The Portland daily press., 1882-06-17
Recent Publications.

1cal Sketch. by Francis ID. Y nuefWoou. tDoo-
ton: j. r. Osgood & Co.; Portland: Lori1g'
Short g. Harmony
This memorial volume, not intended as a full
and elaborate presentation of the facts OF the
great poets life, or as delicately balanced
and authoritative critique upon his genius and
work, deserves praise for the worthy and salts
flying manner in which Mr.. Underwood has
performed his task within the limits he as
signed for himself. This dignifed and clear
history of the poets life is prefaced by chap
ter devoted to an exceedingly interesting ac-
count of his ancestors and the prominent part
they took in the political and social affairs OF
their tiue. From noble stock were inherited
tho ex quisite courtesy, the unconscious klngh-
ness of Mr.. Longfellow's manner, and the deli
cate and large sympathy which throbs beneath
the perfect outline of his verse.
Mr.. Underwood has already noted in his mo-
nograph upon Mr.. Lowell, how utterly op-
posed was the narrow and unimaginative spir-
ii of the Puritans to all poetic achievement.
Many years passed after peace was declared
with England, before the barren soil was ready
for seeding and the air clear of battle smoke
for the Towering Of song. In the dawn OF
fortunate time, the poeJ Longfellow was born.
Several illustrations show the houses, all OF the
sturdy, four.square colonial fashion, which MT.
Lonefellow inhabited in Portland and Cam
bridge.
Mr.. Underwood's critical estimates OF the
poets works are sound appreciative and intel
ligible. In accordance with the general plan
of the volume, they are not extended or mi
n h,4+ vi; m i,ao nj raadpr notably
clear and just survey of the rich treasure
which is the worlds legacy from one OF the
highest and most humane of its lives.
The impression left by the reading of this
memorial is of volume written with no mo
tive less than the praising of the poet and the
desire to show him as he was, man upon
whom the strongest light may fall and find no
spot or stain. II is a volume well fitted to the
present need of the public, which welcomes
with open hands a worthy memoir OF Mr..
Lcngfellow's life, but which can wait until the
first stress of personal and loving grief be
passed over, for work which shall define with
mastery outline and detail, the exact literary
achievement the inspiration and art OF the
poet.
john ". OHiHUuus by LIZ. Ii OA AAo'oo'
Boston: Houghton, Mifflln & Co.; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony This volume OF the
American Statesmen Series is dramatic and
telling sketch of good man devoted to bad
cause The tragedy of such slavery is set forth
in the opening paragraph of the work, in such
clear and decided fashion that the keynote of
the whole work is instantly heard; and the sto-
ry of Calhoun's life moves on to its fatal fail
ure, not borne down by crowding circumstan-
ces, but done to death for sake Of strange god,
Slavery, already tottering to its fall. Great
was the fall thereof, but the statesman's dead
eyes did not see it, nor his dead ears hear the
crash and crumble of the hideous idol A life
that in its personal aims and deeds was upright
and clean, is buried in the ruins OF the most in
human and cruel of wrongs. Delusion can go
no farther than to persuade a man of right life
and honest heart that any nation can live and
prosper in sinfulness.
The Present Religious Conflict. By Angus
tus Blauvelt. New York: G. P. Putnam's
Sons; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony
This is an industrious, careful and earnest in
quiry into spiritual and religious matters
Whatever may be the measure of the readers
acauiescence in Mr.. Blauvelt's conclusions,
one cannot bat appreciate the liberal spirit and
the genuine faith which he evidences.
The Creation and Scripture. By Gilbert G.
Mcneil, M D. (New York: G. P. Putnam's
Sons; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony
This is an interesting volume, published since
oufh of rpf7actiOnS and
speculations concerning the dealings of Provi-
dence with the world. A chapter which the
writer's medical experience emphasizes is that
which sets forth the kindly warnings and i'm
mutable penalties of nature, and the causes
and progress of pestilence and of the less terri
BILE but equally sure influences of bad air and
water The tone of the volume is one of be-
lief and honest investigation.
Diseases OF Memory. By Tn. Ribot. Zap
pleton's International Scientific Series; Port
land: Hoyt Fogg & Donham) This work,
like most others of the series to which it be-
longs, while thoroughly scientific and devoted
to the minute presentation of single topic, has
much in its pages to interest the general and
non-scientiic reader The phenomena of MEM
ory, its felicities and its lapses, are
familiar to all. The curious and in
tangible wires that carry. thought like
flash into the past are set in motion by hid
den batteries M. Ribot explains, so far as
modern science has discovered, an in clear
and philosophical fashion, the workings and
alterations of the cells of the brain where
memories are pigeon-holed away for safe keep
ing until called for. He relates curious cases
of double consciousness, of extinction OF MEM
ory. etc., and arrives at the conclusion that
memory depends upon processes of organiza-
| ton. with alternate nutrition and waste.
Gabriel Conroy. By Bret Harte. Boston:
Houghton, Mlf1in & Co.; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmon) This edition of Mr.. Harte's
works is elegant for the library shelves; and
comfortable for the reader who will like to re-
new his acquaintance with the tender and I'M
practical nobility of Gabriel, the straightfor-
ward and precocious Oily, and the inimitable
remarks of the usual chorus as interpreted by
| Mr.. Harte: and he will not fail to shed a tear,
undeserved, perhaps, but irrepressible, for sake
| of Jack Hamlin.
| Orient Sunbeams, or From the Porte to the
Pyramids By Samuel s. Cox New York: G.
| P. Putnam's Sons; Portland Loring, Short &
Harmony. Although Mr.. Cox's rhetoric is gor-
geous as silk quilt in 500 pieces, and his Ian
guage breaks down the dykes OF the Una
bridged and threatens to dro wn the dictionary,
| his honest, original and good-humored observa-
| ton and the thorough desire to see and under
stand the historic and picturesque scenes
which he visits, make his book much more
readable and graphic than many a languid and
elegant impression de Uoyage Congressman
| Cox is alive all over, and is not afraid to ex-
| press his delight in seeing countries and peo-
pies of which he has read, and which have in
terested his active and practical mind.
| The Defense of the Bride, and Other Poems
| By Anna Katharine Green. (New York: g.
| P. Putnam's Sons; Portland: Loring, Short q
| Harmon) Miss Green is already well known
as the author OF some of the best sensational
stories which have been written, for instance
| the Leavenworth Case, in which the mystery