The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-10

character and customs Of the Scandinavians
has much value for American readers, who will
enjoy, after reading M. Du Chaillu's account
Of his travels, the thought that 80 industrious,
frugal and healthfnl class Of citizens comes
over the sea to strengthen the prosperity OF
our State.
The authors recital Of the strange and prim-
tive Christmas customs, is particularly pleas.
ant at this holiday time; and not the least ot
the good and kindly practices of the people OF
the midnight sun-land is the redoubled care for
animals which they have at Christmas-time-
every creature has twice.flled measure Of
food, and no household Is too poor to afford its
penny for little sheaf of oats to feed the birds
on Christmas day
So large is the scope OF M. Du Chaillu's
work, and SO minutely does he describe every
section Of the Morse peninsula, that it is man
ifestly impossible to give more than the most
general Characterization Of the contents
Of these two large volumes. The read
er may be recommended to undertake the
perusal of these travels, sure OF being enter
tanned and informed on every page. 1t is sell
dom that so complete and competent work as
this is written in the department of literature
to which it belongs; and the dwellers In coun-
tries equi-distant from the strange fervors OF
Africa and the pallid splendor of lands looking
toward the North Pole have cause to thank M.
Du Chailu for the lively records of his travels
to the extreme ends of the earth.
The Peninsula. By Alexander 8. Webb,
LID. (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Portlsnd: Loring, Short & Harmony. This
volume of the Campaigns of the Civil War Se-
ries treats of portion of the history Of the re-
bellion which is extremely difficult to record,
so little was the action and so great the discus
sion and disappointment concerning the cam
paign of the Potomac, under General McClel-
Ian. Innumerable questions and disagreements
arose, and while there can be no rightful diff
fering from the wisdom of President Lincoln,
and many grave doubts must needs arise con-
cerning McClellan's unaccountable torpidity
and delay-the story Of that epoch Of our war
is sad and unsatisfactory tale to tell Tho
author has performed his task iudiciously,
avoiding personal discussion, choosing rather
to offer the new historic material afforded In
recent investigations by the War Department.
The brevity, point and reliability Of this series
Of war-monographs commend them to the
reading of every citizen of the United States.
The Works Of Oliver Goldsmith. Edited by
Peter Cunningham, f. S. A. (New York:
Harper & Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmon). This is the most careful and COM
plete edition yet issued of Goldsmith's works;
and with its valuable notes, well revised text,
and elegant and substantial form is greatly to
be commended to book-lovers. A curious con-
tribution to literary history appears here for
the first time: letter from David Garrick in
which, over his own signature, he tells the true
story of his encounter of wits with Goldsmith,
as follows:
Alta meeting of company of gentlemen
who were we'll known to each other and di-
yerting themselves, among many other things,
with the oddities of DIR. Goldsmith, who would
never allow superior in any art, from writing
poetry down to dancing hornpipe, the Doctor
with great eagerness insisted upon trying his
epigrammatic powers with Mr.. Garrick, and
each of them was to write the others epitaph.
Mr.. Garrick Immediately said that his epitaph
was finished, and spoke the following distich
extempore:
Here lies Molly Goldsmith. for shortnsss called
Noll.
Who wrote like an angel but talked like poor Poll "
upon the company's laughing very
heartily. grew very thoughtful, and either
would not. or could not write anything at that
time; however, he went to work, and some
weeks after prod the following, printed
1aI toll - ruhf fof, hos hoa
much admired, and gone through several edi-
tiops. The public in general have been mis-
taken in imagining that this poem was written
in anger by the Doctor; it was just the con-
trary the whole on all sides was done with
the greatest good-humor; and the following
poems in manuscript were written by several
of the gentlemen on purpose to provoke the
Doctor to an answer. which came forth at last
with great credit to him in "Retaliation."
ID. GARRIcK ms
Mr.. Cunningham was indebted for this very
interesting letter to Mr.. George Daniel, who
lent him Garrick's manuscript, which had been
designed as the preface to collection Of the
poems elected by this free fight of wits
The four volumes of this fine edition contain
Poetical Works, Dramas and
Vicar of Wakefield; Inquiry into the present
state Of Polite Learning. and the Citizen Of the
World; The Bee, and Essays, Prefaces &c.;
Biographies, Reviews, Animated Nature,
Cock Lane Ghost, vida's Game of Chess and
Letters.
Paul the Missionary. By Rev VIM. Taylor,
D. d. (New York: Harpers; Portland; Loring,
Short & Harmony. DR.. Taylor's writings are
well known and liked for their practical, SIM
pie and interesting comment upon Biblical
matters. He is not sensational or startling in
his views; but examines, compares and draws
his conclusions with zeal, competent research
and sound sense.
Isms Old and New. By George O. Lorimer.
Chicago: S. G. Griggs & Co.; Portland Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony. This strong and
learned contribution to the literature Of pres
ent polemics, is likely to do much good. The
author does not speak from one-sided ac-
quaintance with his subject, but as member
of Victoria Institute, the Philosophical Society
of Great Britain, he has been more concerned
with the purely scientific and literary aspects
of discussion than preacher is apt to find
himself. Consequently he meets debate upon
a common ground, and holds his own. His
style is often eloquent; it is vigorous, apt in
illustration and neither formal or trivial. His
essay upon Mr.. Edwin Arnold's Light of Asia
is exceedingly interesting and appreciatiye.
while it win also crafty some readers who
havenot been contented to accept Mr.. Arnold's
superb Indian epic on its poetic worth, but de-
sire to dwell upon its comparisons with the
Christian belief and have even felt sense of in
jury that so great measure of the pure teachings
of our faith should have existed in Buddhism.
Monopoly of truth has never been granted to
any age or belief, it is good to know; and to
understand how humane and high were Sid
dartha's teachings, need not lessen to us the
larger worth of our latter faith. Mr.. Lorimer
discusses Agposticism, Pessimism, Formalism,
and many other isms. with such competent
and vigorous handling, such liberal and illu-
minated thought that his work cannot fail to
stimulate discussion and carry conviction.
Suicide. BY Henry Morsell, NJ. d. (New
York: d. Appleton & Co.; Portland: Hoyt
Fogg s. Donbam). In this volume Of the In
uernational Scientific Series, Professor Morsel-
Ii of Turin discusses the causes, methods and
places, and the nature and therapeutics of sui
Jato ,ub iu ha sod