The Portland daily press., 1881-04-16

| and mission of Christ; an essay, which, by its
! original and forcible manner created much
discussion a few years since. 1t is reprinted
in excellent type and binding. (For sale in
Portland by Loring, Short & Harmony
Robertson's Living Thoughts Chicago, S.
G. Griggs & Co.; Portland: Dresser & Nc
Lellan). This volume is made up OF select
passages from DR.. Robertson's sermons, care
fully edited and indexed by Mr.. Kerr Boyce
Tupper, with an appreciative Introductory
chapter by Prof. VIM. C. Richardson. The
vigor, brilliance and elevation of DIR. Robert
sons thought and expression are well known;
and the liberaity, breadth and Christian good
sense Of his doctrines render his writings ac-
ceptable to readers of every denomination.
His religion was cheerful, manly and self-re-
specting, as well as full Of practical piety and
humanity. The arrangement of the volume is
admirably convenient. ruT rf
Popular Lectures upon Scientific Subjects.
Second Series By H. Helmholtz, Professor
Of Physics in the University of Berlin. New
York: d. Appleton & Co.; Portland: Hoyt,
Fogg & Donham). This volume contains six
lectures delivered by Professor Helmholtz,
and translated and edited with much intelli-
gence and skill by Prof. e. Atkinson. Tho
lectures trest of various scientific topics con-
nected with physical science, and also include
memorial of the late Prof. Gustav Magnus,
and paper upon Academic Freedom in Ger
man Universities. Prof. Helmholtz speaks
with rightful authority upon matters in his de-
partments OF science, and is well known to
readers in this country
Island Life. By Alfred Russell Wallace
New York: Harper Brothers; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & H rmon), is a copious and con-
vincing review of the problem of geologi-
cal climates, the geographical distribu-
tion of animals and plants, and the
changes Of climate etc., in the various regions
and epochs of the world. Mr.. Wallace writes
brilliantly and attractively; he relies upon
practical scientific observation; and proves
himself to be fresh and reasonable theorist,
without pedantic bias of any kind. While
this volume will greatly interest scientists-its
clear and readable style, free from unneces-
sary technicality, adapt it perfectly to the best
popular taste. In the fascinating department
of physical geography, no work is more bril-
liant, wider in scope, and more effective in its
conclusions than this admirable treatise of Mr..
Wallace, who is already favorably known by
his previous works upon kindred subjects.
The arrangement and execution Of the volume
are of corr responding merit with its design,
A Satchel Guide to Europe is an elegant and
substantial little volume published by Messrs.
Houghton & Miffiin of Boston Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony. 1t has attained its
tenth annual edition; and each year 1t UNDER
goes careful revision, needful because of the
changes in timetables, hotels, art galleries etc.
1t is a clear, compact and practical guide
book, written with view to reasonable econo-
my; and has a notable and praiseworthy lack
of the arbitrary raptures, the penny-a-line
digressions, the confusing counter-directions
which often annoy the tourist dependent on
guide-books. Its hints and suggestions are
useful and sensible, and its timetables etc.
carefully and conveniently arranged. 1t is
model of conciseness and good sense.
A Fair Barbarian. BY Mrs. Frances Hodg-
son Burnett. Boston: James r. Osgood & Co.;
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony Moth
ing more brilliant, dainty and delicious in the
way of novelette, has been issued from the
press than this recital of the triumphs OF the
Fair Barbarian. Mrs. Burnett has sailed
forth to the relief Of the distressed damozels so
unkindly attacked by the critical pens of Mr..
Henry James and his admirers. The Fair
Barbarian was pretty, stylish and
charming young girl whose father
owned mines in Nevada. This Attila
in Partisan costume, this exquisite Vandal
with her profusion of diamonds and laccs,
comes to devastate the peaceful society of a
very small, quiet and conventional English
village. This village, Slowbridge, is presided
over by a social tyrant, Lady Theobald, of
Oldclough Hall-which one is led to believe
should be spelled Oldclo', so dreary in fashion
are the dresses of the dowager and her lovely
little niece, resident there. OF course Slow
bridge is shaken to its foundations by the free
dom, unconventionality and splendor of the
American, Octavia Bassett; and is quick to
condemn her. Mrs. Burnett has depicted the
two girls, English and American, with most
exquisite art; and their friendship and quick
recognition of each others good points are deli
cately portrayed. The frankness, inno-
cence and brightness of the American
girl are drawn with delicate touch and
color-far superior to Mr.. James's superficial
though clever sketch of Daisy Miller; and
the English maiden, Lucia, with her soft,
fawnlike grace and gentle struggles for
Independence is in the very spirit of
the most refined comedy, true to life and full
of charming nature. A Fair Barbarian is
perfect pearl of novelette,; and its artistic
binding, clear type and creamy paper add to
its attractiveness as its heroine's delicious
dresses set off her bright personality.
By the Tiber. By the author Of Signor
Monaldini's Niece Boston: Roberts Brothers.
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony is
one of the second series of No Name
novels. 1t is painful, bitter and re-
pulsive story, and although it has
traces of the artistic and richly colored de-
scriptions, the italian softness and warmth Of
atmosphere that were the charm of this au-
thors previous novel---the reader can only feel
regret and repulsion. 1t has the suspicious,
exaggerated quality of insanity; its portraits of
the English and American colony in Rome
are drawn with such venomous point as to force
the conclusion upon the readers mind that
the novelist is avenging personal wrongs,
more or less real and fancied. 1t is usually un-
wise and not quite fair to connect an authors
biography and fiction too closely; but certain
facts, well known to make part of the au-
thors individual story, are so emphat-
icaly charged to the account Of prom
inent Americans residing in Rome-who
appear but lightly disguised in these
pages-that it is not possible for reader
to look at By the Tiber as an impersonal work
of fiction. The author is much to be blamed and
pitied. Her undeniable talent, it is to be hoped,
may be restored to health; but dwelling upon
such suspicious and resentments as are the
whole subiect-matter of the present novel. and
which were traceable in the episode of Miss
Conroy, who furnished the tragedy for the
previous story, will not fail to destroy the very
striking talent which the more fortunate chap
ters of Signor Monaldini's Niece displayed.
The Miss Conroy episode, much praised by
some critics who believe that depth of literary
gloom is gauge of dramatic power in novel;
ist was actually the first touch of decay upon