The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.
In his very interesting work on Compare
tive Literature New York: D. Appleton d
Co; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmon)
Mr. Posnett has assumed what he terms, "a
position on the border lands of science and
literature, by attempting to explain literary
development by scientific principles. He as
sures the men of science that to cultivate
their imaginations will be of the utmost SER
vice in the discovery and diffusion of new
truths. and suggests to the men of literature
that nothing has contributed more largely to
lower the value of their studies, in the eyes
of thinking men, than the old-fashioned
worship of Imagination, which tends to be-
come blind idolatry of the unknown. He
believes that the Comparative Study of Lit
erature opens field of fruitful labor, and
tends to foster creative imagination, and
urges that literature be studied more ration
ally, and treated as something of higher i'm
port than elegant dilettanteism or pedantry
devoted to the worshipof words. Mr.. Pos
nett's standpoint is so reasonable, and his
arguments seem so conclusive, and are pre-
scented in so attractive a form that only the
extremists are likely to find fault with his
position, while his work is an extremely val
liable and scholarly production.
A Stroll with Keats, illustrated by Fanny
Clifford Brown, and published by Ticknor q
Co., is a very pretty, dainty volume and will
be of especial interest in her native city to
the many friends of this young artist. The
well-known poem of Keats:
81 stood tip-toe upon little hill,s
The air was cooling, and so very still"
is adorned with sketches of flowers, land
scapes and figures embellishing the texts
which they illustrate. The work is very cred
liable for an amateur, and shows patient
study and sympathetic feeling for nature
and the poets verses The flowers are es-
pecially well done, and the bits of landscape
are very pleasing.
After running through several editions in
England Mr.. Robert Louis Stevenson's Ro-
nance, Prince Otto, has been published in
Boston by Roberts Brothers portland: Lor-
ing, Short& Harmon 1t would perhaps be
too much to say that the book is satisfacto-
~. but only because after DR.. Jekyl and Mr..
Hyde we expected so much of the author.
More than usually clever, bright, provoca-
tive and tantalizing, Prince Otto charms by
its originality. its piquancy and its power,
and exasperates us by its faults and defects.
And yet, when all is said, Mr.. Stevenson
writes nothing that is not well worth read
ing, and better than anything but the best.
A dainty little volume in white vellnm holds
the latest verses of the well-beloved New
England poet, John G. Whittier. His mod
est and charming predatory note is not need
ed to commend this dainty book to our
hearts and minds. Saint Gregory's Guest is
the longer poem and furnishes the title, and
to this twenty other shorter poems are adj
ded. They have all the sweetness and grace,
combined with earnestness of purpose to be
found in the earlier writing of Mr. Whittier,
and The passing years have taken with them
none of his ardor or inspiration Boston
Hougbton, Miff1in & Co.. Portland: Loring,
Short q Harmon
Signs and Seasons. By John Burroughs.
Boston: Houghton, Miffiin & Co.. Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony This book
will be welcomed by all lovers of out door
life. and students of nature will read every
page with delight. Mr.. Burroughs succeeds
in discovering more of Dame Natures Sc
crets than it would seem possible for hu
man being to do, but close observation and
careful study have enabled him to tell of
many new features of her kingdom and to
correct many false impressions regarding her
ways. The book contains chapter on life
in Maine woods, and gives the authors ex-
perience in capturing the willy trout
Mrs Dahlgren has written story, which
Ticknor & Co., Boston, have published
Portland Loring, Short & HARMONY, en-
titled The Lost Name, and called by the au-
thor ga novelette, If this term denotes a
very slight affair it is properly used IN THIS
connection, for the book has little merit so
far as one can discover from casual read
ing. 1t certainly will not make SENSATION
as this lady's society novel, A washington
Winter, did, for its portraits not being those
of persons who are well known in the society
of to-day. the originals may not object TO
falling into the hands of caricaturist.
A reprint of Mrs. Jackson's III. H.
Glimpses of Three Coasts has been issued
by Roberts Brothers, Boston portland
Loring, Short & Harmony A treat is IN store
for those who have never read these sketches
of travel A pathetic ''glimpse" is given OF
the condition Of the Mission Indians IN Cail-
fornia; short rambles in England ana Scot
land are described in an interesting manner
the sketches of life in Norway and Den
mark are very entertaining; and the oescrip-
ton of the Passion Play at Oberammergua
is most graphic.
The third volume of Roberts Brothers hne
edition of George Meredith's works contains
The Adventures of Harry Richmond. Like
the other novels of this author, it is strong
elaborate, epigrammatic and not to be ilght-
ly read or skinned. Toget the real value OF
this book one must work for it, Ii, as has
been suggested, ''to like Mr. Meredith's nov
els is an acquired TASTE" it is taste which
is well worth the labor Of acquiring, whlle IL
may spoil us for less pungent literary olet'
Portland: Loring, Short q Harmon)'