The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-06-21
CONCERNING Books.
BY E. cAvAzzA.


! The Poets of Maine are represented in a
large and handsome volume which, very APP
| propriately, issues from the publishing house
Of the Portland Transcript, the only purely
literary journal printed in this State. In
deed, the genial columns of the Transcript
have given opportunity and announcements
10 most OF the authors, of verse or prose, that
have done credit to themselves and to Maine
and their words have been carried by that
admirable carrier Of news and literature. to
the geographical limits of its subscription
hist, to Japan, India, China For Maine
sends her sons everywhere and wherever
| they may be the Portland Transcript brings
Them breath OF the sea and the pine forest.
and the homelike news of this and of that
to refresh the memory and the affections.
No less than S4S pages of verse, with very
few exceptions good, and often of high poetic
merit, represent the Poets of Maine. This
plan allows on an average two or three ex-
amples OF each author, and to each one, also.
brief biographical sketch. Parson Smith.
In 1853, poetized the appointment of new
sexton; and since that serious ballad, Maine
has been vocal with poets, religious, senti-
mental, comic, literary in style. The great
names OF Longfellow and Hawthorne honor
the list OF poets whom the State NAV call
hers; and crowd of lesser singers, many of
which have been familiar tc the public by
means OF metropolitan magazines and pub
ished volumes of collected verse, bear wit
ness that even pine trees do not lack song
birds.
Much credit is due to the good taste and
capability of Mr. George B. Griffiths. the
editor OF the Poets of Maine, who has spared
no pains to render his work complete and
acceptable. He Is at present canvassing in
person, for subscriptions to the book, which
may be had in various styles of binding. at
prices ranging from three to seven dollars.
subscriptions are also received at the Office
OF the Transcript This is a volume that
every household in Maine will take pride in
possessing, as record of the imagination
and literary cultivation Of a State already
known to be the home of poetical and pow
erful people.
Two Men. BY Elizabeth Stoddard. 1t is
good time to reprint the novels of Mrs.
otoddard, which at their first appearance
were not appreciated by the public. only by
critical and sympathetic few who saw in
them the beginning Of the modern realistic
theory of romance. Mr.. Edmund C. Sted-
man-most generous and appreciative of
critlcs-has written an interesting preface to
the new edition of Two Men, in exl osition
and praise Of the literary gift of Mrs Stod-
dard He finds that she has a rare vision of
nature, In its broad and its minute features
depicting them with sure and brief touches.
as background to the play of her dramatic
powers. Her works, he says, repay study.
and are marked by strong individuality;
while he admits the faults Of her manner.
somewhat Of unfnish and of crudity. tall
ent that required and had not the sunshine
OF popular appreciation to sweeten its Juices
and ripen its color and flavor. There is un-
doubted power in Two Men, and the realis-
tic writers have already accustomed the
public to certain sharply drawn outlines and
strong color, so that Mrs. Stoddard's talent
will have the benefit of association, and so
gain favor with the general reader, who is
apt to distrust book that belongs to no re-
lated class or genus. New York: Cassell &
Co., 104-106 Fourth Avenue; Portland Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony