The Portland daily press., 1880-11-27
SATURDAY MORNING, NOV. "a.

than during the period of the last ten years
1t is a new renaissance of less pretension, more
genuine and healthy feeling and less theatrical
posing-though it does not at all lack its Pre-
cieuses Ridicules, one must admit-than the
epochs of determined and deliberate classicism
that have occasionally arisen. We of our day
are interested to know how our very great
grandfathers spoke, and wrote their familiar
letters, and amused themselves. and had their
loves and hates-a all at one now; as well as the
fashion of their garments or the rules of their
architecture. Mr.. W. Baptiste Scoones has
selected, with excellent Judgment, from the
immeasurable mass of English letters, the ma
terial of a volume which represents with va
riety and spirit, the gradually changing style of
lettei-writing from the year 1850 TO 1861. Ac-
cordingly, the reader will find in these pages
sketches of the manners of the last four Gen.
turtles taken from the very life; and it is with
great interest tn 1t he will turn to such potent
signature as Henry VII, Cardinal Wolsey, Sir
Francis Drake; Isaac Walton, Waller, Milton,
Steele, Cibber, Burke, William Blake, and a
host of others. Mr.. Scoones is to be much
congratulated upon the research, good taste,
and literary skill which the volume evidences
1t is solid and exceedingly valuable addition
to English literature.
A large and handsome volume contains bio
graphical skethes of the Ladies of the White
House, with engraved portraits. Mrs. Laura
c. Holloway is the author of the biographies,
which give interesting accounts of the wives
and daughters OF the Presidents, beginning with
tue stately Martha Washington and concluding
the series of historic portraits with the spirited
and charming face of Mrs. Hayes. Much 81
lent influence is exerted upon the political
course of an administration by the women of
the Presidential family and the nation has
been fortunate in the worth and dignity of the
ladies who have presided at the White House.
The engravings are excellent, after portraits
and photographs, and letterpress, paper and
type are of corresponding quality. 1t is vol
ume interesting to every citizen of the United
States, and useful and valuable as a study of
the social side of politics. The Ladies of the
White House is published by Bradley & Co. of
Philadelphia. This city will be canvassed for
the sale of the volume by lady whom the
Press takes pleasure in commencing to the
courteous reception of its readers.
Messrs I. x. Funk add to the treasures of
their Standard Series second volume of the
brilliant and fascinating salon Of Nine. Neck
er, edited by her grandson Othenin D'Hausson-
vile, wherein the manners Of the period are
painted with wonderful vivacity and color;
Godsmith's satirical Letter from Citizen of
the World to his Friends in the East; trans,
lation of ia Thouuhtc Of Mor
Aurelius Antoninus, edited by Mr.. George
Long; Rev. Charles Kingsley's tales of the
olden Hermits, of which the manner is SO fine
and the matter so learned and curious; Pulpit
Table-Talk, by the Dean of Edinburgh; Lacon
avolume Of sententious reflections by Rev. C.
G. Cotton, of Kings College, England; All
amusing and gossipy series of sketches which
their author, Mr.. G.. A. Sala, names America
r visited; and Mr.. Surgeons John Plough
mans Pictures and The Bible and the News
paper-which latter work does little credit to
either of the authorities referred to.
Farm Homes. Indoors and Outdoors By
e. II. Leland. (New York: Orange Judd
Company. This is a bright and sensible lit
tie volume of hints for housebuilding and
house-furnishing, and housekeeping in the
country. ! t is practical and pleasant work,
full of good hints for comfort and economy,
and will be as useful as it is attractive. Its
tasteful binding fits it to be pretty and ac-
ceptable holiday gift to housekeepers; and
whoever gives it to mother, wife or sister may
confidently expect to reap the benefit in the
many comforts and ornaments which will be
ct its suggestion, added to the home.
New numbers of Messrs Harpers Franklin
Square Series cortland: Loring, Short s. Har
mon) are Cast up by the Sea, story for boys
written by Sir Samuel Baker. and as full O.
adventure and marvellous experiences as
dime WORTHWHILE it may be commended il
literary and moral tone; Horace Mclean,
quite powerful and pleasant story BY Alic,
O'Hanlon; and Clear Shining after Rain, a,
extraordinarily silly novel by G. G. Hamil
ton.
Recent issues in Messrs. Appleton's Handy
Volume Series are translation of the Mar
quis di Caenzano's sketches of French Men Of
Letters-enthusiastic and Gallo in quality; a
well written and compact biography of Glad
stone by Mr.. Charles 81. Jones, who condenses
his copious material with good Judgment; ant
The Foresters, novel translated from tn,
German of Auerbach, which gives vivid pic
lures of the social life of German village
(For sale by Hoyt, Fogg & Donham)
Day of Fate. By Rev. E. P Roe. (Nev
York: Dodd g. Mead; Portland: Lorng, Shor1
q Harmony is lively and quite entertaining
story. of average literary merit, and by M
means as ambitiously sensational in style as
the title might lead the reader to expect. The
novel is written with good feeling, and with {
degree of skill in poitraying the homely and
peaceful life of family of Friends with thei
visitors-the latter supplying the romantic Gle
ment of the story.
The Hour will Come. From the German OF
Wilhelmine Won Hillern. By Clara Bell. New
York: w. S. Gottsberger: Portland: Lorinp
Short & Harmony. A somewhat powerful
but exceedingly disagreeable story of an AL
pine monastery. 1t has some picturesque pas
sages and degree of dramatic force, but il
productive of more pain than pleasure to the
reader.
Messrs. j. Fitzgerald & Co. of New Yorl
publish in the cheap and convenient Humbold
Library series Professor Pietro BIaserna's ad
mirable treatise upon the Theory of Sound il
its Relation to Music-a volume which. il
in another edition, has been reviewed at con
siderable length in these columns
Messrs. Funk also publish biography O.
Spurgeon by Rev. William FL. Yarrow.
Books Received.
An Egyptian Princess. By Georg Ebers
Author of "Carda," etc. From the German. b,
Eleanor Grove. In two Volumes, Paper, 1922 an,
1868 pp., 40 cents a volume. New York: William
s. GotBsberger. Portland: Loring, Short g. Har
mon.
Farm Houses; Indoors aud Out.Doors
" y Il Ill