The Portland daily press., 1885-06-06
New Publications.

thieu Williams. New York: D. Appleton &
Co.; Portland: Hoy, Fogg & Donham).
Professor Wllliams's articles in The Popular
Science Monthly have procured him many
American readers, who will welcome his
book The Chemistry of Cookery with much
interest. No doubt Sd little learning is a
dangerous thing" aud perhaps a smattering
of science, even IN so practical direction,
may do us harm as well-unless it induces
us to go far enough into the subject to un-
deIstand, at least, the mechanism of our
bodies sufficiently TO follow the best meth
DDS which govern the "rules of health'' set
down for US by good authorities. On the
principle Of the old Roman who said "Them
as knows nothin fears nohln." no doubt
Ignorance is bliss - but this is day of re-
search and inquiry. Our minds are awake
to discussion, and if we must suffer for lack
of thorough knowledge, we are certainly TAX
ing step in the right direction and if it
merely arouses our fears we shall know that
those who come after us will take up the
subjects where left eff and carry out what
we have begun 10 their greater satisfaction.
DIR. Williams's book is not only scientific
but altogether practical, and may be read
with understanding and profit by the unset
entific of intelligence Aside from the gen.
eral interest of the subject, any house wife
will be better able to order her culinary ar
rangements with direct reference to the
health and comfort OF her family by putting
in practice the excellent ideas with which
the work abounds. One M y not be sure OF
the pract.cabllity OF following all the sugges
tions made by he writer, and yet there is
abundant matter which will be helpful and
beneficial in The application. The volume
is valuable addition 10 the popular science
literature Of the day, and treats of branch
of it which has been strangely neglected by
chemists.
A Marsh Island. BY Sarah Orne Jewett.
Boston: Houghtop, Mifiin & Co.. Port
land: Lorihg. Short & Harmony. This la
test novel of Miss Jewett's is decidedly one
of the most pleasing books that has appeared
for a long time. 1t is the work of an artist.
The story is simple in construction, yet of
continued interest; the characters are finely
drawn, tie local dialect well preserved, and
it has charm aud freshness about it that is
delightful to any lover of the country and
of country life. The descriptions are ex-
quisitely done. there are picturesque
glimpses of the old seaport town, charming
sketches of the island farmhouse, surround
ed by its well cultivated fields, fruit-laden
orchards, aud long, level stretches of marsh
land. One can feel the hot breath of the
August noon, and hear the voices of the
busy haymakers, and enjoy the delicious Ian
guor of the summer evening with the farm
er's household on the stoop of the old house,
and listen to the friendly gossip of the
neighbo"s who ''drop inn for few minutes
social chat. And again, with delicate, yet
strong touch, does Miss JeWett paint the
country in it's autumn dress, brilliant with
color-pictured as the early fall really is,
not the conventional melancholy days, but
with spring promises fulfilled, the long s.rug-
gle rewarded, the fruit of well doing being
gathered, and both molal and physical ma
ture strengthened, and sights and sounds
made clear and distinct in the bracing.
health-giving air. Il is a book to own. to
read more than once.
Mr.. Oldmixon. A novel by William A.
Hammond. New York: D. Appleton g.
Co.; Portland: Hoyt, Fogg & Donham. DR..
Hammond has achieved third novel which
he calls Mr.. OldmixoD, after the leading
character, most unpleasantly peculiar old
man who is disagreeably prominent from the
beginning to the END IF the story. Being a
physician par excellence, and only as it
were, by accident, novelist, even the SEN
timent of DR.. Hammonds romance has a
professional tinge. If we were among his
characters we should object, as Pleasant
Riderhood, Mr.. Venus's sweetheart did. TO
"being viewed in that bonY light" A wom-
ans beauty merely represents to him sound
organs, and general condition of physical
well-being, while he judges her by her per-
feet teeth as a jockey would judge his favo-
rite horse.
1t is incomprehensible that men who are
successful in some one branch of art or sci
OASO VI UUcAhCoo NC always nank6r-
ing after the tiesh-pots which are, and ought
to be, out of their reach. But so it is! One
of the greatest scientists in The country and
with European reputation, is deSelate be-
cause he is not a success as society butter
fly, the one intense longing and desire of
his unsatisfed ambition. Wendell Phillips
once said that ''the only person who sue.
ceeds is the man OF one idea," and there ia
more than grain of truth in the assertion
At the Red Glove. novel, illustrated
by G. S. ReiDhart New York: Harper 81
Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short & Har-
mon.) An anonymous story, prettiy Illus
trated by Renhart and entitled At the Red
Glove has been running as a serial in Har-
Der's Monthly, and has quite captured pub
lie favor. 1t reads like translation from
the French, which of course it is not, and
has bright, racy, piquant favor about it,
that's decidedly attractive. Published in
book form, with the illustrations. it makes
pretty volume, and all persons who eDioy
a good story and who have not yet read this