The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-09-21

NEW PUBLICATIONS.
The Boys Book of Battle Lyrics BY
Thomas Dunn English, NJ. ID. l.. L. d. (New
York: Harper & Brothers; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony DR.. Thomas Dunn
English became famous by a single song.
ben Bolt, and since that time has written
chiefly national poems and ballads, which
are full Of true patriotic inspiration, vivid
lie and power. The finest of these have
been collected and now appear in this beau
full illustrated volume, containing valuable
historical notes and numerous engravings of
persons, scenes and places. The title is
somewhat misleading, for, although any boy
might be proud and happy to possess such
treasure, it is yet quite as interesting and
valuable to all classes of readers, both old
and young. The verses set forth some of
the important events in the history of the
United States from the colonial period to the
outbreak of the sectional war; notably De
Soto's Expedition, Bacons Rebellion, The
Deerfeld Massacre, the fights at Lexington,
Trenton, Bennington, Monmouth, Cowpens
and others, with several more personal bal
lads. Of the gift books for the approach
lug holidays DR.. English's volume will be
among the most attractive.
A Wheel of Fire. By Arlo Bates. (New
York: Charles Scribner's Sons; Portland:
Loring, Short &Harmon). Mr.. Bates's new
novel has been looked for with much inter-
est by this authors many friends and admir-
ers. 1t is very clever story and written
with much power, but can hardly be called
agreeable, as the plot, and indeed the whole
motif of the book is a most painful one. 1t
turns ON the horrors of hereditary insanity,
and is as much a tragedy, from first to last,
as the history of King Lear, from whose
words the motto of the book, 81 am bound
upon wheel of fire." is taken. 1t seems a
pity to spoil the interest of a story by giving
in book notice a sketch of the plot, and so
we refrain. But it will be found original and
brilliant, and we can safely congratulate Mr..
Bates upon having made an assured success
in the very much over-crowded and too fire.
quently- yentured-upon line of fiction.
The Sixth or Classic Reader, BY William
Swinton. New York and Chicago: Ivison,
Brakeman, Tyler & Coz This reader is care
fully and judiciously prepared, and will
commend itself as an excellent textbook for
the higher grade of schools. 1t contains Sc
lections from ten English and ten American
writer's, including Shakespeare, Milton, Addi-
son, Pope, Franklin, Burke, Scott Bryant,
Emerson, Longfellow and others and the
authors, as Mr.. Swinton says, being few in
number, it is possible to give "a fairly ade-
quate taste of each" An Introductory
sketch is given of the life and writings of
each of the twenty representative writers,
their personal characteristics, chief works,
place in literature, style, &C., so that aside
from its value as textbook the volume is
of much general interest
A social Experiment By A. E. p. Lear
New York: G. p Putnam's Sons Portland !:
Loring, Short & Harmony This is a very
well written story, founded upon practical
and common sense line of thought. A pretty,
refined young girl, country born and bred,
the daughter Of poor widow, is taken to
the city as nursery governess by a fine lady
whose whim it is to make much of the beau
ty and grace which she thinks will create a
sensation among her fashionable friends AS
one might suppose this social experiment is
failure, and the object of it turned from an
honest and simple life and spoiled by her
glimpse of the world of gay society is made
miserable and dies heartbroken and disap-
pointed. The story IS prettily told, and is
one of more than usual interest.
Uncle Toms Cabin, or Life Among the
Lowly. By Harriet Beecher Stowe. Dos
ton: Houghton, Miffiin & Co.; Portland
Loring, Short & Harmony Probably no
American novel ever created so great SEN
sation, at home or abroad, or appealed more
powerfully to the hearts and conseiences Of
all whom it reached than this wonderful
book. 1t has been translated into twenty
different languages, and probably no othel
single novel has had so extraordinary sale
or excited such universal and permanent in.
terest The new edition is very tasteful and
pretty, and contains, besides the story, al
Introductory account of the work and pic
ture of "Uncle Tom"
The Old Doctor. A romance of Queen Vii
lage By John Vance Cheney New York
D. Appleton & Co.; Portland Hoyt, Fogg 6
Donham) This story is very queer from
beginning to end. 1t may be described as &
queer story of queer doctor who lives in
queer village-has to do with a great man,
queer people. And when one has said thai
it is all queer there is very little more to sa,
about it.