The Portland daily press., 1885-03-14

stretching from'pole to pole" The closing
words of this book show us plainly the optim-
ism of the author. meanwhile it is pleas
ant to feel that the dispassiona.e contempla-
ton of great masses of historical facts goes
far towards confirming our faith in this Ill
timaie triumph of good over evil. Our
survey began with pictures of horrid slaughter
and desolation; it ends with the picture of
world covered with cheerful homesteads,
blessed with Sabbath of perpetual rest.''
Representative American Oratons, New
York & London G.. P. Potnam's
Sons; Portland Loring Short & Har-
mon,l These three small 1e mo. vol.
umes contain a series of oratons
by noted Americans and are uniform with
the British ora;ions issued short time since
They contain the masterpieces of American
eloquence and cover wide field, taking in
Lincoln, Douglas, Seward, Toombs, Cox,
Davis, Stevens, Schurz, Beecher, Sherman,
Garfield, Clay, Hurd, Henry, Hamilton,
Washington, Ames, Nicholas, Jefferson,
Mott, Randolph, Quincy, Clay, Calhoun,
Hayne, Webster, Phillips, Chase, Sumner,
Brooks, Burlingame aud Clingman. The
noted speech of Hayne and Daniel Webster's
reply are given in full aud in themselves are
worth the price of the volume which con-
tains them. The work is tastefully bound
and printed, and edited in creditable man
by Alexander Johnston.
Personal Traits of British Authors, Edit
ed by Edward T. Mason, New York;
Charles Scribner's Sons; Portland, LoriEg.
Shorthand Harmony This work OF which
three volumes have been issued, is intensely
interesting and affords the reader rare
facilities for the study of character. The
books are wholly made up of we'll selected
quotations, without notes, which might I'M
Intentionally give the coloring of Mr.. Mason's
personal medium through which his subjects
were viewed Such work, culled from
most extensive reading must cultivate a
spirit of charity toward oil, as we read of the
same man, the heartiest commentator aud
admiration in one paragraph, and in the
next, the saverest criticism and ridicule.
These sketches are from the pens of either
acquaintance or contemporaries and have
the spicy flavor of living speakers, who wish
to impress you with the virtues or failings of
their friends or rivals.
A Popular Manual of English Literature.
IN two volumes. By Maud Gillette Philips
New York, Harper Brothers; Portland
Loring, Short and Harmony This manual
is intended to be used as a text book in
schools, as guide to the general reader, and
as book of reference. The author has
based the plan of her work upon modern
historical methods. English literature is
divided into Ten ages, each of which is treat
ed In connection with the contemporaneous
literatures of France, Germany, Italy, Spain,
and the United States. In the margin are
noted the principal political, scientific and
artistic events of the times. The underlying
influences, domestic and foreign, which
governed the development of our literature
are thus clearly set before the student. Fol-
lowing the general survey of the literature
OF each age, Miss Phillips has given studies
of its leading authors, with analysis of their
principal works, and critical notes from ac-
knowledged literary authorities. The list of
books for collateral reading will be most use-
full to the home student These volumes
have everything that one could ask for in
the way OF indices, and there are charts of
each age, showing at glance the names of
the principal authors, ruling powers, leading
statesmen, scientists and artists, in England,
in the countries on the continent, and in
the United States. 1t seems rather odd in
the list of American authors, to find the
names of Elihu. Burrett where that OF Edgar
Allen Poe is omitted. This is, of course,
slip, but the execution of the work shows
signs of carelessness in more than one in
stance. However, there are no grave flaws
In the fabric, and as whole Miss Phillips
manual will be valuable. The volumes are
unexceptionable in print and binding, aud
contain excellent portraits of Chaucer, Spen-
ser, Goldsmith and many more of the great
Engsh authors.