The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

the collections recently bequeatheu TO tn'
Grand Duke of Weimar by walter Vol
Goethe, the last descendant OF the poet. The
lectures are by Prof. Fl. s. White, John AL
bee, Thomas Davidson, the Rev. z. A. Bar
tol and the Rev. f. II. Hedge, leading III
through the poets youth" Self Culture,
ssTitanism.,, a sketch of his relations with
Schiller and an account OF his Marchen o.
minor stories and romances and the discus
sion by the editor of Goethes relation Il
English Literature and Shakespeare. In the
six lectures which follow, VIM. d. Partridge
discusses the poet as playwright, Mrs. e
D. Cheney devotes her lectures to tile Das
Ewig- Weibliche of Faust S. Fl. Emory, Jr.
devotes his to the Elective Afinities. and
Mrs Caroline K. Sherman hers to Child Life
as Portrayed by Goethe. The closing lee
lures of the course give the History OF the
Faust Poem by Danton ]. Snider, an Essay
on Goethe's Women, by Mrs. Julia Ward
Howe, and dissertation on Faust, by W
7. Harris.
The Lectures are of various styles and de
grees of merit Several are eloquent and dis
eliminating, recognizing the temptations and
defects of the poet, not overlooking his NOR
al deficiencies for which he is justly held re-
sponsible. even as others are for moral trans
gressions But some of the writers are ready
: to condone those, while others appear to be
ignorantof them, or seem to think that so
great genius should not be held to strict ac-
count. The fact is Goethe was cold and sell
fish, and often regarded others as good sub
jects for experiments in his pursuit of knowl-
edge. He was, nevertheless, Germany
greatest poet, and in fact sustains about the
same relations to Germany and the German
Literature that Voltaire does to modern
France and French Literature. Both these
authors were men Of most rare intellectual
endowments and literary skill. Their works
are about equally voluminous, and have been
the occasion of innumerable criticisms favor
able and unfayorable. Each is immensely
popular in his own country, though Voltaire
is prescribed in France by the religious, and
Goethe is assaulted in Germany as unpatriot-
ic, when his country was overrun by the
French and held down by Napoleon. In
England Voltaire is generally regarded as
an exponent of French infidelity sent to pun
ish that people for rejecting the Reforma-
ton. 1t is at least true that he is to France
as much of an oracle as Luther is to Germa-
ny or Shakspere to the English.
Only within few years has Goethe had
many admirers in England. Though intro
duced and highly lauded by Carlyle the drift
of the poet has been regarded as dangerous.
Faust is very un-English and was not I'M
derstood by Coleridge, England's most phil
osophical critic He could see in Faust only
series of magic lantern pictures, without
any vital principle, or the least organic con-
nection of structure.
In this country Goethe was heralded by
Emerson, who often alluded to him in terms
of high appreciation With such an intro
dnction Goethe has encountered but little OPP
position and been generally received as one
of the worlds great poets. TRANSACTIONS of
Faust by Rev. C. T. Brooks and Bayard Tay-
lor have been much commended and had a
wide circulation. The first part of Faust
has recently been brought upon the stage in
England with great success, the leading
parts played by Irving and Miss Ellen Terry.
When they revisit the United States these
artists will probably produce it here. This
will doubtless occasion Goethe revival, and
innumerable critiques on Faust, rivalling
the thousand and one on Shakspeare's Ham
let, to which as a work of genius it most
nearly corresponds, as with it seeking the
solution of the great problem of evil.
The Story of Margaret Kent. A novel. By
Henry Hayes. Boston Ticknor & Coz That
The Story of Margaret Kent, so recently
published, has already reached third edi-
ton proves that it has received a certain sort
of recognition; and yet we doubt if there is
general knowledge, among those who read
and appreciate the best in literature, Of how
absolutely unique is the work of this author,
who conceals his or her identity under a
pseudonym. This is not a story to be hastily
or lightly read it is a life history to be stud
ed and pondered The book is thoroughly
well written, and the minor characters and
incidents serve perfectly as a background
for the brilliant figure of Margaret Kent,
who is so vivid creation that her personal
ity impreSses us as powerfully as if she were
a reality, rather than a creation of the imagi'
nation. At casual glance one might think her
light and unworthy; but her faults are those
of an intense, impulsive generous, nature, and
were she less human she would not be what
she is, one of the most charming and exqui-
site women in the range OF fiction. Were
she cooler, more calculating, worldly and
suspicious, the critics might cavil less; but
she would lose her greatest attraction for us,
as well as for her lovers. A woman of
strong intellect, earnest purpose, and above
all, a warm heart-intense emotions, whom
all men adored and all women envied, save
the one good friend who helped her in her
weakness, encouraged her in her sacrifices,
and was large factor in her sad history.
Whoever the author of The Story of Mar
garet Kent may be, we predict for the book
a place in the front rank of American nov
els 1t has none of the crudeness of a first
work, but is clear, brilliant and well sus-
tanned from beginning to end, and intensely
interesting. 1t has too, the merit of happy
ending which is to be desired.
Two College Girls. By Helen Dawes
Brown. (Boston Ticknor & Coz This
book, although of general interest, will be
70 +boco