The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-09
Recent Publications.

Recent Publications.
Across Patagonia. By Lady Florence Dixie
(New York: r. Worthington & Co.; Portland:
Loring, Short q Harmon) Few women
would have attempted a journey so adventur-
GUS and through such a wild country as did
the writer of this uniqna and entertaining vol
ume. Lady Florence Dixie seems typical
Englishwoman, with plenty of physical cour-
age and the love of adventure and hard ridin q /;
and sho writes easily and vividly with a de-
gree of the allowable effectiveness of travel
lers' tales. The descriptions OF the scenery. Of
the native Patagonians and the wild animals
of the region are full of information and inter-
est. Mr.. Beerbohms spirited sketches supple
ment tho authors descriptions 1t is re-
markably entertaining and fresh book of tray
ell in strange country.
The Statue in the Block and Other Poems.
By John Boyle O'Reilly (Boston: Roberts
Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony
Mr. o O'Reilly's verse is of too positive and indi-
vidual character to be undistinguished from
the mass of poetry. His fire and dramatic i'm
petus are much in excess of his art aud the
latter does not appear to ba in process of cultiva.
tion or growth The wild sweep OF his style at
times carries the readers sympathy with it;
aud again, the poetic sentiment seems exag-
gerated, the expression formless and rude, and
the exigencies of the art of verse left unful-
filled. Muley Malek, the King, is the best
poem of this collection, strong, picturesque
and effective-though its admirable tone of
Moorish music might have been preserved
with more regular cadences than those which
occur frequently and are little better than
prose disordered. There are many fine lines
in The Statue in the Block When Mr..
O'Reilly allows the direct and vigorous pas.
sion of his Celtic nature to speak, his verse is
sincere and original, though lacking form;
but when he becomes cynical Or even quietly
didactic his verse loses all merit. He possesses
a large share of the genuine impulse of the
poet; the process of discipline which his talent
ought to undergo for sake of art must be severe
and long-it remains to be seen whether that
talent is a gem which will bear cutting, and
whether its possessor will have the patient
care requisite to polish it into its best shape
and brilliance.
???. By George Fl. Hepworth (New York:
Harpers; Portland Loring, Short & Harmony.
A psychological story of crazy and unproft-
able quality, which endeavors to pry into the
mysteries of the past and future of souls. Per-
sons who attend to the present with good
faith and works need trouble themselves but
little about existence, previous or to Gomez
and such unhealthy and fantastic books as this
tend to weakness OF purpose and disease Of
brain.
Home Grounds. By Alexander f. Oakley
(New York: d. Appleton & Co.; Portland: ::
Hoyt, Fogg & Donham). A practical and sug-
gestiye treatise upon tho Surroundings of the
house, the garden, fences, planting, shruhbery,
etc. 1t abounds in good illustrations, and
forms one of Messrs. Appleton's useful and at
tractive series of Home Books
Friends. A Duet. By Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co. I;
Portland: Loring, Short & HARMONY is a nov ell
which has appeared in current numbers of the
Atlantic Monthly. 1t is more healthful and
pleasant In tonc than the morbid Story of
Avis; although to most readers this novel will
lack movement. Miss Phelps cares little for
incident in her stories, relying upon slow and
over-subtle analysis of the nature and sayings
of her personages-ther doings are few, and
seem to pass with slight record The reference
which her writings are apt to have to the rsla-
tion of the dead with the living, is not want
ing in Friends, but is less unnatural and un-
pleasant than usual. 1t may fairly be said
that Friends is a novel written with good pur-
pose, high-minded if over-subtle feeling, and
the pathos and depth of expression which are
among the best qualities of Miss Phelps's
work.
Miss Emma Lazarus has translated the po-
ems and ballads of Heine, and prefaced them
with an interesting biographical sketch of the
poet. She is we'll known as graceful and
spirited writer, and her translating does not
fail in these qualities. Much OF Heine's verse
appears dull, trivial and meanly bitter, while
in its turn, some poetic and imaginative truth
seems to give a show of reason for the place he
has held in literature. Whether nine-tenths
his fame live as man of few songs is qnes-
tion which the taste Of the times will decide.
Farm Festivals. By Will Carleton. New
York: Harpers; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony is volume of popular verse descrip-
tive of rural characters aud doings. 1t is ele-
gantly bound and printed, with many illustra-
tions Mr. CarInton,c noa+rv 10 hv No ,oaope
artistic, but it is smooth, lively verse, and is
full of practical good sense and sound, healthy
feeling.
Contrasts. By NJ. r. Grsndel. New York
g. P. Putnam's Sons; Portland Loring, Short
& Harmony A novel Of more than usua
power and originality. 1t is thoroughly re
sporsib!e and wholesome in tone, and i'll
somewhat sad conclusion admits CLEANS O.
coming cheerfulness. The author displays
much observation, humor and Judgment, and
does not lack the storytelling gift which seems
to be set aside by SO many modern novelists al
either undesirable or unattainable.
Light and Life is the title of little volume
of Sunday School hymns and songs edited BY
Mr.. X. NJ. Mcintosh and published by Messrs
Oliver Ditson & Co., OF Boston.
Cobwebs and Cables. By Hesba Stretton
Dodd & Mead: New York; Portland: Loring
Short & Harmony is probably the most un
necessarily dreary novel on record.
Synnove Solbakken. BY Biornstjernt
Bj0rnson. Boston: Houghton, Miff1in & Co.