The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-19

for crime committed under pressure Of q
four-horse-power Hoe-is no reason that the
conveyor of our family nag or our
nsighbor's fast trotter shall be re-
ceivsd with open arms; nor, yet again, tung
without judge or jury. At least. we may be
| sure Of one thing--that ''lively limnsd" wick
society with such things, andis rarely power
full enough in its warning to be effective. 1t
may seem, from these reflections. that Mr..
Stoddards book is an Objectionable one, which
| is not tho case. 1t is q good book, 80 far a.
right intention and uncompromising choice Of
| good against evil may make it-but the reader
| would rather have been spared tho acquain-
tance of some Of its personages.
| My Wife and My Wife's Sister. Boston:
| Roberts Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmon One of the best written and most
attractive volumes of the piquant No Name
| Series to which It belongs. There is prac-
| ticed touch and q genuine literary quality
about this novel that distinguish it among the
| light and pleasant fiction of the day. The sto-
| ry is in photographed form, supposed to se
| written by an old gentleman who introduces
himself in a somewhat curious fashion by
| quoting a supposititious obituary notice
of himself, similar in substance to that
| which, he darkly suspects, lies in wait
| for his demise in the editorial pig
| eonholes Of the Boston Advertiser. By this in
| genious method Mr.. Paul Duchesne, without
| charge Of egotism, gives an interesting and
| agreeable sketch Of himsslf-though a briefcr
and less complimentary one than we'll con-
| Quoted journal would wish to print concern
| ing gentleman Of his age, amiable and re-
pectable character, historical associations, and
| fifty years subscriber to the ioarnsll There
| is such an air Of reality about this figure of
| Mr.. Duchesne that visitor to Boston would
| be apt TO look for the old gentleman walking
| along the sunny side of Beacon street. Born
| in 1885, he has stories to tell OF period bril-
liant in the political and social life OF France.
| The elegant traditions OF the French emigres,
| the dainty damsels bien eleyees under the care
| of Nine. de Campan, so charmingly portrayed;
| the picturesque account Of the voyage to the
| West Indes-which somehow has fragrance
| of the simple and exquisite romance OF Paul
and Virginia; the quaint letter Of the little
French maiden; the historic power of the
forcats story, are touched with the true artistic
story. 1t is one Of the novels which carry
with entire conviction, because the history and
times to which they belong are not brought in
| from outside like uninherited bric-a-brac, but
an atmosphere and foundation of the graceful
romance which they have suggested
The Wears People. By George Manville
Fenn. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons;
Portland: Loring, Short s. Harmony new
volume of the Transatlantic Series OF novels.
The scene is laid in the mining town Of Car
mac, and the bold and romantic scenery OF this
region gives opportunity for some good descrip-
tive passages, as well as for some hairbreadth
escapes and daring rescues The story itself Is
disagreeable and the innate vulgarity of its
| motif, to speak as mildly as may be, is in ex-
| traordinary contrast with the large scenery
which the author has chosen for a background.
| The reader who is unfortunate enough to take
| this novel for an hours amusement. will wish
that all the drdnsatis persona together would
| fall into the old mine and leave the scenery in
peace; and his next impulse will find vent in
muscular contraction of the arm that will be
likely to propel the vslume into the fire.
Is there Christian Sabbath? New YORK:
| Brown & Derby is a reprint OF an anonymous
| work concerning the observance Of Sunday,
| written by gentleman Of Northern Ohio. 1t
| discusses question so knotty aud so delicate,
i depending SO much on individual conscience
| aud popular custom that it is not easy to give
| definite opinion upon the subject. The au-
| thor is, very rightly, against undue rigdity in
| Sunday-keeping, and he writes with much
sense and fairmindedness; bat 1t is mostly In
the way of modifying prejudice and opening
free discussion of observances that such work
| is useful. The author appears to have no de-
| sire to more than suggest reasonable inter-
| change of popular sentiment as to how far Sun
day ia to be kept as day for religious exercises
| only, and how far harmless amusement is in
| accordance with the meaning OF the day of
l rest.
Antony and Cleopatra, (New York: Harpers;
| Portland: Loring, Short s. Harmony is tho lat
| est addition to Prof. Rolfe's admirable edition
| of Shakspeare's Plays. The passages quoted
| from North's Plutarch. illustrating the argu-
ment OF the play are very valuable; and the
| spirit and faithfulness of Professor Rolfe's ed
| iting deserves all praise.
| Cuban Sketches. BY James w. Steele
| New York: G.. P. Putnam's Sons; Portland
| Loring, Short & Harmony. This is an exceed
| ingly lively and witty volume. describing Cuba
| and its ways with telling detail. Nothing es-
| capes the authors notice; and everything is
| recorded in such an amusing and discriminate
| ing fashion that the reader feels like an eye
| witness The preface opens deliciously, the
4 hat sfo in Gnh wa
against his will, that he wished himself else
whore all the time he was there, and did not
make much money as American Consul. All
this is easy to believe-and the "reminiscences
| of Cuban beds, boards and mosquitoes which
l he SO feelingly memories, have little in COM
| mon with guidebooks or perfunctory raptures
| of the tourist. Yet Mr. Steele is not COM
| planning or unphilosophicsl soiourner-he
| takes things as they come and revenge as he
| goes. Tho result is one Of the most amusing
and agreeable volumes of travel, containing
also very much that Is valuable concerning
the business and capabilities of Cuba.
Cambridge Tri1es New York: G. P. Put
MANS Sons Portland: Lorlng Short & Har-
| mon) is reprinted from the columns of the
| Cambridge (England) Review. 1t describes in
the slipshod but rather amusing style OF college
wit. the everyday life of undergraduates In
those classic precincts 1t will interest Ameri-
can collegians, though sons local hits proba-
bly, lose their power in crossing the Atlantic.
From Mr. Ig. Kohler Of Philadelphia have
been received volumes s, 9, and 10 OF Schiiler's
works with illustrations. The translations
comprise work by eminent men, type and
paper are good, while the illustrations are
| little to be praised.
Books Received.
Song. of Seven. By Jean Ingelow. Cloth, 10
lustrated, At pp., So. Boston; Roberts Brotners.
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmon.
Gaspara stampa. BY Eugene Benson. With
selection from the Sonnets, translate by George
Flemming. Cloth, IS PIP. 81. Boston: Roberts
Brothers. Portland Loring, Short q Harmon.
NY Wife and Wy wife's sister. No Name
Series. Cloth, $40 pp., 81. Boston: Roberts
Brothers Portland: LOring Short 4 Harmon.