The Portland daily press., 1881-05-28
PRICE 3 CENTS.

roughs in the power easily to make his readers
forget the restraints Of the four household
walls, and lead Spring herself dancing with
the rain and laughing with the light of April
sun through dreary and adjust acoves of CITY
libraries Moreover, when summer sets men
Tree to compare the fields and woods, their
birds and harmless beasts, with their portraits
III the pages OF Pepacton, they will not only
hnd that the author is observing and careful
IN his conclusions, but that they have learned
to see more acutely and accurately for
themselves under his tntelage. Pepac-
| ton will be "a most desirable hook
to take into the country for a summer
companion; it is pleasant general guide to
New England woods and pastures. There are
bright, clear-eyed observance of things, a
Wholesome comradeship, and freedom from
over-subtle reverie in Pepacton, that win for
1t and its author cordial and lasting liking.
An especially interesting chapter is that upon
Nature and the Poets in which Mr. Burroughs
points out acutely and charmingly in what de-
gree some OF the leading English and Ameri-
can poets are accurate observers of the times OF
the coming of flowers, the notes of birds or the
cry of insects. Pepacion is a group Of deli
cious modern idyls, wholly American, as they
are genuinely poetic.
A Question by George Eber (New York:
William S. Gottsbergsr; Portland: Loring.
Short Harmony This graceful and deli
cately designed story is founded upon the sub
1ect OF one of Alma Tadema's pictures; aud is
not less fortunate in its dainty artistic and
piquant imagination of antique romance
Recent volumes of Messrs ID. Appleton's
New Handy Volume Series are Great Singers,
by George L. Ferris which presents brief biog-
raphies of numerous prime donnc, from the
days of Mme Malibran to the close Of Mme
Teresa Titien's queenship of the lyric
stage. Another volume, also by Mr.. Fer
ris, is devoted to memoirs of some
Of the Great Vioinists and Pianists, .
historic group extending from the days
of the violinist and vion-makers OF Italy,
with whom the art of playing stringed instru-
ments may be fairly said to have originated,
and the extraordinary development which the
artistic and mechanical skill of Muzio Glenn
emit afforded to the panoforte, to the times Of
the phenomenal playing of Able List. An
other volume OF the same series recounts the
adventures and sufferings of Loukis Larss, a
midst of the terrors of the Greek war of Inde-
pendence As historical novel it is interest
ing, and not less so as specimen of modern
Greek literature. The translation is by j
Gennaains, from the original by ID. Bikelas.
The Sword of Damocles. By Anna Katha-
rine Greene. New York: G. p Pntnam's
Jons Portland: Loring Short & Harmony
This is a sensational and highly-wrought story
BY the author of the popular Leavenworth
Case, and as is to be expected, is thrilling
and exciting novel, full of plot and surprise.
and free from the Objectionable qualities
which are not seldom found in sensational
work. Miss Green fully recognizes the popu-
lar desire for dramatic and intense novels, and
deserves public thanks for supplying such sto-
ries written with good conscience aud good
grammar.