The Portland daily press., 1882-07-15

low. lh6r6 are SOuES, SOuAotS, ILLUSTRATIONS, |
and fragment of poem upon the Children's
Crusade Among these poems the Poets CAL
endar is striking in its elegant and learned
verse and singularly fine decorative quality
Shutdown is vivid and nobly imaginative
meditation. The opening verses of Moonlight
are unsurpassed-and let this be said with
heed of all the verses said or sung of the moon
since immemorial days-in exquisite descrip-
ton and imagery at the very height OF poetic
feeling Mr.. Longfellow was conceded mas
ter of the sonnet; how finely its cadences can
s-ai--,s Ia t
attested by the sonnets Victor and Vanquished |
and President Garfield. The elegiac verses
are marvel of metrical perfection and must I
cal expression.
Henry D. Thoreau. By F. B. Sanborn (Bos-
ton: Houghton, Mif1in & Co.; Portland Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony. This volume belong
ing to the Series of American Men of Letters.
now in process of editorship by Mr. Charles |
Dudley Warner, gives full and agreeable |
memoir of the strange genius of Walden Pond. |
The grandfather of Thoreau was of French |
family, from the island of Jersey; and he, after |
emigrating TO New England about 1y73, mar
ried a Scottish girl, whose family had also
come to America. The curious and character
istic stories of New England life with which
the earlier chapters of the volume are filled,
contrast strangely with the unearthly mysti-
cism which surrounded the hermits life as de-
scribed in later portions of the book. Individ-
ual taste will of course determine the degree
of interest with which each reader will follow |
the record of Thoreau's life, and not the small
est number will turn gladly away from the |
volume, believing that wisdom and song are
not blossoms in waste places; and that one
who shuts himself away from sympathy with |
the work of the world as it moves, leads sell
fish and undesirable life, loses the sense of |
value and proportion of things, and even dim
inishes the action Of whatever gifts of poetry |
or thought were natural to him as well as that |
of the practical power. common and needful to !
all mems work.
Ants, Bees and Wasps. By Sir John Lub-
book New York: ID. Appleton y Co.; Port
land Hoyt, Fogg & Donham). This volume
of the International Scientific Series contains
some very patient and minute investigations |
into the habits, intelligence and powers of these
three classes of insects. To specialists, these |
observations will be of the greatest value and
interest and the general reader will admire
the careful research of the naturalist and will
share, in some degree, his enthusiasm for the
curious little peoples of hill and hive.
Floating Matter Of the Air. By John Tyn'
dali, F. r. S. New York: D. Appleton &
Co.; Portland: Hoyt, Fogg & Donham). This
remarkable investigation into the nature of
the notes which every ray of sunshine proves
to be present in the air, is work to be read
by every practical surgeon. as well as by theo-
rists in science. These observations have been
eSS
at once become authoritative as to tho rela-
lions of dust and disease.
Demosthenes. By s. 81. Butcher, M. A.
New York: D. Appleton & Co.; Portland:
Hoyt Fogg & Dunham). A new volume ofthe
Classical Writers Series, edited by Mr.. John
Richard Green, the historian 1t opens with
sketch of the tiEes in which Demosthenes
fourished then follow chapters dividing his
public life and speeches into four periods COW
ering the years from the rise of Macedon in
34S B. G. to Demosthenes' death, 1922 B. c. A |
chapter upon his private speeches, an estimate
of him as statesman and orator, and tabula
tion of his works close the volume.
The Prophets of Israel. By W. Robertson |
Smith, LID. (New York; d. Appleton: Port
land: Hoyt, Fogg & Donham) The place in |
history occupied by the Israelitish prophets up |
to the time of the deliverance of the Jews from |
the rule of Assyria, formed the subject of |
eight scholarly and able lectures delivered in
Edinburgh and Glasgow by Prof. Robertson |
Smith. They are sound and direct in style, |
and keep pace with the modern knowledge of |
Assyrian and Egyptian records taken from |
tablets and papyri. The volume is somewhat |
ampli6ed from the lectures as originally given. |
Tales of the Argonauts. By Bret HarJe.
Boston: Houghton s. Mifiin; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony. The agreeable print,
convenient and handsome style of this Library |
Edition of Mr.. Harte's inimitable stories at |
once commend themselves. Little need be
said of the sketches for no one who has read
them can forget them or fail to enjoy new
perusal and those who have not read them
have lost pleasure in the past but are enviable
to have that pleasure in store for the future.
The Bridal March. By Bjorn Bjornson.
Translated by Rasmus B. Anderson Boston;
Houghton & Mifflin; Portland: Loring, Short
& Harmony The story which gives its name
to the volume is worthy of Hans Andersen.
The strange Morse flavor, THE simplicity and
berserker strength of the peasant of Norway
are transferred to these stores-which lose
nothing, it would seem, in Prof. Anderson's
spirited translation. OF the shorter sketches
in the volume that of Blakken the horse is
wonderful for fiery force. 1t reads like some
Saga; or Blakken might have been brother to
the warhorse described by job
Two Days. By W: Newport. New York;
Fords, Howard & Hulbert.) This pretty little
volume of the Hammock Series in it's length
and intellectual demands suited as prelude
to forty winks, is story of the loves and in
nocent coquetries of girl of ten and boy OF
fourteen years. 1t is not at all book for chill
dren-but will entertain their elders somewhat
as the miniature opera tronpes do, with their
tiny but serious passions.
A new number Of Messrs. Harpers' Franklin
Square Series is Geraldine's Lovers, novel by
Mr.. C. M. Simpson. portland: Loring, Short
& Harmon.)
Books Received.
Camps in the Rockies. By William A. Bail
lie Grohman Cloth, 438 PIP. New York. Charles
Scrbner's Sons. Portland Loring. Short & Har-
mon.
Autinous; Romance of Ancient Rome. By
George Taylor. Translated from the German by
Mary J.ssSatford. Paper, 343 PIP, so cents. New
York: William S. Gottsberger. Portland: Loring
Short s. Harmon.
Gypsie. By Minnie E. Kenney. Paper, 313 PIP.
go cents. New York: G, P Putnam's Sons
Portland LoriDg, Short g. Harmon.
Victor Emmanuel. By Edward Dicey. Cloth,
1874 DID,, 81. New York: G.. p. Putnam's Sons.
portland. orino Short & Harmon.