The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-06-03
Recent Publications.

squirrels and "merry brown hares" Mr.. Lee
lands fascinating volume feeds this desire for
the freedom of Summer, with its spirited, init
mate and ihougbtful sketches II gypsy life
The charm which the wandering people have
always possessed for more conventional and
law-abiding folk is not hard to ex plain. They
have close hand in baud with Nature; not low
ing it with the patronizing and self-conscious
attitude of the cockney cognoscenti who look
down some lovely woodpath, where the shut
ties Of the sunlight dart in and out of the welt
of the darkness of leaves, and exclaim, "A bit
OF Claude Lorraine" They take the delight
of this world without thought or question; and
so have not greatly strayed from the heart OF
Mother Earth, whose kindly touch is always
for the strengthening of her sons. Here aud
there is to be found enc who, not OF gypsy race,
is born to the tattered purple of Bohemia--not
the fevered, gaslit Bohemia Of the great cities.
with its premeditated lawlessness, alcoholized
gayety and utter vulgarity-but the natural
freedom, the gentle ancient dignity that can
balance itself without rules of etiquette. can
do without the elegant surroundings OF civili-
cation so it have the great air above it and the
world before it. The Spaniards, who are, says
Mr.. Leland all gypsies at heart, recognize this
strong leaning toward the ways of the dark
people, and have their word for it, Gfcionddo.
Mr.. Leland believes that the gypsies are de-
scendants of Pre-Aryan race OF India, of
which remnants still exist there in the low
caste called Dom. All over the world now,
the gypsies are to be found, "homing while
roaming" and word or two of their speech
Sc tof boir Holt The
famous musical gypsies of Russia received Mr.
Leland with open arms, and sang their best for
him; the Austrians, an orchestra OF gypsies
chosen by Lszt, played for their friend the
Romany Rye; and in England, Wales, even in
the staid limits of Philadelphia, Mr.. Leland
has had interesting experiences which he re-
counts in fashion as poetic as it is lively and
picturesque. His style has delicate charm of
Early English, together with fresh and geni-
al wit which is wholly modern. A chapter up
on House Gypsies in Philadelphia was written
by Miss Robins, a relative of MIR. Leland. tits
exceedingly interesting and contains song in
Romany language. The correctness and
"depth'' of Mr.. Leland's Romany it is not pos
sible for the present reviewer to pronounce up
On, but it is a little curious that in nearly ev-
cry instance where italian phrases appear in
the work they are more or less incorrect. The
chapter upon Shelta, tho tinker's talk men,
toned by Shakespeare land by no other writer,
says Mr.. Leland), is notable addition to phil
illogical research. Ancient Irish and Romany
seem to be strangely blended in its vocabulary,
together with the slang that catches on to all
popular speech as barnacles on the side of a
ship. In commenting this delicious volume, it
may surely be said that none can be more thor
oughly in harmony with the very spirit OF Sum-
mer woods or the free waves than this, which
should be very near the head of the list of
books chosen for the companions of the coming
!. season of leisure and rest.
Bancroft's History of the Formation of the
Constitution of the United States Of America
New York: D. Appleton & Co.; Portland,
Hoyt, Fogg & Donham)
This solid work, a patriotic labor involving
great research and balancing of testimony, has
for its motto Mr.. Gladstone's saying:
AS the British Constitution is the most sub.
tie organism which has proceeded from pro-
gressive history, SO the American Constitution
is the most wonderful work ever struck off at a
given time by the brain and purpose of man.
No characterization of the Constitution of
the United States could be more just than this
enthusiastic testimony of the great English lib
eral statesman. We can see how the larger
and more rapid civilization OF the present time
demands more flexible provisions, more adj
vanced theories Of political government in its
emergencies than it was possible for the hu-
man intelligence of the trainers of the Consti-
int f,h o~ 20 fora Ipnr Init 30 fo
to look back and appreciate what great toll,
what Independence and what instant concep-
ton of the Republican idea were the means of
building up the strong and steady framework
Of our government; and how the Constitution
was not the slow growth of old court customs
and diplomatic usageS, or the collective wisdom
of polite Poloniuses, but the record of the gen.
uine and active beliefs Of the fathers of our
country upon matters of government of the
new nation. The plan of Mr.. Bancroft's work
is to trace the growth of the federal constitu-
ton from its beginning to the time of the inau-
guration, under its provisions, of the President.
The subject divides itself into five epochs; and
the clearness, authority and judicious COM
ment of Mr.. Bancrofts work must place it
among the most eminent annals Of the nation.
Lecky's History of England in the Eigh-
teenth Century. Vols. III. and ~. (New York:
D. Appleton & Co Portland: Hoyt, Fogg &
Donham). These volumes maintain the fine
standard which Mr.. Lecky's earlier volumes
prescribe. He is essentially of the modern
school of historians, recognizing the drift of af
fairs not less than their statistics, viewing the
fought fields of war and politics with the imag-
NATIVE power that revives the spirit of battle,
and sets in motion the old ambitions and ter
rors that moved men in those times, while as
matter of record his historical work is as relia-
BILE az it is brilliant.
Montesquieu's Consideration of the Grand
eur and Decadsnce Of the Romans (New York:
D. Appleton; Portland: Hoyt, Fogg & Dom
ham, This translation Of Montesquieu's treat
Use is the careful and intelligent work of Mr.
Jehu Baker, of Bellville, illinois, with notes
by its former French editors and by the pres.
emit translator. Mr.. Baker draws constant
comparison and inference applicable to our own
times from the ancient annals as noted
by the French philosopher. He is to be cred
tied with the production of learned, tho ught-
full and honorable work.
Atlanta Campaigns Of the Civil War Sc
ries New York. Charles Scribner's Sons; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony This volume,
prepared by Jacob D. Cox, LID, whose rank
in war times was Major General commanding
the 23d Army corps, is notably clear in its view
of the situations of the campaign of Atlanta
The organization and preliminary movements,
the camp-life which preceded the action and
the brilliant record Of the battles are given
with the vivid testimony of an eyewitness and
the intelligence of practical soldier. lhe ex-
cellent arrangement of the volume deserves a
word of especial praise, as setting the historic
picture clearly before the reader.
AC Psychological Dictionary of the
4sglisb language. By Rev. Walter W. Skeat.
New York: Harpers). The author of this ad-
mirable vocabulary holds the place Of Profess
sor of Anglo-Saxon at the University of Cam
bridge 1t gives careful historic outlines of the
growth of the words of our English speech
from their original roots in Anglo-Saxon,
nro.oa Grsob ar .oti,, vuords profoccor Cbao+