The Portland daily press., 1881-03-05
Recent Publications.

ldtlouS, olten uSelul In a lecture but which
may well be left out in reprinting. Anything
more fresh, natural and fascinating in the de-
partment Of the antiquarian is not imagina-
BILE than DIR. Mitchell's work. He is careful to
sift evidence and compare notes Of civiliza-
tions; and is not led into hasty conclusions as
to the antiquity and origin of the relics found
in forgotten habitations of mankind, He gives
many interesting descriptions of some of the
primitive utensils, the rude pottery, the spin
die with its stone whorl, the pagan shadows of
dead belief that are yet to be found in the is
land of Lewis while in the very cottages
where these notwithstanding objects are in
daily use, they stand side by side on the shelf
with Staffordshire teacups and Birmingham
cutlery. SO that the student of archaeology re-
ceives useful hint to the effect that the form
OF an utensil or its apparent degree of work
manship is not trustworthy mark of its sge.
The general reader will not fail to enjoy ,he
practical and breezy quality of DR.. Mitchell's
research With him we are taken ON pleasant
strols through the Scoi tish islands, where the
heather OF to-day creeps over the ancient soil and
the clear sunlight gives us to see the past, not
the dusty and strange shapes that we associate
with the science of the antiquarian, but with
its own life and its own pleasures. DR.. Mitch
ell does not by any means look down upon the
arts and beliefs of savage races as proving
no power of mind and handiwork; on the con-
trary he gives them credit for much that makes
life desirable; and this broad and sympathetic
tone of his comment adds greatly to the read
ers' reliance as well as pleasure in his opinions.
The illustrations to the volume are numerous
and interesting, increasing the worth of one of
the most lively, attractive and reaso able of
modern works upon antiquarian research.
Early Spring in Massachusetts. Henry D.
Thoreau Boston: Houghton & Miffiin; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony The selec-
tions from Thoreau's journal, of which this
volume consists, are arranged by the editor,
Mr.. III. G. o. Blake, in an ingenious manner;
that is, Thoreau's notes of the same day of the
month, in various years, are set down together
so that by comparison of these notes close av-
erage of the progress of New England Spring
may be made. The minuteness and attention
with which the philosopher of Walden Pond
observed all natural objects is too well known
to need the pointing out. Mr.. Blake has done
his work of arrangement with care and evil
dent pleasure.
Life and Letters of John Howard Raymond.
Edited by his eldest daughter. (New York:
Fords, Howard & Hurlburt; Portland: Hoyt,
Fogg & Donham.) Professor Raymond is
most familiar to the public in his capacity of
the first president Of Vassar College; and the
present biography, which is well written and
oh ~,
and active relations an earnest, useful and
benevolent man.
The Longfellow Birthday Book is dainty
little volume, tastefully compiled from the
Poets works. Miss Charlotte Fisk Bates has
selected quotations from the prose and verse
of Mr.. Longfellow and-with more or less de-
sign of appropriateness them opposite
blank spaces headed with the days of the
month and the names of famous persons
whose birthdays occur upon the several dates.
1t is a charming and convenient little volume:
and under what pleasanter auspices could each
day come in, than with song or word of Mr..
Longfellow?
The Schoolmasters Trial, or the Old School
ana New By A. Perry. (New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony A spirited and thoughtful book,
written with talent and purpose. 1t is an ef-
fective plea against the uniform discipline,
the red tape, the coarse routine of public school
systems. 1t shows how ill-adapted these meth
DDS of teaching are to bring forward what is best
in child's nature; how, by insisting that the
most opposite talents shall be treated precisely
nl, Il.
tudes; how utterly opposed is such infexible
and unsympathetic treatment to the instinct
)f child, which demands love and reasoning
care. In the course of an entertaining story
these two theories of education are contrasted;
and parents and teachers will do we'll to read
this little volume with attention. OF course it
is easy to say that theories work we'll on paper
and that manifold difficulties arise in actual
experiment. But it remains true that the
best training for child is that which puts him
in iull, practical use of his particular gifts.
Pearls of Thought. Maturin NJ. Ballou.
Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony This is volume
of choice quotations arranged alphabeti-
cally, by topics; and affording wide
variety of brilliant and wise sayings of many
writer's, ancient and modern. 1t is intended
as supplement to a similar work by the same
compiler, Treasury of Thought, and avoids
repetition of the selections contained in the
previous volume. 1t is convenient and ex-
cellent collection of choice paragraphs
Anecdotes of Public Men. By John W.
Forney. (New York: Harpers; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmon) The very remark
able amount of self-laudation which Col. For
ney has been able to compress into the preface
of this volume, obviates any necessity of praise
from less interested quarters. Briefly, this
second series of anecdotes by 'the
immense success of the first series, the au-
thor tells US, is at least instructive in way.
1t shows to journalists and other writer's how
self-conceit, and shallow and superficial
fashion of looking upon men and affairs, the
limited insight of those who regard politics as
an end, not a means, and lack of the sense of
patriotic responsibilities far deadensthe per-
ception and understanding of whatever is gen.
uine, great and admirable, that a man may be
in the midst of current history, may meet he
roes face to face daily, may hear and see all
notable things of his times; and yet, for want
of patriotic faith, incorruptibe political virtue,
and the large, limitless love of noble things
be careless spectator and Intellectual reporter.
In volume of the size and scope of Col. For
ney's "reminiscences, with the remarkable op-
portunities which he enjoyed for observing the
affairs ofithe nation, and the numerous noted
names which brighten his pages-there is, of
course, much interesting matter. But the
reader feels that the bare and superficial out
lines only have been offered him, the fine ap-
probation that faithfully transcribes the ami
mating spirit of history is utterly lacking.
The Religions of China: By James Legge,
Professor of the Chinese Language and Litera-
ture in the University of Oxford, England.
(New York: Charles Scribner's Sons; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony In this volume are
contained a series of four lectures, delivered by
Prof Legge at the request of the Presbyterian
College of England upon the religious and
moral teachings of the Chinese, as compared