The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-04-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Cesar Birotteau. By Honore de Balzac,
Boston, Roberts Brothers. This Is the
third volume of the series of TRANSACTIONS of
Balzac's novels that has been issued by the
Boston publisher, and will enable the Ameri-
can public to Judge of the power and quality
of the great French writer better than either
of It's predecessors. 1t is clean story ana
has none of the piquant immorality Whlch
characterizes the French novels OF to-day.
It is the history of poor peasant boy from
Louisiana who came to Paris with hobnalled
shoes and cudgel in his hand to seek his
fortune. By dint of sturdy industry, fru-
eality and good luck he attains competency
and incidentally cuts figure on the royailst
side in the political revolutions of the day.
On the restoration of the Bourbons, he is
made deputy mayor and decorated with the
crown of legion of honor. His greatest good
fortune was the promise of a wife whose phys
ical beauty was supplementary keen intelli-
gence and modest good sense-qualities which
were sadly wanting in her simple minded
and trusting husband. A prey to political
ambition and the desire to become suddenly
rich, Cesar Birotteau is led, contrary to his
wife's counsel, into speculations which bring
him into the bankrupt court-the greatest
disgrace which can attach itself-in Europe
to merchants name. Misfortune brings
out the nobler and purer elements OF his
character, and the humility, self-sacrlnce
and sense of honor which show themselves
in his prolonged efforts to pay all his debts
in full, with interest, after he had obtained
his discharge, and which finally result IN ms
complete rehabilitation before the courts and
commercial world, furnish theme in which
the genius of Balzae is seen at its best. His
power of brilliant description, keen analysis
of character, shrewd observations OF the
world. combined with marvellous literary
skill, enable him to produce work of art
which delights the reader and holds his at
tention to the end. The English translation
is worthy of commentator for its successful
reproduction of the spirit of the original and
the excellent, nervous English in which it is
expressed.
Evolution ard Religion. By Henry Ward
Beecher. Part II. Eighteen Sermons dis
cussing the application of the Evolutionary
Principles and Theories to the Practical As
poets of Christian Life. New York; Fords,
Howard & Hurlbert.) These eighteen SER
mons may be regarded as practical homilies
on ways of utilizing the development theory
in the Interpretation of Christian teaching.
Their titles are, The Background of Mystery;
The Manifold Christ (modes of gaining a
knowledge of Him.; The Conversion of
Force (from destructiyeness to benefcence,
among mem; The Drift of the Ages social
regeneration of man in history; The Hidden.
Man soul growth) The Rest Of God; Gods
Loving Providence; The New Testament
Theory of Evolution; Gods Goodness Mans
Salvation; Jesus the True Ideal; The Lib
erty of Christ; The Vitality of Gods Truth,
| etc.
From various sources Mr.. Beecher draws
multitudinous Illustrations of the Divine
power and goodness, large views and long
| perspectiyes of the tendency of growths, es
pecially in human society, and keen applica-
lions of these to the helps and hindrances,
the hopes and the rewards of the individual
soul in its efforts Godward. The sermons
are not in any proper sense series There
is no appearance of a plan or even relation
between them. They have evidently been
selected out of the much larger number de-
has some practical application of the prinei-
pie of groaotk, and whatever this may mean
in science-whether physical, metaphysical
or theological science-Mr. Beecher finds it
''also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness.