The Portland daily press., 1880-11-20
Recent Publications.

Our Poetlcal FavorItes. Edited by Prof.
Asahel G. Kendrick (Bos.on: j. r. Osgood &
Co.; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony 1t
is certain that no two readers and admirers of
the rich treasures of poetry which belong to
English literature would, in making collec-
tion Of their favorite poems, choose altogether
alike; but it would be strange taste indeed,
that did not find very many of its chosen ones
in this admirable volume of Prof Hendricks
arrangement. Modern writers are largely rep
resented, and the variety and excellence of
the selections are notable. Here, too, are po-
ems which use and the affection of many
years have made familiar without wearing
away their charm. The volume, which, by
the way, concludes series of three similar
collections-is evidently the work of gentle
man of wide and elegant learning as we'll as of
the natural instinct which appreciates the
most varied and opposite methods of poetic
art, so that art be genuine. Among the holi-
day books that will tempt the buyers and de-
light the recipients of Christmas gifts, few
can surpass this one in attractiveness and in
lasting enjoyment.
Another valuable and elegant volume of se-
lected poems is entitled American Poems and
contains representative verse by Longfellow,
Whittier, Bryant, Holmes, Lowell and Emer-
son. Boston: Houghton & Mf1in; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony 1t is especially
designed for young people, to acquaint them
with the longer poems of these eminent
singers of our own time and country-poems
which, because of their length, are not usual
ly found in the collections of poetry for school
and home reading. The editor Of the volume
has given short and very excellent biographi-
cal sketches of the poets represented, and
many foot-notes aid in the full appreciation
and understanding of the text. The work is
elegantly bound, and letterpress, paper and
illustrations are of corresponding excellence
rendering this a choice holiday gift-book as
well as one which will not fail to be of great
benefit to the literary taste of young people.
New Colorado and the Santa Fe Trail By
A. A. Hayes, Jr. (New York: Harpers; Port.
land: Loring, Short & Harmony. A
portion of the contents of this vol
ume, which is full of live interest and
practical information concerning the Colorado
region-has already appeared with the illus
trations, in Harper's Magazine. New chap
ters have been added to the original series upon
the health-giving properties of Colorado,
written by DIR. S. E. Solly. Mr.. Hayes sees
clearly and writes graphically. He enjoys to
the full the brilliant atmosphere, the wild
scenery, the rapid and adventurous life of the
West; but with the keen practical sense of a
business man he looks at bonanzas and stock
ranches with careful reckoning of their
profits in dollars and cents. His computations
will be found valuable to those thinking of
trying their luck in Colorado-dpropo of
which he quoted Mr. John Oakhurst upon the
speciality of the latter gentleman: "The only
thing certain about luck is that it's bound to
change" Mr.. Hayes's pictures of life at the
mines and on the ranches are exceedingly
graphic and strong, and the stories he tells
of "road agents and stage-drivers, of miners
and herdsmer have the genuine western flavor.
Year of Wreck. (New York: Harpers;
Portland: Loring, Short & HARMONY, is one of
the volumes which follow in the train of an
emihently successful work-in this case, the
FOOLS Errand was the motive power. Al
though it is not to be compared in value, sug-
gestions or judgment with that extraordinary
book, the Year of Wreck is worth careful
reading. The principal character of the book,
who tells his own story, sets forth for the
South with no such high motive as did Judge
Tourgees hero. He went to the South with
the idea of bettering his fortunes by working a
cotton plantation with the free colored
hnn1 IL L,I L.
of solving any political or humane
problem, but to see what could be done by a
Northerner in the way of developing the re-
sources of section of land, situated on the
banks of the Mississippi. The story is written
plaialy and well, and gives a strong and un-
attractive view of the difficulties which the
political and social conditions, the, people and
the inhospitable climate of the South offer to
the Northern settler. 1t throws light upon the
subject from a somewhat different side than
the standpoint of Judge Tourgee; and in it's
way is volume of much practical worth and
interest.
Another volume, How l Found 1t, North
and South, together with Mary's Statement
Boston: Lee & Shepard; Portland: Loring
snort q Harmony, is in a similar vein to the
Year of Wreck, but takes the subject in its
aspects regarding family life and comfort,
rather than as to business speculation. At the
beginning of the story, the hero, a New Eng
land farmer, tells in pleasant fashion the
story of his marriage and subsequent purchase
of a farm. Failing to make money as fast as
he would like to do, he concludes to move
South and, leaving his wife at the North until
home should be made ready for her, he takes
his boys and tries, with their aid, to make a
plantation pay. The end of the experiment is
they return to the North, satisfied that home
is the best place. Marys Statement gives a
homely but pleasant picture of New England
life, and ends the book in more cheerful fash
ion than the Southern experiences would have
dones The authors style is plain and unpre-
tending, which reconciles the reader to faults
OF English grammar and phrase