The Portland daily press., 1881-12-03

volume, artlStlc and worthy In every way. 1no
text is not merely slender excuse for lavish
pictorial display, but is a charming and admir-
ably written rememb brance of various routes in
the White Mountain region, full of strong and
picturesque descriptions Of scenery, local leg
ends, and racy and well-told anecdotes Au-
thor and artist have done their best toward
making this volume complete, and to recall for
winter days the summer splendors OF the an
cient hills to which men flock for rest, delight
and the sovereign touch Of old Mother Earth
that renews her children's strength.
The Jeffersous. By William Winter (Bos-
ton: j. r. Osgood & Coz These annals OF
the Jefferson family read like royal record,
line of kings of the theatre whose mimic court
dates back to the early half of the eighteenth
century, and OF which the glory touched its
height in the pathetic, dreamy figure of Rip
van Winkle. AS Mr.. Winter observes, no one
dramatic personation has SO impressed itself
upon the age as the Rip van Winkle Of Jo-
seph Jefferson. He was fortunate in his play
wright; Mr.. Boucicault raised the careless
ne'er-do-weel of Irving's sketch to character
which for extreme pathos, unique low
ableness, strange and enduring fascination,
stands by itself. 1t has all the human
hold that Lear takes upon the spectators
heart; lacking the kingly grief of crown
aud throne and empery lost, it lays bare the
core of sorrow, loneliness OF man forgotten
for dead. Little need be said of Joseph Jeffer-
sons art, it is present with us; and his son
Thomas has yet his spurs to win. Jefferso n
the First. Thomas of that ilk, had the fortune
to be a contemporary of Garrick, and played to
pleased audiences in England. The second
Jefferson sbone on the boards of the old Chest
nut street theatre of Philadelphia The third
Jefferson, a dreamy, lovable man was not
greatly renowned as an actor, but dearly hon.
ored by his family and friends-and in the
playing of the Jefferson Of our time we find
the brilliant gifts OF comedy and pathos Of the
grandfather penetrated by the tender quality
of the fathers nature. Other scions of the
house have hourished on the stage, and
enough of their praise is told to prove that this
family was born to the players purple. Mr.
Winter writes, as always, with finish, delicate
sympathy and large dramatic experience and
in this volume affords delightful addition to
the American Aclor SERIES
q enevieve Ward: A Biography by Mrs Ia
del Barnes Gustafson. Boston: james r. Os-
good & Co.; Portland Loring, Short & Har-
mon.) One of the most brilliant figures upon
the modem stage is Miss Genevieve Ward, a
tragic actress of great power and beauty of i'm
psrsonation. Her story is an exceedingly ro-
mantle one; and her career is inspiring in its
energetic struggle with difficulties, its rich ac-
co mplishment and its self-respecting, direct
and artistic course. She is the actress of liv-
ing fibre-of which Sarah Bernhardt suggests
the skeleton; where the French trdgedienne
gives an unhealthy. phosphorescent rendering
of character, that recalls the legends of dead
body, nlled with an evil ghost, Miss Ward ap-
pears as living woman. Apart from her the
atrical talent Miss Ward is an admirable lin
und or the name of Madame Guerrabella, mod
els very well in clay and paints in a style quite
sup erior to Mdlle. Bernhardt's-whosed dismal
ly affe cted sketch of Death and the Maiden
seems to illustrate the Danbury News mans
st tory Of the woman who wished she was dead
because her new bonnet was unbecoming. The
accom- plishments, beauty and dramatic talent
OF Miss Ward give ample material for biogra-
p by, and Mrs. Gustafson has availed herself of
it with enthusiasm. Her style is rather weak,
a nd she does not arrange her work to the best
adv antage. 1t would have been well, too, if
there were better knowledge Of foreign words
som ewhere on the part of proof-reader or biog-
rapher. But the incidents and hoDors conse-
quent npon Miss Wards career make 80 inter-
esting and valuable a contribution to dramatic
literature that the biography almost writes it.
self. 9E
Florida for Tourists, Invalids and Settlers.
By Geo. NJ. Barbour (New York: d. Apple
ton & Co.; Portland: Hoyt, Fogg s. Donham).
This is a volume Of practical, authentic and
well-considered views upon the advantages
and disadvantages of Florida. 1t is written
pleasantly and with an evident determination
to write with impartial justice, though the au-
thor has evidently great liking for the Land
OF Flowers. His first visit there was in 1880,
when he accompanied General Grant, in the
capacity of correspondent of the Chicago
Times. His remarks upon the climate and its
desirability for invalids are very sensible; and
his notes upon the agricultural and stock-rais-
ing capabilities of the State do not appeal
over-sanguine, although they are exceedingly
encouraging to immigrants.
Saints and Sinners (Noirs ct Rouges). From
the French of Victor Cherbuliez. (New
York: D. Appleton; Portland Hoyt, Fogg &
Donham). This latest novel by the author Of
the exquisitely witty Samuel Brohl will disap-
point his admirers on this side Of the water
The story is entirely French and fails to con-
meet with American society. 1t contains some
clever touches and situations, but is rather
dreary comedy.
How is Your Man? Boston: Lee &c Shepl
ard Portland Loring, Short Sc Harmon
is little pamphlet conveying o vehement
protest against the Graveyard Insurance sys-
tenn in Pennsylvania. 1t is to be hoped for the
sake of humanity that the abuses OF life insur-
ance are exaggerated by the writer of the pam
phlet At least it is well that the perls of life
insurance should be matter of thought and
comment since its advantages are everywhere
volubly pressed upon notice.
The Decorative Sisters. By Josephine Pol
,ard. Illustrated by Walter Satterlee (New
York: Anson D.. E. Randolph & Co.; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony. This is an easily
written and amusing ballad gently satirizing
the modern art-craze. The numerous illustra-
tons are spirited in drawing and quite effec-
tive, but the coloring is in some instances too
crude and positive. The volume. as whole,
is gay and graceful one for holiday gift.
Juvenile Books.
Under the Dog-Star. By Margaret vande-