The Portland daily press., 1881-05-28

anu want no more"
JAMES is going through the Star Route
business with n fne-tooth comb.
Recent Publications.
Caesar. By j. A. Froude New York: Har-
per & Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short
Harmony This brilliant and admirably
designed monograph, which Mr. Froude mod
estly calls a sketch, is very notable addition
to the literature of history aud biography The
modern fashion of work in these two kindred
departments has thanks to Mr.. Froude, Mr..
Green and several other writers-taken on
lively and effective quality. And in no man.
ner Is history made more real and present to
the mind OF the reader, than when one central
commanding figure is represented, surrounded
by his contemporaries and against the back
ground of the current events OF his times.
Sometimes this central figure serves 10 accent
the general historic picture: again (as in the
present work, on the other side of the bounda-
ry-line between history aud biography, the
reader enjoys the accessories while his atten-
OF the great man portrayed. Mr.. Froude has
compared aud sifted authorities with the JUS
tice and judgment that he would use were he
at work upon sketch of one of our modern
Caesars: that is to say. no makes needful al
lowance for partisan spirit, for misunderstand-
ing, for difference of opinion. His sketch of
Caesar stands out strongly and well defined;
and If some shadngs and colorngs are omit
ted, it is precisely from lack of reliable mate
rial. not from any failure in clearness of sight
on Mr.. Froude's part. The energy, spirit and
scrupulous truthfulness, according to his best
belief are notable throughout the work.
The Father of the Third Century. By Rev.
George A. Jackson New York: d. Appleton
& Co.; Portland: Hoyt. Fogg & Donham) be-
longs to the series of Early Christian Litera-
ture Primers, and contains sketches of the
Christian writers of the third century with ex-
tracts from their doctrinal works. 1t is
prefaced by a chronological table of the Ro-
man Emperors. and the Greek, Latin and
Christian authors of the period.
Messrs. d. Appleton of New York publish in
their series of Home Books three attractive
new volumes, full of useful and practical sug-
gestons. Building Home, with its pretty
architectural designs, its iudicious hints as to
site, drainage, and construction, and its eco
nomical and sensible advice concerning home
building, will be found useful and interesting
to persons about to build a house. The house
once built, the next thing is its furniture; and
for this case is made and provided another
volume, called How to Furnish House. Its di-
rections are judicious as to expense, and MAIN
tain very good middle course between the un.
comfortable Celebrations of some of the leaders
of household art, and the unimaginative drear-
mess ant to pervade the household where taste
and fancy have no place or part. A third vol
ume, and very seasonable one, of the same
series is The Home Garden, full of the very
fragrance of old-fashioned flower-plots, and the
breath of newer blossoms. These hand-books
are written in agreeable style and are reliable
in their several departments. Portland: Hoyt,
Fogg & Donham.)
Sir William Hamilton. By w. III. S. Monck.
M. A., Professor of Moral Philosophy in the
University of Dublin (New York: G. P. Put
mon) This is volume OF the English Phil
osopher series, aud presents The theories OF
Sir William Hamilton without special criti-
cism favorable or unfavorable to his views. In
summing up his works and their tendencies,
Prof Monck surveys the reviews already made
of Hamilton's philosophy; and the appendix
directs the reader, should he care for more de.
tailed criticism, to various volumes which will
afford it to him. The plain but elegant style
of binding and good mechanical execution Of
the volume will be appreciated.
Dryden. By G. Saintsbury, (New York:
Harper & Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short
& Harmony is carefully and agreeably writ
ten volume of the English Men of Letters Sc
ries. Mr.. Saintsbury gives somewhat brief
space to the events and surroundings of the
life of Dryden, whom he considers ''the poet
who in his faults, as well as his merits, was
perhaps the most English of all English writ
ers" However, the sketch, if not elaborate,
is lively and effective; and Mr. Saintsburys s
pleasant humor and fortunate expression give
much zest to the picture. In the critical re-
view of Dryden as a literary man of which the
volume for the most part consists-Mr. Saints
bury flexible aud sympathetic talent easily
returas to the century of Dryden, to its litera-
ry temper, its minute verbal criticism, and af-
fords to the reader a volume OF sngularly just
and subtle observation. Mr.. Saintsbury's very
thorough study of the technique of verse, and
his thoughtful acquaintance with the course
of English literature, serve him we'll in the
present task AS he observes, minute verbal
criticism is old-fashioned; but, as he practical
ly suggests by the tone of this memoir, it is
the fair way for treatment of old-fashioned po
cts. Indeed, the verbal facilities OF the pres
sent new school of poets demands much of the
same sort of reviewing, in its renaissance o.
elaborate and exquisite forms of art. In pas
sing, it will he observed that Mr.. Saintsbury
shares the popular and wel-founded dislike t.
four lines to the verse. He has noticed the
rhymed quatrain, how that it is apt to plod
along at market iog-trot, unless certain sub
tleties of rhythm and Intervening of rhyme
take hold to save it from the commonplace
Mr.. Saintsbury appreciates the excellences
notes the absurdities, understands the limita
tions of Dryden with great impartiality ant
| WIFI Truly crlJiCai spirit, dS Souidl as IL 4
| just. He has written volume of sensitiv,
and brilliant criticism. in manner which vii
| give enjoyment to the usual reader, and Il
specialists in literary work affords peculiarl!
suggestive and interesting mode of treatment
seeking of Dryden upon bis own ground
| meeting him with the critical method to whicl
he would have held himself amenable. Thi
gives the reader a comfortable sense as thougl
Dryden were judged by his peers and had hi
rights and not less will increase Mr.. Saints
bury's reputation as critic Of liberal imagina
tion and keen decision.
The Old Testament and the Jewish Church
By W. Robertson Smith New York: ID. Az
pleton 4 Co.; Portland: Loring, Short & Han
mon.) This volume of Biblical comment
made up of twelve lectures delivered by tn
author in E inbursh and Glasgow, at the inv
tatiou of six hundred gentlemen who desire
tina. the newer criticism of Bible history shoult