The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-12-01
New Publications.
HERoporus EoR BOYS AND GIRL.

We are glad to see Herodotus once again
brought into the notice of our young people.
His reputation as the Father OF History has al
ways entitled him to our veneration, but amid
the pressure of our periodicals, works Of fiction
and our increasing modern histories, few find
time to become acquainted with the works OF
the early classic writer's; so that Herodotus and
many other old worthless are allowed to lie un-
opened among the mus.y relics of the family
archives. The quaint covers and dingy type
that attract the book-worm and antiquarian,
repel the first glance of the fresh aspiring in
tellect.
Mr.. White has dressed this patriarchal au.
thor ia new garment, not sparing some deco.
ration in the line Of fine illustrations, indspen-
sable in this age OF universal art to crafty the
taste Of our boys and girls. who have often
pushed aside the old calf bindings in grand
fathers library, no matter how well recon-
mended, to be read when they shall find the
long-looked-for, but never-reaehed, plenty of
leisure.
Herodotus both entsrtains and instructs his
readers by mugling with the dry historical
facts and dates, graphic descriptions of the gs.
ography OF the country, of the domestic ami
mails, and of the social customs and religious
rites of the various nations among whom he
sojourned indeed he SO actually domesticates
his readers in the homes and daily life OF the
Ancients that they hardly realize they have
been perusing the book they had in past times
condemned as prosy and oldfashioned. His
heroes are live men and women, and do not ap-
pear like automatons, impelled By the Fates,
moving up and down the stage OF life, as often
historical characters seem In the far-off misty
arenas of the dead nations. 1t would amply
reward many amateurs in composition to study
and appropriate to themselves the simple, ef-
fective rhetoric of such model, who never en-
cumbers his style with the sounding brass and
tinking cymbals OF useless words.
A WONDER BOOK FOR GIRLS AND BOYS BY
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.
The auther's name alone sufficiently recon-
nends this book to all familiar with our own
American authors. With his individual skill
and pisuant style the writer has rendered the
oft-repeated tales of ancient mythology and
legendary history as fascinating, weird and
thrilling as hissstories of early Nsw England
life. He presents the mystic actors of prehis-
toric times ID tangible living forms, which can
be comprehended by the realistic children of
the nineteenth century. Mr.. Hawthorne,
making wise selection from the chaotic mass
of mythology and fable, left out many OF
the Objectionable features, repulsve to our
modern Christian civilization, and at the same
time has lost no opportunity to inculcate many
good lessons It isworth whils to reprint Haw-
thorne's works in varied attractive forms-to
inducs cur young readers to becom familiar
with his graceful style, as help in their lit
erary education. Mr.. Church has illustrated
the book with his well-known strength and
beauty of outline.
Among the recent publications is a novel,
Marjorie Huntingdon'b Miss Harriet Penna-
will Belt. The work is interesting and fully up
to the average in merit. Marjorie Hunting
don. the heroine, of course Is q character
which will interest every one, being strong
and original young woman brought up in an
exclusive way and suddenly becoming belle
while visiting friend in New York. Recsiy-
ing belle's share of attention she retains her
refreshing sincerity and regard to true worth
throughout the story. The other characters
are remarkably well drawn, showing Miss
Belt to be keen observer OF human nature.
The plot has q striking resemblance to the
story Of Anne.