The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-10-05

Cne pleasure OIL reading BalZac in his natiY,
tongue will miss some of the freshness an(
verve of his marvellous literary style. but
the translation is ON the whole sufficiently
well done to give the English reader an ides
OF the originality and power of the creates
Of modern French novelist His scenes
from Partisan and Provincial life are yiyit
portraitures, sketched with the care ant
skill OF master. But Balzac is more than
skillful artist, he is philosopher as well
who has studied life in its many phases. ant
understands well the motives of human ae
ton. He is a lover of his kind, but is no
blind to their foibles and weaknesses. Hi,
sketches from life are drawn with a delicate
and sympathetic touch, but with the accurac,
and firmness of a practiced hand. They arr
not so much portraits as creations-types o.
human nature, individualized and accented
by strong local coloring. What Dickens ant
Thackeray have done for English life, Balzat
has done as well, if not better, for his owl
nation. The public owe a debt of gratitude
to Rroberts Brothers for presenting his
works in so acceptable form.
Andromeda. By George Fleming. Bostor
Roberts Brothers: Portland Loring, Short &
Harmony The title of this book seems 3
trifie strained and Inappropriate. ''Clare
Dillon" the Andromeda of the story, al.
though chained to the rock of an engagement
to one man when she is in love with another
brings her suffering on herself by assuming
such position simply through pity for hel
lovers loneliness and deformity and his great
hot CHI
with his friend more, even if her love fol
him is uuacknowledged. And instead of 8
Perseus snatching her from her fate, the
man to whom she has bound herself. per
forms the act of self sacrifice and sets hel
free. The characters are well drawn, how
ever, and the story is interesting despite the
fact that the end is seen from the begin
ming. But it is not written with so mucl
strength and force as this authors early
works, Kismet and Mirage which gave hel
such a reputation.
The Parson O'Dumford. A Story of Lin.
coin Folk. By Geo. Manville Fem (NeW
York: Cassell & Co.; Limited. Portland
Loring, Short & HARMONY Mr.. Fem has
written bright and interesting story. The
Christianity type, so constantly introduced
to US by the modern English novelist: bu
we find him none the less agreeable for hay
ing met him before. The brawny and surly
sub-hero, diamond in the rough, is also {
familiar acquaintance, and so are the two her
ONES, whose characteristics and social status
are appropriate to the necessities Of the sto
ry. A very swell young man, weak minded
at least ana rather wicked, makes trouble fol
all parties concerned; but in the end ha,
summary justice dealt to him by Providence
thus giving the faithful servants" their re
ward. With no special originality the Par
son O'Dumford is a fresh wholesome, enter
tanning story, and well worth reading
The Child's Voice. BY Emile Behnke ant
Lennox Browne. Voice Use and Stimu.
lants By Lennox Browne. Chicago: A
N. Marquis & Co.. The first volume is OF
the treatment of the child's voice with re-
gard to its after development; and the sec
ond tells of the dangers of alcohol anC
tobacco to those who use the voice profes
sionally in singing, elocution &c. The au
thors Of these works speak from large expe
being senior surgeon to the Central Londor
Throat and Ear Hospital, and Mr.. Behnkt
lecturer on vocal physiology and teacher Of
voice production. They have called to theil
aid the best authorities in support of theil
views, and the excellent suggestions ant
| advice contained in the two volumes under
consideration should be recognized as mos
valuable and helpful
For Woman. By Nora Perry Boston
Ticknor & Coz This is a very sweet anG
charming little story, The tone and spirit
of the novel are so pure, and the style is 81
free from clap-trap and meretricious glitter
that it is leasurable and soothing process
to read it, An honest, simple love story
with a setting which gives us the wholesome
atmosphere of the pine woods of Maine, ant
| later glimpse of Italy. The sentiment O.
| the book is strong and sincere; the charac
| ter-drawing keen and far-seeing; and The
| name of the author is sufficient guaranty fo
| what is best in thought, feeling and imagina
| ton. Miss Perry's prose possesses the sam,
agreeable and interesting qualities that w
| have all enjoyed in her poetry.
The Wildly Ernst Eckstein. From the Ger
man by Clara Bell. (New York: VIM. S Colts
berger; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmon.
This remarkable novel has been excellent
| ly translated. 1t is in a less quiet tone thai
| most of the German novels, and has NOR,
| fire and incident. 1t is a tale of love, jeal
ousy and revenge, which after all, gives yer,
little idea of all that it is. For sustaining in
terest, excellent plot and skilful characte
drawing one might go far to find anything 81
good.
Brentwood. By Jak New York: Thomas
Y. Crowell & CO.. This is a story for boy S
and a wholesome, simple, pleasant book, O.
| which it is only fair to speak with cordia
goodwill. The over-wrought, feverish litera
| ture which yitiates the palates of the boys O
to-day is so obnoxious that we cordially vel
come story which is entertaining ant
| harmless, and deals with plain country lif,
| and amusements.
Maruia. By Bret Harte Boston: Hough
| ton Mlfflin & Co.; Portland: Loring, Shor
Harmony This book carries one back to tn,
early California stories of this writer 1t i
not in his best or highest vein, but like all h,
does, is so well done that one could not pas
it by without losing good thing 1t is very
sensational and first appeared in the Londol
News with full page illustrations, and oecu
plying whole number.