The Portland daily press., 1883-03-12

MUS to Boethius. By George Augustus Sim
cox. New York: Harper & Brothers; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony The
amount of learning and research comprised
in these two Volumes not at all excessive in
their size, will incite readers to thank Mr..
Simcox for his efforts on their behalf. 1t
must have been difficult and often dry
task to arrange popular history of Latin
literature, in such manner that students
who do not desire to make specially of the
classics, but to be generally well informed
therein, shall derive from its pages a clear
notion Of the tendencies of letters during
the reigns included in the scope of the vol
ume, and of the relative Importance, the
style and subjects of the Latin writers. Mr.
Simcox attempts no subtle literary criticism
or fine writing on his own account. His aim
seems to be to give such description of the
literature of Rome as shall most directly ap-
peal to the average intelligence of our own
time.
Cyclopedia of Religious Literature. Vol
III. The Early Days Of Christianity. By
F. w. Farrar. New York: John B. Alden,
In this work, which belongs to the depart
ment of ecclesiastical history, Canon Farrar
writes with all his accustomed power and
vividness. He describes the state of civiliz-
alton at the beginning of the Christian era,
tine FeHgioHs fdeas OF the schools OF A1eXan-
dria aud Jerusalem, and takes the writings
of et. Paul as the foundation for his extern
siye and copious comment. The contrasted
picture of the intoleraDle sad splendor of
Roman life and the-austere and slender be-
ginnings of the new faith are drawn with
mastery brush.
English Literature in the Eighteenth Cen
tury. By Thomas Sergeant Perry. New
York Harper & Brothers; Portland: Loring,
Short & HARMONY The eighteenth century
was not period of especially spontaneous
literary workout its history was capable of
more flexible and sympathetic treatment
than Mr.. Perry has given it in his volume.
1t is probable that the fact that these chap
ters were delivered in the form of lectures.
influenced the writer to somewhat smarter
and more irresponsible fashion of phrases
than he might have chosen had the first de-
sign of his work been for print instead of
oratory. Nevertheless, the liveliness of the
work need have been in no wise diminished,
and its power and attractiveness would have
been greatly heightened by a less remote
and unsympathizing attitude of criticism.
Mr. Perry blames smartly and praises eau
tiously and coldly-an evidence that he has
attained to no mastership of criticism; and
his determinations are rather of literary in
telligence than of literary instinct 1t is
easy to learn to find fault in phrases of ready
and entertaining neatness; but the power of
critical insi ght and sympathy is an inborn
gift to be heightened by delicate training
and kept apart from the withering vanity
of showing off the critic at the expense of
the subject criticized. MIR. Perry. does not
leave his readers with increased interest in
the literature of the eighteenth century, but
rather inclining to the conclusion that our
literary forefathers were very dull set of
persons. 1t is only fair to credit Mr. Perry's
volume with much interesting information.
But in concluding, one must protest against
the ungenerous and causeless fling at Mr..
William Morris exquisite and faultiess tell
ing of tales, which is among the unnecessary
smartness from which Mr.. Perry cannot
withhold himself When he makes occasion
to allude to to the writings of Mr.. Swim
bruno and others of the neo-romantic group
of writers, his toue is quite too unapprecia-
tive of the brilliant temper of their verse.
Figures Of the Past By Josiah Quincy
Boston: Roberts Brother: Portland Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony. Like sudden
transition from the atmosphere of boggy
evening made visible by the heatess and
colorless electric lamp 70 pleasurable and
wholesome daylight is the turning from the
inactive literary pessimism of Mr.. Perry's
book to the charming memoir of old times
which was Mr.. Quincy's legacy to the pub
lie. One reads between the lines all sorts
of pleasant things. The dignity that sits so
easily and gracefully, the fresh interest, the
kindly and genial tone of the work are in
imitably winning. Touches of humor here
and there are worthy of DIR. Holmes in some
ofhis best moments. The vigorous command
of details and the fine use of langu TO-
gether with the natural and graceful fash
ion of Mr.. Quincey's narrative, combine to
make his volume one of the choicest, most
elegant and entertaining of memoirs, while
it is exceedingly valuable as record of cir
cumstances well worth remembering. The
reader can only wish that Mr.. Quincy
might know and have thanks for the pleas
ure that his volume gives-the volume
which he lived to complete but not to see
published
Landmarks of English Literature. BY
Henry j. Nicoll. New York; d. Appleton
& Co.; Portland: Hoyt, Fogg & Donham).
A remarkably well-arranged work on Eng
lish literature. prepared for the benefit of
young students or for those readers who de.
sire general sound view of the subject.
rather than minute acquaintance with 1t.
In an excellent Introductory chapter Mr..
m 4.