The Portland daily press., 1881-10-29

graceless region.
A Short History of Art. By Julia B. De
Forest CNew York: Dodd & Mead; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony. This work, de-
signed as an introductory study to more extern
sive treatises upon the history of art, will be
found useful, compact and well arranged from
standard authorities upon the subject 1t is
well and clearly written, and deserves very
high praise for the convenient and practical
classification of topics. Numerous illustra-
tions afford specimens OF the development CT
art in different times and nations The from
tispiece, The Triumph of Death, from the
Campo Santo at Pisa, is a curious specimen Of
medieval work.
Bacon. By Thomas Fowler, M. A., f. s. A.
Professor of Logic at Oxford University (New
York: G. P. Putnams Sons; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmon). Among the series to which
this monograph beongs-the English Philoso-
phers-it will be found one of the most valu-
able and generally interesting. The writer's
object sis to present the character o. the reyo-
luton which Bacon endeaYored to effect in
scientific method, as well as the nature Of his
philosophical opinions generally, in form in
telligible and interesting to readers who have
no technical acquaintance with logic or philoso-
phy"-in doing which he has excellently sue
ceeded. Not the least merit of his work, how
ever, and productive of pleasure to the readers
of Bacon is the spirited manner in which Pro-
fessor Fowler endeavors to dispel some of the
prejudice which since the epigrammatic de-
nuncation of the great philosopher as
The wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind
has hung about his memory with foggy dem
sity and he goes on to show that, although
the story of Lord Bacon's career was not
wholly creditable, he was generous and kindly
by nature, aAd that to carelessness in money
matters and consequent embarrassment, were
due many faults which-not to be condoned-
were less glaring in those times than in our
own day. 1t is nothing less than fair to be-
lieve that Lord Bacon's life hold some relation
to such direct and honorable utterances as
these:
An ant is wise creature for itself, but it is
a shrewd thing in an orchard or garden. And
certainly men that are great lovers OF them
selves waste the public. Divide with reason
between self-love and society, and be so true
to thyself as thou be not false to others, es-
pecially to thy king and counuy. 1t is poor
centre of a mans actions, hinlseT. 1t Is right
earth. For that only stands fast upon It's Is own
centre; whereas all things that have affinity
with the heavens move upon the centre OF
another which they benefit.
Adherents to the theory that "Bacon wrote
| Shakspere," will not fail to note the prose
parallel of
To thine own self be true, &c.
| These speculative persons who would limit
the half.divine faculties Of Shakspere may, by
the way, be referred to Lord Bacon's Sylvia
| Sylvarum for the suggestion to ''try the force
of Imagination upon staying the working of
beer when the BARN is put in"
Professor Fowler notes the striking COM
parsons between the wonders which Bacon
relates of the "Riches of Solomon's House"
with modern discoveries and inventions. The
summing up of the philosophical and literary
results of Bacon's work is strong and sugges-
| tive.
Norsk, Lapp and Finn. By Frank Vincent,
| Jr. (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony. A thoroughly
entertaining book of travels in the Northlands,
| full of lively anecdote, fresh description, and
| trustworthy information of an eyewitness. Mr..
| Vincent writes in an easy and very pleasant
| style, giving most graphic pictures of the re-
| gion and its people. He tells precisely those
things which naturally would impress bright
| and intelligent traveller whose eyes and ears
are wide open and who finds no necessity for
| filing out the pages OF his book with uninter-
esting or wordy detail and comment.
| The Herald of Praise. By L. o. Emerson,
| Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.; Portland: Will
liam E. Chandler or Ira Stockbridge) is col
lection of vocal exercises and sacred and secu-
lar music for the use of singing schools, choirs
and musical conventions. Mr.. Emerson's
| books always find popular acceptance, as is
fully attested by their large sale, three Of them
having reached a circulation Of 100000 copies
each.
| Victor Hugo. Translated from the French
| Of Alfred Barbou by Frances A. Shaw. (Chi-
cago: S. G. Griggs & Co.; Portland: Dresser &
| McLellan.) 1t is not possible to overestimate
| the poetic power of Victor Hugo. 1t touches
neasureless heights, it has created revolutions,
| it is large and profound as the ocean itself 1t
has its faults, its Titanic audacities When one
| piles mountains upon mountains, he does not
stop to cut away every distorted tree.
In estimating the value of NJ. Hugo's su-
perb revolt against the narrow tyrannies of
French verse, it must be remembered what
| dead letter dramatic writing in France had be-
come Mile. Mars dared not, in the role of
Donna Sol, address Hermann as "mon lion"
but suggested instead monsieur" as more
suited to polite taste. Against all sorts of diff
ficulties, the limited aud unimaginative litera-
| ry modes, the torpid and tyrannical political
conditions-Victor Hugo made head as best he
might, conquering success at every step. His
magnificent humsnity, his large vision, his
brilliant and telling vocabulary combined to
make him the prime poet of France, and to
give him citizenship of the world-banished to
his rocks of Jersey. From the Chatiments,
from the AIMEE Terrible to the Art of Being
Grandfather is a wide scope, bat the terrible
| strength of the earlier works has not precluded
the divine tenderness of the latter idyl.
1t is easy TO understand that every anecdote
and detail of so grand life must be full Of
characteristic interest, and M. Alfred Barbou
has acquitted himself Of his task with fervor
and effect. In closing, what tribute can be
more justly or exquisitely given to the verse OF
Victor Hugo than that of M. Theodore de
Baryille-himself marvel of mastery over
the technique of poetry-who speaks oil Nj.
Hugos 'shining, sounding, fascinating verse,
with its thousand surprises of sound, color and
harmony, where words play unexpected parts,
take on themselves special and intense life,
put on strange or graceful faces, clash one
against another either cymbals of gold or urns
of crystal, exchange flashes of living light and
dawn
Household Hints. By Emma Whitcomo
Babcock. (New York; d. Appleton q Co.;
Portland: Hoyt, Fogg & Donham) This is
one of the volumes of the useful and sugges-
tive series of Home Books, and it contains
variety of recipes for cookery and much prac-
tical and well-considered advice concerning
the management of household. 1t is evident
" the result of experience, aud will be found
a good addition to the literature OF the domes
tic department
Juvenile Books.
The Two Cabin Boys. By Louis iRousselet
Boston: Roberts Brothers; Portland: Loring,