The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-06
Recent Publications.

1gHdliu3 Douheiiy. kN6W loih' A"-Po-s'
Portland: Loring, Short and Harmony
more brilliant, fascinating and imaginative
contribution to prehistoric theory it would
be hard to find Mr.. Donnelly starts from
Platos description of the island OF Atlantis;
and, after a suryey-so rapid and eager that
the reader almost overlooks the wonderful pa
thence and ingenuity employed in making it
of the remnants of history which survived the
deluge of the comparative civilizations OF
Chaldea, Egypt. Assyria, and the American
continent, of traditions, customs and religious
rites, we are irresistibly led to believe that the
desired Atlantis was no fable made to fatter
the restless hopes of mankind, but was a love-
ly, sea-washed land, the unforgotten cradle OF
the human race, which yet has in mind a mem
DRY of it as of morning dream. The critical
reader will be likely to observe that, like all
writer's who have theory in which they are
especially interested Mr.. Donnelly occaslonal-
ly strains fact to conformity, but 60 many
correspondence point to common origin OF
man, SO many resemblances exist between tne
most remote peoples, and such testimony OF
various ancient writings remain, which the At
lantis theory reconciles and supports, that 1t
appears both sound and attractive. AT least it
is better to believe too much than too little;
ard until some scientist shall arise in his might
to convince us that Atlantis was a fable, and
its kings and heroes were not the gods of the
Greeks and Romans, and that the ten rulers
had division and sway only in No Mans Land
let us take delight in this most fascinating Of
books, written surely in the very spirit of en-
4b,,c; St;o OuidQd westward
the ancient seafarng folk to seek the fortunate
island of Atlantis.
Whittier Leaflets, compiled by Josephine E.
Hodgdon. Boston: Houghton, Mifain & Co
Portland: Loring, Short and Harmony These
leaflets, each containing one of Mr.. Whittiers
poems, are designed for reading and recitation
in schools and families; and ought to be at
once made part of the exercises in every
school in the land. The importance of devel-
oping child's mind by giving it experience OF
the choicest literature is becoming more and
more appreciated 1t is unjust to give child
rem dry and poorly written textbooks and
then note that children do not care for books;
or to train them to sing popular songs and
wonder that they do not understand the mas
tiers of music. One of the loveliest features of
the celebration of Mr.. Longfellow's last birth
day was the singing and recitation of his poems
by children, in every part of the country.
And the boys and girls who are to be the next
generation of citizens, should be taught the
story of the abolition of slavery; and among
the foremost names of the men who were
strong for the saving of the nation, stands the
name of John Greenleaf Whittier. Rsverenced
as poet, and honored as a hero, the children
will find in his songs the heart of him young
and fresh as theirs.
The Rhymester. By the late Tom. Hood.
Edited, with additions, by Arthur Penn.
(New York: d. Appleton & Co.; Portland:
Hoyt, Fogg and Donham) This is a useful
and concise grammar of versfcation, written
by Mr. Hood in the course of his editorial ex-
perience, for the benefit of workers in metre,
1t modestly and sensibly sets forth to be mere
ly guide to the technical part of verse-mak-
ing, drawing clearly the dividing line between
verse and poetry. These definitions are good
to remember, and perhaps were best expressed
by Coleridge, in saying that verse and prose,
not prose and poetry, are the opposite of each
other Indeed, what else can we think, while
the poetic work of Mr.. Ruskin, Mr.. William
Black-two names of many-is not rythmical,
and Proverbial Philosophy moves in measure!
Mr.. Hoods treatment of his subject is clear,
sensible and ineligible. He sets forth the
process of substitution of modern accent for
classic feet, and gives many useful hints as to
metre, assonance, &C. Some of thu minor
rules of verse, as laid down by Pope and his
compeers are out-grown and lost in a larger
system of metrical harmony, precisely as mod
ern musical theory admits many discords and
their resolutions that would have abraded the
ear-drums of the early harmonists, who ham
died chords of the seventh as if they were hot
halfpence. The Rhyming Dictionary append
ed is rather incomplete one, and is gift of
doubtful good to aspiring poets. Mr.. Penn,
for his part inserts here and there parenthet-
ical remark, often much to the point. His
notes upon the ballade, rondel, rondeau, ETC.,
are interesting. The terra rinaa needs little
more comment than it receives, passed over
slightly as variation of the triplet And the
paptouna, form of verse which has been inn
ported from the Malays has an exquisite power
of languofous force which the comic examples
quoted from Mr.. Austin Dobson and Mr.. Bun
ner wholly lose. The first thing to be done
with an exotic of verse, as with foreign plant,
is to consider its native atmosphere, and the
conditions and form of its growth. So do
ing, we find the pdntoon full of strenuous,
reiterate passion, drowsy fire, and an inde-
scribably subtle and heavy perfume, like
flower of the jungle. 1t is misfortune and
hindrance to the art of verse, that SO many ex-
periments in brilliant and delicate styles are
made in society-verse or burlesque; it may be
in modest depreciation of the poets right to
dictate new forms, but on the other hand, 1T
loses the grace of earnest work, and often of
the peculiar essence of the verse itself. But
and if the inexperienced will write verse-they
will do well to study this compact little vol
ume; SO that if the gods have made them poet
ical, their technical skill may equal their fan
cy; or, if they were not born or fit for poets at
least they shall not go SO far astray that there
need be discount from the usual rates of d
cents per pound.
Dorothea. Boston: J. r. Osgcod g. Co.;
Portland: Loring Short & Harmony. This new
number of the Round Robin Series is particu-
larry attractive, lively and original. The Phil
adelphia Exposition furnishes brilliant back
ground for an extremely pleasant and graceful
romance, which runs on bright and bn billing to
its prosperous end. 1t is one of the prettiest of
stories for Summer reading.
Hyperion and Outre-Mer are published in
tasteful pamphlet form By Messrs Houghton
& Mflin of Boston, for sake OF protection to
their copyright; and they appeal to the justice
of the public to support them by purchasing
their editions of Mr.. Longfellow's works which
are the authentic and rightful ones. Mean
while it is pleasant to think that no home need
lack the writings of the beloved poet, since this
edition is offered at nominal price. port
land Loring, Short & Harmony
History OF France By Charlotte M. Yonge.
(New York: D. Appleton & Co.; Portland;
Hoyt Fogg & Donham.) This spirited and
picturesque little volume is one of the History
Primers Series, edited by the historian, Mr..
John Richard Green, who seems to have in
rx,;.ad b;c ools hora will, fashion IF