He made strong and deep mark upon the
Congregatonalists of Connecticut; and un-
doubtedly exerted wider influence where it
could not be so easily traced. The writer of
this notice never saw him; but spent a day
once among the White Hills with two gentle
men, and in the evening being asked whom
he took them to be, replied: "They have
said nothing which fixes their profession or
their residence, and they have not mentioned
BUSHNELL but from their largeness of view,
and their earnest yet cheerful religious tone, /
judge them to be Connecticut clergymen of
Bushnells school," And they were, personal
friends also of the great preacher. He was an
honor to his State and mis- denomination: a
source of life and joy to all who came in con-
tact with him. May this memorial volume
prove a refreshment and strength to thousands
OF readers, and encourage many laborer to
faithfulness. The Phi Beta Kappa grafton on
Work and Play contained prophecy of that
which has befallen its author; his work was
his enjoyment, and he has assembled to a high
er service and thus a greater JOY TIL.
Political and Legal Remedies for War, by
Sheldon Amos, late Professor of Jurispru-
dence in London University. (New York:
Harper & Brothers; Portland: Loring. Short &
Harmony is an extended consideration of the
causes and character of war, and its remedies.
1t is work evincing much study Of the historic
progress of nations, and is wise, humane and
moderate in its conclusions. Treating the
subject from the standpoint of jurisprudence,
the author shows the desirability of fixed rules
and principles concerning war, and believes
that arbitration and an increase OF national
moral control will finally lessen the horrid num-
Der of wars. Bet geen man and man already the
duel and the hand-to-hand fight have fallen
into dsrepute; and it is, observes Prof Amos,
only in the relations of nation to nation that
evil passions may do their worst, lawfully and
unreproved 1t deprecates the recklessness with
which some newspapers throw out iucendiary
paragraphs and kindle the spirit of war for some
fancied insult to the nation. Prof. Amos's
volume will not fail to do its humane work
among his English fellow countrymen; and we
Of America. not given to unneces ssary war,
may also profit by the reading of his clear and
judicial remarks upon the subject.
The Fate of Republics Boston: Estes &
Lauriat) is thoughtful and learned work,
presenting in compact form for com parison
the histories of the various republics, from the
Israelitish commonwealth, the republics of
Greece, Rome ard Carthage, the medieval
communes, to the existing republics of our
own time. That the anon ymous author of this
very solid and instructive volume is
not Respondent or skeptical as to
the worth and practicability of repub-
lican forms of government 1.-THE dedica-
cation to Ulysses S. Grant will attest. The
work is designed-by recounting the histories
of republics past and present, and by drawing
just infcrences from their annals-to point out
the perils that threaten. the evil influences
that cause decay, and, not less, the tendencies
that strengthen republics. 1t is an excellent
and timely work, and will suggest, as it en-
bodies much thought and discussion
A Life OF Winfield Scott Hancock New
York: D. Appleton & Co.; Portland: Hoyt,
Fogg & Donham) is a handsomely bound and
we'll printed volume. General Hancock is a
gentleman whose personal record is not ques-
toned for honesty, purity and courage; and
whose memoirs now that they have ceased to
be Of political interest and belong to the de-
partment of military biography-are useful
and agreeable reading. General Hancock is
doing the hest possible fer his party in giving
them an example of political defeat borne in
honorable and dignifed fashion. and in accept
ing the popular voice as>the law of the land,
without appeal. If there be anything in con-
stant practice, the Democratic party will in
time make perfect the art of mastery retreat
English Conferences of Ernest Renan.
Translated by Clara E.. Clement. j. r. Os-
good & Co. Four lectures on the part played
by Rome in the historical development oil
Christianity; and one upon Marcus Aurelius,
delivered in London in April last. The trans
lator has turned Remains French phrases into
good English; but the thought remains in
tensely French. The book is series of "hs-
torical landscapes giving, as Renan thinks,
by "severe processes true views of Rome and
Christianity in the first and second centuries,
but appearing to us highly idealized by a
sensuous imagination, The colors are glaring
and the lights and shadows exaggerated
pages are fascinating with their realism-they
make strong impression, but it is in many
particulars false impression. I. IL.
History Of the English People, by John
Richard Green, NJ A. Vol. w. has been
received from Harper & Brothers, through
Loring, Short & Harmon, and completes the
series, bringing the history down to the battle
of Waterloo and the return of Louis XVIII to
the throne of the Bourbons. Its contents are
s'The fall Of the Stuarts; The House of Han
over; Modern England; The Independence of
America; Industrial England; England and
Revolutionary France; England and Napo-
leon." 1t has also three good maps: "The
Colonies of North America at the declaration
of Independence; Europe after the peace of