The Portland daily press., 1885-11-28


tales. and they are chiefly interesting for
purposes of comparison, as are the variety OF
stories included in the fifth class. OF those
of the second class, many derive their origin
from the Arabian Nights, though so changed
as to be hardly recognizable, and others are
from the ssDisciplina Clericalis, the first
collection of Oriental tales known in Europe,
and "The Seven Wise Masters" The third
class is devoted to such. legendary stories as
are connected with the persons of Christ and
his disciples, PLATE and the Wandering jew
The collection of nursery tales is small
There are copious notes and photography
primarily for the use of students
The Land and the Book. Lebanon, Da-
mascus and Beyond Jordan. By VIM. NJ
Thompson, d. D. (New York: Harper 81
Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short & Har-
mon.) This is an elegant volume, beauti-
fully printed on tinted paper, Handsomely
bound, with 147 finely executed illustrations
and maps-an attractive and valuable gift
book for the approaching holiday season. 1t
is the third in a series, the first of which
treated of Southern and the second Of Cen
trail Palestine. This takes lis into Lebanon,
Damascus and the regions beyond Jordan,
closely connected with the Land of Promise,
though not originally included in it. The
tours and excursions described by Dr.
Thompson in this volume are rarely made by
the ordinary traveller, but are of peculiar
and surprising interest Two carefully pre-
pared indexes Zone Of texts, the other of
names and subjects) greatly enhance the
value of this volume, facilitating reference
to those parts of the work where the Scrip
ture passages illustrated and the subjects
treated Of are to be found
Bryant and His Friends. By James Grant
Wilson. New York: Fotds, Howard &
Hurlburt; Portland: Loring, Short & Har-
mon.) Gen. Wilson gives in this book bio
graphical sketches of the chief writers who
belonged to what was known as the ''Knick-
erbocker' period of literature in New York
the first fifty years of the present century,
Bryant being taken as the center, around
which the others are grouped. The biogra-
ply of Bryant is that originally prepared for
the Memorial Edition of his Library of Po-
etry and Song, with the addition of one
chapter and hitherto unpublished poem.
The other full sketches are Of Irving Paul
ding, Cooper, Halleck, Poe, Dana, Drake, Will
lis and Bayard Taylor The last chapter in
cludes brief notes of some twenty of the less
prominent authors of this period. There are
steel portraits of Bryant, Halleck and Paul
ding, and nine manuscript fac SMILES, the
most interesting of which is The Little
Beach Bird, by Richard Henry Dana, copied
in his ninetieth year.
The Story of Rome. BY Arthur Gilman,
M. A. (New York: G. p. Putnam's Sons;
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony The
author rehearses the story of Rome from its
beginning in the mists Of myth and fable, to
the end of the Republic. The readers atten-
ton is first fixed upon long succession OF
well authenticated facts, which are shaded
off in the dim distance, and finally lost in the
obscurity of unlettered antiquity. Roman
history involves a narrative of social and
political struggles, the Importance of which
is as wide as modern civilization. They
should not be lightly passed over, though in
the volume before us they could not well be
treated with the thoroughness they deserve.
The reader is aided in entering, to some ex-
tent, into the real life of the Roman people,
enabled to catch the true spirit of their ac-
lions, and to fall into the general current OF
their national life without having particular
episodes or periods brought with undue prom
inence before him.
tod
Xxx. London, Paris, New York and
Melbourne: Cassell & Co.. Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony The volume
for 1885 came elegantly bound in pebble
cloth. 1t is finely illustrated, full Of
charming English stories and interest
ing articles by distinguished English writ
ers, with occasional hymns, words and
music 1t is of especial interest to Episco-
palians, as the contributors are largely dis
tinguished members Of the Anglican Church.
1t is something like our American st. Mich
olas in the makeup, but is intended for an
older class of readers, and is as characteristic
cally English as our magazines are AmerI-
can. The literary student will find this
good index of the progress and movement OF
English literature for the year, as he finds
our popular magazines serving the same
purposes for American literature.
Cuban Sketches. BY James W. Steele. New
York: G. p. Putnams Sons; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony Mr.. Steele's little
book is so bright and amusing and fresh in
style that it is as if the Island of Cuba had
never before been made the subject OF song
or story. 1t will be seen that the writer
views Cuba from a new standpoint, when
he tells us that he "did not visit the country
for the purpose of describing it, wished him
self somewhere else while there, and while
he staid was chiefly occupied in collecting
and distributing the princely income of an
United States consul" He also states that
his little volume contains ''the recolleetions
and conclusions of some years residence;
the results of having slept in the Cuban bed,
and eaten at the Cuban table, and of having
been much sought after by the tropical mos
QUITO all of which is related in very
entertaining manner.
Another useful and interesting volume is
the Chautauqua Young Folks Annual, pub
USueu Dy ~. lctllIOp " w. U DOoeou Inc
volume being intended for real instruction,
as well as entertainment, contains much val
liable information, and is true educator
Each article has specific purpose, whether
in the line of art or science or history. The
contributors are among the best writers in this
country and in England. Among others, MIR.
Edward Everett Hale furnishes number Of
historical studies called Boys Heroes in
which he tells of Hector, Horatius Coolies,
Alexander the Great, Hannibal, and other
famous characters of ancient times; and
Miss Kingsley, the daughter of Charles
Kingsley, has some interesting stories of the
Children of Westminster Abbey. This is
only the beginning of the good things to be
found in this attractive annual
The latest volumes in Harper's Handy Sc
ries are In Quarters with the 25th (The Black
Horsel Dragons, by J S. Winter, author Of
Mignon; Musical History, with Roll of the
names of musicians and the towns and places
of their births and deaths, very useful
work for students of music; Primus in lndis,