The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-13

building Of this stately historic pyramid. The
scope of the work takes in a period Of three
centuries and a half, from the third to the
middle of the seventh of the Christian era
Professor Rawlinson has taken an Oriental
view of his subject; that is to say, he has cho-
sen, and very rightly, to treat of the history Of
the eastern Kingdoms not merely as a contri-
button to the civilization, the art or archaeology
OF our time, but as distinct and splendid
epochs, of vital and all-important interest to
the men who lived in course of their years.
This large-minded and vivid quality of Profess
sor Rawlinson's work fills these volumes with
vigor and interest. There have been written
already numerous works upon Persia, Assyria,
etc., by specialists in architecture, numismat-
los and other departments; but as balanced,
adequate and complete survey--so far as mod
ern science has been able to revive ancient
things- this series of volumes will remain au-
thoritative.
History of Ancient Art By DR.. Franz Won
Reber. Translated and augmented by Joseph
Thaeher Clarke. New York: Harpers; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony An exceed
ingly compact and competent survey of ancient
art, written by DR.. Reber in 1871; and which
has been lately under process of revision and
addition by author and translator together.
The march of recent science has been so rapid
that writer upon antiquity almost needs TO
publish alweekly supplement- to his volumes
To the student of art and ancient history, this
will be found a very valuable manual suited
for purposes of individual or class study. 1t is
fully illustrated, and gives clear explanations
of the architecture, portraiture of men and ami
mails, conventional ornament, coloring ETC., of
the antique nations.
Ole Bull. A Memoir by Sara G. Bull.
Boston: Houghton, Miflin & Co.; Portland:
LoriDg, Short s. Harmony. Ole Bull was one
of the mort picturesque and attractive of mu-
seians; and his 1.-the and stately figure his
venerable white hair. his flashing eyes, and
the passionate tenderness with which he ham
died his violin are recent memories not soon
to be effaced from the minds of his audiences
Like Nine. Jenny Lind, he first came to Amer
lea in a fortunate time for musicians The
singers aud players who delighted the conn-
tries over the sea, hardly thought of crossing
the Atlantic; and il by chance one came
here, he was received with uncritical and
grateful enthusiasm The personality of prima
donna or violinist was as much an object of
novelty and wonder as the performance, and
if the standards of comparison were few, the
public delight, at least was unbounded. Ole
Bull was, moreover, the typical violinist, a
rtharn xuiz nd ocu mic in Do
mimi, who was said in his Italy to have made
compact with the fend. The brilliant eff
fects, the extraordinary possession of genius,
thesintimate friendship of man andviolin SO took
the public that they overlooked the faults that
would have been more severely criticized at a
later time, and from a less magnetic artist.
Ole Bull was as unique and interesting, it is
said, in private life as upon the concert stage,
and he enjoyed the friendship of many choice
personages. The memoir is full of pleasant
tributes to him from great variety of sources.
The history of Ole Bulls life is eventual and
picturesque, tending to heighten the impress
sion made by his appearance and playing. In
an appendix are contained Violin Notes, with
illustrations showing the mechanism of violin
playing from photographs of the attitudes of
Ole Bull.
Emerson at Home and Abroad. By Mon
cure d. Conway. Boston: J. r. Osgood &
Co.. Portland: Loring, Short & HARMONY
This memorial volume, less biography than
a group of "reminiscences, will be particularly
acceptable to the immediate admirers of Mr..
Emerson and the school of philosophers of
which he was the central figure. To the reader
who is outside the Concord circle, it gives
somewhat vague impressions; and while it
contains many interesting anecdotes, its gener-
al manner seems overstrained and rhapsodical.
1t is not SO much the simple and noble figure
of the man, Ralph Waldo Emerson himself,
that Mr.. Conway depicts, as it is a portrait OF
him somewhat capriciously lighted and over
charged with conventional coloring and at
mosphere
The Hill of Stones and Other Poems. BY
s. Weir Mitchell, M. D. Boston: Houghton &
Mit1in Portland: LoriDg, Short & HARMONY
DR.. Mitchell's verse is ready, usually correct
in rhythm, of the kind that is easily written
and agreeable to read. His acquaintance with
good models, and his natural taste work togeth-
or to produce verse of at least average merit,
and from which many excellent lines could
easily be selected.
Poems. By Ernest Warburton Shurtleff.
Boston: A. Williams & Coz Mr.. Shurtleff is
young poet of whom some very good work
may be expected. He gives evidence of talent
and seems to be in process of healthfnl and not
precocious development. The natural and
fresh tone of his verse is much to be praised in
these days when the youngest singers like to
play at complicated passions and world. weary
experience Mr.. Shurtlen's talent is sincere,
rather old-fashioned in expression from close
following of the excellent models of English
verse of former generation. One would say
that he had ranged at will in soundly. chosen
library of conservative makeup, where Shell.
ley's works were among the newest and most
aluring models. The Rainbow may be called
an imitation of Shelley; and much of the verse
of slower measure is in the good old line OF
Thomson and Gray. But worthy imitation ia
much better than eccentricty for young po-
ct; and Mr.. Shurtleff proves himself to have
poetic thought and feeling of his own, if not
yet broad or brilliant stream, at least pure
direct and not lacking in native power. He is
young poet of promise, who has made some
steps in the right direction and may be reason
ably expected to make solid and effectual pro.
gress in his literary art.
The Children and the Church. By. f. E.
Clark. Boston; Congregational Sunday School
and Publishing Society; Portland Hoyt, Fogg
& Donham). An exceedingly practical and in.
teresting little volume, prepared by the pastor
of Williston church, in this city. Although its
details are of course especially suited to the
denomination of which Mr.. Clark is an able
member, its general spirit and line of argu-
ment will be found useful and suggestive to
all sects The main idea of the book is that
children should be allowed to feel themselves
part of their church, and to have some little
responsibilities connected with it. He very
wisely argues that it is better for children to
take some interest in religion while they are
children, and to grow up with its influence up
on them; rather than to wait for later years
when their passport to the prayers Of the
church may perhaps be a confession of badly
spent time, that might quite as easily have
been well passed. Mr.. Clark believes in natu-
raj, lively children, quite the reverse from the
little Pharisees of Sunday School tracts; and