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

out charm. Earth-worms have helped to bury
walled towns and have leveled mounds built
| by men; their silent mouths are never at rest;
and nfter Dir. Darwin's account Of the strange
part they hgve played on and under the earth
the reader Is quite prepared for the scientists
notes upon the mental powers of worms and
his estimate of their influence upon the worlds
history.
A Scandinavian Summer. By Katharine E.
Tyler New York: @. P. Putnam's Sons;
Portland: Loring, Short s. Harmony. This
narrative of Summers tour in Denmark,
Norway and Sweden is pleasant. unprstending
and quite entertaining to readers who enjoy
records of travel. II Is written with average
literary skill, somewhat given to those person.
alties more interesting to the writer and
friends concerned than to the readers. On the
whole 1t conveys much information about
countries which are rather recently included in
the general tourists route.
Doctor Breen's Practice. By W. d. How
ellis. Boston: j. R. Osgood & Co.; Portland:
Loring, Short g. Harmon) For distinct and
delicate portraiture, clear and unadvertized
common sense, skilful, strong and by no means
aggressive handling of its motive, and, lastly.
for the charm and essence of the art OF fiction
this novel OF Mr. Howells is not only one of
his best efforts but is in the front rank of the
novels of tho day. 1t is thoroughly satisfying
in quality and development It's recent pub
lcation in the Atlantic magazine for the cur
rent year precludes in part the need of an ex
tended and elaborate review. But it is pleas
ure to record and praise the genial attitude Of
the novelist regarding the question of woman's
work; and the subtle, appreciative and truly
dramatic presentation of the difficulties that
attend any unusual incursion of feminine COM
petitors into fields hitherto set apart for manly
labor. Mr.. Howells is too keen and refined an
observer to think 1t worth while to discuss the
common aspects of the "woman's rights"
question, or to reply to the demands Of the
more stentorian among the sisters. He makes
point, both just and ingenious, in remarking
that the difficulties Of a woman's competing
with men In certain professions comes mainly
not from mems opposition-but from an instinc-
tive tacit distrust on the part Of other women
who are meanwhile firm in the mental belief and
verbal insistence that they re supporting ''the
cause. "Mr. Howells Is wise enough not to pre-
scribe theories or to predict the end Of the
movement. He offers indirect arguments,
which take the shape-uncomfortable to en-
thusiasts-of undeniable, coherent facts. His
studies of character in this novel are admira-
Bile; his personages speak and act for them
selves. The young doctor, Grace Breen, with
her over-conscious sense OF responsibility con-
tinually irritated by her mothers unpleasant
truth to an ideal OF Puritan austerity; the in
consequent light nature Of Mrs. Maynard, Curl
ously enough touched with reflected cross
light from her husbs nd's Western wit; Mr..
Libby, careful photograph Of the best type
Of everyday young men," the excited and
transcendental nonsense Of Miss Gleason; and
the dreary humor of Mr.. Maynard are group
Of sketches any one of which would give inter-
est to a novel. The chorus Of ladies, with the
necessity of talk hard upon them, is excellent.
Mr.. Howells's reflections, not at all obtruded
in the course of the story, come forth with
great effect after the apparent denouen.ent has
been reached; and nothing could be more apt,
more reasonable or more original than his brief
statement of the causes why this typical
daughter Of the Puritans, Grace Breen. was
likely to take little pleasure when all the con
ditions of her happiness were fulfilled. The
hints of his earlier experiences in the West
which this story gives, lead the reader to hope
that Mr.. Howells means to work new vein;
and perhaps offer US, not International, but
inter-sectional novels-in which no man is bet
ter prepared than he to make success. 1t is
not too high praise to say Of DIR. Breen's Prac-
tice that IL Is a novel perfect Of its kind, and
delightful, significant and artistic in every
way.
Aunt Serena. By Blanche Willis Howard.
Boston: j. R. Osgood & Coz Only the an
nouncement of novel by the author of One
Summer was needed to arouse an eager inter-
est and occasion large sale for Aunt Serana.
Opinions will vary as to the comparative de-
gree of charm which the two novels possess
some preferring the indescribable freshness
and abounding spirits Of the first novel, others
liking better the more ambitious plot, the
larger variety OF character and the maturer
style OF Aunt Serena. Miss Howard has util-
lied some OF the experiences Of her life abroad,
and gives q vigorous picture Of the English
and American colonies in a German town.
Frankly speaking-it seems that the more
practiced style and the literary skill which
Miss Howard displays in her later story hardly
compensates for a certain loss Of originality.
The people in One Summer were natural, but
new to fiction, with the exception Of Gem,
character imported from Sunday-school stories
to reconcile the mutual dislike of hero and
heroine. The reader is conscious OF having
met Aunt Serena and her circle before; the So
cial siren, the misunderstanding woman, the
impulsive maiden and the hero, little world
weary, but readily restored to his first fresh
ness, are familiar folk to novel-readers. But
in Miss Howard's story they appear to good
advantage and the charm of her womanly
touch and her graceful, often poetic, style
make themselves felt throughout the novel.
She has nothing of the fast and cynical tone
of some of the authoresses Of the day, but in
vests her story with an atmosphere OF tender
and refined sentiment
The Golden Tress. From the French of
Fortune de Boisgobey. New York: G. p.
Putnams Sons; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony An exciting novel, full OF myste-
ries, Paris detectives, duels, brilliant deeds OF
daring and hairbreadth escapes. 1t is written
with such force and such lavish wealth OF
thrilling incident, and its literary style is at
once so rapid and brilliant that the reader is
carried, breathless with interest, from chapter
to chapter 1t is unexceptionable in tone, and
is fairly well translated, with an occasional
awkwardness of phrase, but mach spirit. 1t
belongs to the Transatlantic series of novels.
John Barlow's Ward. (New York; G. p.
Putnams Sons; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony is another OF the Trans Atlantic nov
els; this one is quiet, agreeable story of En-
glish life in the mining districts 1t recalls
Mrs. Gaskell's charming North and South in
its earlier chapters, and may be classed among
the pleasant novels for the long evenings OF
winter.
Juvenile Books.
Shakespeare for the Young Folks. Illustrat-