The Portland daily press., 1881-06-18

Each official props up every other tottering Of
ticial. During the paper money period OF 1878
this corruption added to the financial difficult
ties, great enough in themselves. The govern
ment prevented the destruction of the official
ring, observes Mr.. Dwight, by putting the
smaller provincial offices in the gift Of a COM
mission which, says he, Invariably selects its
appointees from among the men who have al
ready been tried and found wanting"
He notes some pretty details of Mesopotami-
an life, the peach trees, curiously grated up.
on willows; the babies slowed away for their
lights sleep in soft-lined baskets, hung among
the reeds of the river-shallows, rocked by the
water as little Moses in his cradle ages before.
He tells comic story of a sly Turk, who in
dulged in a brief smoke forbidden to the faith
full during the fast of Ramazan) while lost in
the too fleeting darkness of railway tunnel.
1t is rather these political anecdotes or char
acteristic sketches that are chosen for refer
ence here, because the solid matter of Mr..
Dwight's volume has become part of history,
and will not fail to be read with the attention
due to the faithful and intelligent testimony
of an eyewitness.
Christian Institutions. By Arthur Penrhyn
Stanley, d. D., Dean of Westminster New
York: Harpers; Portland: Lorng, Short &
Harmon) No writer upon ecclesiastical sub
jects is better fitted for such task as the
present volume than is Dean Stanley His
great historical knowledge of religion, the
large, generous and reasonable manner of his
thought, the entire freedom from every form
OF bigotry or intolerance and the Imagination
and sympathy with which he recognizes the
pious spirit in the most diverse beliefs, find
full play in the valuable collection of essays
forming this volume. He traces the origin OF
the various saeraments and usages of tho
church; some originating in secular customs,
these themselves perhaps suggested by some
observance of natural religion in the worship
of pagan deties. Dean Stanley, it is we'll
known is not inclined to uphold meaningless
ceremonies, and the distinction which he draws
between those forms which preserve the spirit
of worship and those which only cucumber 1t,
will be read as words written with the authori-
~ OF man eminent, not only in his own de-
nomination, but greatly admired and respected
by all who have an interest in practical and
liberal religion.
Literary Style. By William Matthews,
LII. d. Chicago: S. c. Griggs & Co.; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony. number
of essays, upon popular and not too heavy sub
jscts; written easily, with no great degree of
originality or depth, but agreeable and some
what suggestive. The first essay Of the vol
ume, that upon Literary Style, fails in the
quality it describes, by an ambitious, over
crowded and selfconscious manner. Again,
Mr.. Matthews develops tendency to bon nots,
not particularly spontaneous or laughable, and
perilously near to puns. But on the whole,
these essays convey many sensible ideas in a
pleasant fashion. r,
Divine Guidance A Memorial OF Allen W.
Dodge. By Gail Hamilton New York: d.
Appleton & Co.; Portland: Hoyt, Fogg &
Donham). If the reader imagines that the
wit of Gail Hamilton is to be repressed, or her
natural force abated in the way of vigorous
and lively diction by a title SO serious as that
which she has taken for the memoir Of her
kinsman-that reader is doomed to pleasing
disappointment She has perceived and trans
cribed, with clear and exquisite aptitude, the
entire sense of minute and incessant RESPONSE
bility which was the keynote OF early New
England character. An austere repression of
every natural emotion, serious and painful
care concerning matters Of no moment kept
our fathers from all gladness, except the SOL
emn joy that they experienced in declining
with thanks many of the offered good gifts of
Providence. The contest between this spirit
of fba nj hao 1f,,llx - IL.
was that of Mr.. Allen Dodge was well-waged;
and his descendant has found enough material
for keen and racy setting forth, as we'll as for
tenderness and honor. He was born, happily
for him, too late to mistake pessimism for
piety but many harmless inclinations were
checked. One OF the besstting sins which hs
bewailed was that of punning-a vice concern
ng which our day aud generation are begin
ming to return to the faith of the fathers. Mr..
Dodge'shumor was too real and brilliant to suf-
or by such wisepruning, and it bubbles forth in
his letters, clear and unfailing. His character
was as lovable and attractive as it was strong
and admirable. His latter years were richer,
more enjoyable. more useful even, than his
earlier ones. His religion had set itself free
from its early severity, and his light warmed
while it shone. But the details of his life and
correspondence, tho letters of his friends and
relatives, the events of his career, are told
with pious care and lively appreciation by
Gail Hamilton who touches nothing that she
does not electrify The opening lines Of this
memorial are unsurpassed in tender and fine
pathos, as a tribute to man most loved and
honored of those who knew him best.
Free Trade in England. By Augustus Mon
gredien (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons;
Portland; Loring, Short & Harmony is a work
designed to point out the advantages of Free
Trade, by reference to the history of English
commerce since the year 1924. Mr.. Mongre-
diem concludes that practical experience has
confirmed the theories of the political scien-
lists David Hume and Adam Smith in Eng
land, and Quesnay and Turgot in France; and
that those writer's and orators who assume the
decline of English prosperity since the adop-
tion Of Free Trade, accommodate facts to their
partisan purposes. This monograph is very
suggestive and should be read carefully by the
political economists Of our country.
The Counts Secret. By Emile Gaboriau
Boston: Estes & Lauriat; Portland; Loring,
Short & Harmon) A sensational novel of the
Partisan school, fairly interesting, but not to
be recommended as profitable or agreeable
reading. When so many good novels are pub
lished by the score, it seems hardly worth
while to import romances foreign to the taste
and sentiment OF our'commnnities.
IS. A. Drake in Harper's Magazine for July.l
Storm at the Signal Station, Mt.
Washington.
Noticing that the sides of the summit were
strewed with boards, beams and debris of all
sorts, my guide explained that what saw was
the result of the great January gale, which
had dam alished tho larcra sIad 1,aad