The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-27

telligent If his observations have not the
amazing vea0e and rapidity of de Amicis'
sketch es, they are more adapted to the average
liking, and contain much more sound and VAL
liable information. The reader will not fail TO
apprec late the refinement, accurate and quick
sight, and the thorough and practical knowl-
edge of Nj. de Hesse- Wartegg. He is TO be
congratulated upon an extremely clear and
readable transcript of his impressions. The
volume is well printed ana illustrated.
The Wisdom of the Brahmin. Translated
from the German of Friedrich Rickert, by
Charles T. Brooks. Books I-VI. Boston:
Roberts Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony The great poem of Ruckert, Of
which this volume contains the first six books
of twenty, embodied the wisdom which the
author had attained in the course of his life,
and of which his labors dis Professor of Orien-
tai Literature suggested the form. In the
guise Of the utterancss of Brahmin, Ruckert
wrote an almost endless succession of medita-
tive verses, while the aphoristic form and ORR
entail manner aided him in clearing up some
of the vagueness of his German philosophy
expression. The verses abound ia sound sense,
sometimes shrewd and homely, again adjoining
plain truth by beauty Of comedy words, but
everywhere full of wisdom ranging over the
widest modulations of experience and language.
1t will strengthen faith and interest in Rick
ert's work to know that one Of his last poems
was an inlprompte in praise of Abraham Lin
coin. As to Mr. Brooks's translation it may
be said that, while it often lacks smoothness
and felicity of metre or words, it is worthy OF
much praise as a faithful and really successful
performance Of most difficult task.
A Little Pilgrim. Boston: Roberts Brothers;
Portland: Loring, Short s. Harmony A most
delicate and elevated work, which can hardly
be described in other than the somewhat over
worked phrase, prose poem. The whole tone
of the little volume and certain especial ca
dences of its language, lead one TO attribute its
authorship to Miss jean lngeiow, with as
much certainty the origin of anonymous
book may be affirmed. 1t is an injustice to the
little book to attempt any description of it, so
SOFT tender and luminous is the atmosphere
which fills its pages Briefly it may be said to
relate the experience of a simple and sweet
soul in heaven, earth left an easy step behind,
who makes her way toward the highest spaces.
The extreme lightness and softness Of touch
and the comforting warmth Of the book are
very different from the strenuous clang and
commonplace hard energy with which some
writers strive to set the gates ajar, to enter
with unafraid feet.
Knocking Round the Rockies. By Ernest
Ingersoll (New York: Harper & Brothers;
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony A
fresh and effective recital of Tour in the
Rocky Mountains, fully and we'll illustrated
and handsomely printed and bound, making it
an attractive volume for the holidays. The
superb scenery, the adventures Of camp-life
and among the Indians are graphically de-
scribed, and there is much interesting and
practical information concerning the mining
and surveying of the region. Mr.. Ingersoll
writes with keen sense of enjoyment, and an
eye to humorous detail which is never forced
or wearisome. His style is manly and agree
able.
Cesette. Authorized translation from the
French of Emile Pourillon. By Charles Will
Liam Woolsey. New York: G. P. Putnams
Sons; Portland: Loring, Short & HARMONY
An idyl of French peasant life, as realistic and
at the same time poetic, as sketch Of Millet.
The story of Cesette the sheep-tender, with its
sorrows and happiness, and the accompanying
sketch of French landscape and peasantry, the
strange superstitions and frank passions of the
people form a novelette, as striking as it is
charming. Mr.. Woolsey's translation is both
careful and spirited.
Something's Transcendental Idealism. By
John Watson, LII. D., F. r. s. Chicago: S.
@. Griggs & Co.; Portland: Hoyt, Fogg &
Donham.) In this work Professor Watson
makes a learned and elaborate critique of
Schelling's philosophy; and concludes that
"the best fruit Of the study of Sehelling is the
hold it enables us to have over the infinitely
richer and fuller system Of his successor Hegel'
whom he ranks together with Kant as the
highest of philosophers.
Messrs. Naomi Ian & Co. of London publish
two fully illustrated pamphlets containing ex-
tracts from Irying's Sketch Book, Braoebridge
Hall and Old Christmas. Mr.. r. Caldecott's
illustrations are capital, and the cheap and
convenient form of these classics will commend
them to popular liking. Portland: Hoyt,
Fogg & Donham.)
Messrs. Harper & Brothers publish in their
two-column edition of the Franklin Square Ii
brary, Blackmore's fine novel, Lorna Doone.
The print, paper and general style of this edi-
ton are particularly pleasant to the reader. In
the three-column edition, recent numbers are
Rachel's Inheritance, an unnecessarily dismal
and wholesome story, well told. by Margaret
Veley; The Friendships of Mary Russell Nit
ford, already reviewed in these columns. and 8
history of the Great Diamonds of the World,
which includes many romantic incidents and
is written by Edwin w. Streeter.
Messrs. E. P. Dutton g. Go. of New York pub
lisb an ILLUMINATED calendar for 1883, with a
poetical SELECTION for each day of the year, chos-
an from, me writings of Frances Ridley Haver-
ge,.~ On the back of the calendar are postal
regulations, etc. (Portl and: A. L. Dresser &
Co.
Juvenile Books.