The Portland daily press., 1883-09-15

discovery of some irregularities in the in
suranca--da essa.-AA. aFs,sssiHs--- win tonr
Butler up like scandal.
New Publications.
Young Peoples Life of George Washing
ton. By William M. Thayer. 466 pages.
50 cents. New York: John B. Alden.)
Mr.. Thayer has written lives of Lincoln
| and Garfield which the boys know very well
by their titles, From Log Cabin to the
White House" and ''From Pioneer Home to
the White House, He now offers life of
Washington, written in the same entertain
ing style, colloquial and replete with anec-
dote and incident told in graphic way,
which have made. the other books so popular.
The book is stimulating as well as interest
ing, and the boy who reads it will get an
exalted idea of the nobility of Washington's
character and career.
Told in the Twilight. BY f. E. Wether-
ly. Illustrated by M. Ellen Edwards and J.
c. Staples. New York: E. p. Dutton s&
Co. Portland: Loripg, Short g. Harmon.)
81. 90.
This book contains some delightful stories
for children, told in verse, not mawksh but
suitable to their apprehension. 1t would be
charming book if it contained nothing but
these verses; but the illustrations are ex-
traordinary in their profusion, excellence of
drawing, and taste in coloring, so that the
book is really work of art, challenging the
interest and the admiration of cultivated
persons of all ages.
Lorna Doone A Romance of Exmoor.
By r. d. Blackmore. ~ mo-, $50 pages.
New York: Harper & Brothers. Port
land: Loring, Short and Harmony
There is no need at this day to say any
thing with the purpose of making known to
novel readers the excellencies of this charm
ing story of life in old Devon two hundred
years ago. Mr.. Blackmore loves Devon
with the same enthusiasm that Charles
Kingsley loved it, and this story has some
thing of the nobility aud power of Kings
ley's great story of Devonshire heroes and
sailors. 1t has passed to sixth edition for
which the author writes new preface.
Those who know il will not wonder at this
success. Those who do not know it will do
well to make acquaintance with it early. It
is book which both delights and strength
ems the reader.
The Life of Washington and the History
of the American Revolution. By Washing
ton Irving, with illustrations. Centennial
edition complete in two parts Large s 70.
226 pages. New York., G. P. Putnam's
Sons. Portland: Loring, Short & Harmon.
80 cents.
This is wonderfully cheap edition of
well known standard work. The paper,
type, printing and all mechanical parts are of
a quality that pleases. Such an edition pop
ularizes good literature and serves the cause
ofpatriotism. No household need be with
out Washington Irving's Life of George
Washington, when it can be had for sixty
cents
Fore and Aft. A story of Actual Sea
Life. By Robert B. Dixon. Boston: Lee
&.Shepard. Portland, Bailey g Noyes. 16
mo. 325 pages. S1.25.
A narration in a straightforward, matter
of fact way of the experience of young man
who left the Boston schools and shipped be-
fore the mast on brig which sailed from
New York and voyaged first to Vera Cruz
and then across the Atlantic. The author
writes in a way which gives assurance that
he is telling sal plain unvarnished tale,''
and the description of the sailors actual du-
ties and fortunes is not one that will tempt
young men to try the life for themselves.
But it has been often remarked that people |
refuse to profit by the experience of others,
and in spite of the warning which such
narrative gives, boys will continue to long to
go to sea, and continue to believe that the |
sailor life is one of satisfactions. Times have
changed since Dana's 1.-TWO Years before |
the MAST appeared, but the lot of the men
who sleep in the fo'castle has not improved. |
Mr.. and Mrs. Morton. Boston: Cupples, |
Upham & Co.. Portland: Loring, Short & |
Harmon.
An unpleasant story, with spice of mys-
terry, and real or fancied flavor of local |
gossip that has given 1t considerable sale,
and-judging by the number of small edi-
tions said to have been sent out, it must have
been profitable venture for the Old Corner
Book Store. But with the reading of such |
story the wonder grows that there can Of
ten be so great disproportion between the
merits and the merchantable qualities of |
books.
Altiora Peto BY Laurence Oliphant, |
Author of s'Piccadilly," and ''Irene Magilli- |
cuddy." New York: Harper & Brothers.) |
This is the first number of the Duodecimo
Edition of the franklin Square Library,
wherein we recognize the clear type and
neat makeup of the famous pamphlet Sc
ries. 1t is charming design, and will be
warmly welcomed by the readers who have
learned the value of these publications; and
it is decidedly clever story.
A Newport Aquarelle Boston: Roberts |
Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short 81 Har- |
mon.)
One takes up this elegant little summer
offering, its very covers showing the sparkle
of the surf, with hopeful feeling. 1t is
dainty bit of publishers work, and it ought
to be bright and clean within. But it is
hastily written sketch of people among whom
there only appears to be one tolerably good |
fellow with heart, and not woman whom |
one would be willing to own for mother or |
a sister-except, possibly, some OF the "Bos-
ton gang" who really seem to enjoy having |
their husbands about them weekdays. Some |
good may come of reading about these heart |
less creatures, among whom even Gladys
Carleton appears to have taken up with
bogus English lord without even the poor
excuse of loving him; but the shallow gossip |
that makes up the bulk of the book were |
better told in newspaper letter-if, indeed,
it were well to tell it at all. One gets very |
tired of the monotonous low tone of the |
modern American story, and longs for the |
temperance of one strong, sweet woman
at least for background to set off the We
neer and villainv The heroine here is not
absolutely uninteresting, but wholly unsat-