The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-16
New Publications.
Discoveries or AMEnrcA no rRE YrAp


The title of this book and its substantial ap-
pearance, would lead one at frat sight to re-
gard it as sober historical work, and might
deter the general reader from further examin-
alton; but more careful scrutiny would re-.
veal his error. The book belongs to class OF
literary productions now becoming popular,
the most startling example of which was furn-
ished by Ignatius Donnelly, under the title of
1.-THE Lost Atlantis" and which is mingling
of myth and history, of romance and reality,
entertaining and instructive.
The author, Arthur James Weise, treats in
his opening chapter of the vestiges of an an
Gent civilization in Amerca--that most inter-
esting and perplexing of subjects. Showing
from the most ancient scriptures the great an
tqaity of the red race, he relates the wonder
full story of Poseidon, the materials OF which
were gathered by Scion from the Egyptian
priests, and finally given to the world by Pa
to in his Critias or the Atlantic. The writer
makes no deductions from this story; but the
inference is legitimate that he supposes these
early myths to point to westera continent
known to the ancient oriental world. He fol-
lows these myths by something which
lies upon the boundary Of real
history; namely the Morse sagas relating
to the voyages of Bjorni Heriulson, Left
Ericsson and others at the close of the tenth
and beginning of the eleventh centuries,
which may be found az large in the "Antiqui-
tates Americana" and in the Prince Society's
publication of 1.-The Mortimer in America"
SSfHapS Inc I1OSG popular account OF UnOS0
voyages was given by Toulbrinn Smith some
years ago. More recently Prof. Anderson of
Michigan has epitomised the story in his
columbus not the Discoverer or america"
From this period our author steps upon historic
ground, and SO continues to the end unless
some carper might object to the voyage of
Verr aZanno which he ends with; indeed such
an one might say that Mr.. Wese began in
smoke aud ended in smoke. In criticlsing
book, however, we should regard the object of
its author, which without flourish of
trumpets is, in this case, evident, and which is
to present to the running reader summary
account of available matters relating to his
subject, leaving him to make HIS own deduc-
tions without bias to this or that theory. This
is wise, and the book must be regarded as not
only extremely interesting, but equally useful,
There is a somewhat pretentious display of old
maps, of ordinary execution, that of Juan de
la Cosa seeming but a caricature of the one ia
the Harleian Society's collection; at the same
time, the book Is clearly printed upon most ex-
cellent paper, and is a credit to the publishers.
Theophile Gautier gave us the most delight
full book ever written about Russia His daugh-
ter, Judith Gautier, has recently published an
historical romance 1.-THE Usurper, An Episode
in Japanese History" which has been finely
translated from the French by Miss Alger of
Boston. While we by no means intend to COM
pare it to any of Theophile Gautiers works
for it is unlike them ia scope and literary
6IYlG-N6 lake pltdbuf6 III calling 6HpGCl3l at
tention to this publication. There is an at
traction il a new field and Japanese scenes are
as vet new to US. The opening chapter of The
UsGrper'' introduces Fide-Yori ruler of Japan,
in an interview with a Japanese Jeanne Arc
The Eastern tone OF description is wonderfully
we'll sustained throughout the book. To quote
itlle-"Before him stretched lemon grove
in full bloom. Every tree and every shrub
seemed covered with hoar-fr0st; on the top
most twigs the dawn cast tints of rose aud
n hgK,t hrr.n !.
fumed load; the clusters OF flowers hung to the
ground, upon which the overbUrdened boughs
trailed Amid this white wealth, which gave
forth delicious odor, few tender green
leaves were occasionally visible;" and a bit of
costume paintiDg-"His comrades dress was,
on the contrary, very elegant His robe was
made OF soft white silk, jast tinged with
blue suggestive of reflected moonlight. II fell
in fine folds to his feet, and was confined at the
waist by girdle of black velvet The wearer
was tgenty-four years old; he was specimen
of perfect beauty. The warm pallor of his
face, his mockiDgly sweet eyes, and, above all,
the scornful indifference apparent in his whole
person, exercised strange charm. His hand
rested on the richly wrought hilt Of one of the
two swords whose points lifted up the folds of
his black velvet cloak, the loose hanging
sleeves of which were thrown back over bis
shoulders" These brief extracts are quite in
adequate to indicate the strength of the book,
which the reader will realize from the first
page to the last.
The name on the title page of "The San Ro-
sario Ranch" enc amoog several novels "just
out" is q name well known to New England
people. Miss Howe-a Newport belle aud
beauty, daughter Of Julia Ward Howe, the
original OF various charming portraits painted
by Porter-makes her debut in the literary
world In this ber first novel-at least her first
acknowledged work; we fancy her pen has not
been idle previous to this, and it is COMMONLY
supposed that she wrote "a Newport Aqua
relle." Millicsnt Almsford, a young Venetian
with a sad, romantic early history, travels
from the Adriatic Sea to the Pacific Ocean to
live year or two with relatives in California
There she becomes betrothei to an artisan
cratic genius, with "bronze hair, golden
moustache' and "a stern profile exceedingly
beautiful" John Graham by name, who dwells
in an old tower in the ruins of the Spanish
| Mission at San Rosario. For the history of
their wooing the reader must consult the book.
| No doubt the little volume will find many
friends. The style of writing has contradic-
tory qualities; the sentences are ungraceful in
construction, While the choice of language Ia
very wide and produces an eloquent effect, SO
| much 80 as at times to be too ornate and deco