The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Painting in Oil, A Manual for Students
| BY M. Louise Mclaughlin. This work is
| the fourth in the series of art manuals
which have been published by Messrs. Rob-
| ert Clark & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, from the
| pen of Miss Mclaughlin. Nineteen thous-
| and copies of these books have been sold to
art workers in this country and Europe.
| Miss Mclaughlin tells what she has learned
from experience, describing everything mi
nutely and clearly. A valuable feature of
the book is the list of pigments to be avoid
| ed. Careful experiments extending oyer
series of years, directed towards every avail
able pigment were made to determine the
question of durability, a matter too often
neglected by artists. The extreme simplici-
ty of the palette recommended by the author
will be surprise to those who have care
lessly become accustomed to a too extensive
list of colors The chapter ON harmony Of
colors contains most careful resume of sci
entIfic theories in regard to the relation Of
! color and the action Of the human eye in
! perceiving it. The experienced artist will
find the book sufficiently stimulating In its
suggestions, while to the beginner in art II
will prove an acquisition of great value.
The new edition of Their Wedding Jour-
ney, by w. ID. Howells, presents very at
tractive appearance in its handsome red
binding and clear type. The contents of the
| book are two well known to need descrip-
ton. Isabel and Basil March are as enter
tanning as when introduced to the public
some seventeen years ago; and one reads the
| descriptions of Montreal, Niagara, and the
rambles and adventures of the bridal couple
| in the quaint and charming city of Quebec
with as much delight as at first. The sup
Elementary sketch Niagara Revisited after
| Twelve Years, is included in this volume,
The book is well illustrated by Augustus
Hoppin. Boston and New York: Hough-
ton. Miffiin & Co.; Portland: Loring, Short
| & Harmon.)
Appleton's Atlas of tina United States.
This is a standard work, like all of Apple
toms publications, 1t consists of a general
map of the United States and Territories.
with county map of each State. The maps
are accompanied by descriptive history Of
the political and educational institutions Of
the country, as well as the latest statistics
of its resources and industries. The outline
and coloring of the maps are good but the
type is too small for the eyes of average
readers (New York: ID. Appleton a. Co.;
Portland: Loring Short & Harmony
Modern Ships of War. By Sir Edwin j.
Reed, Rear Admiral U S. N. There is moth
ing in our history of which Americans are
more proud than the achievements of our
navy in the past How then are we to ac-
count for the neglect of this arm OF our SER
vice, its consequent decay and disgraceful con-
dition? Without pausing to enumerate and
discuss the causes which are many, we point
with pride and satisfaction to the fact that
the day of indifference has passed away, and
that of late a new and we trust abiding in
terest has been awakened. Various infu.
ences have contributed to this happy result
The loud complaints Of naval officers and the
repeated warnings of other thoughtful men,
have each had share in it. But no one
source has been more influential than the
publication in Harper's Monthly of series
Of papers our Modern War Ships Written
by men thoroughly familiar with the subject
who speak with authority these articles have
been already widely read. The Harpers
have acted wisely in issuing these papers in
an elegant volume with all the original illus
trations. We heartily commend the volume
to our readers with the belief that its influ-
ence will be admirable in arousing public at
tention and inspiring our countrymen with
their old-time enthusiasm for ships worthy
of the American Navy. (New York: Harper
81 Brothers; Portland: Loring. Short &
Harmony
California of the South. By Walter Lind
ley, M. D., and j. p. Widney, A. M. M. d.
This volume is intended TO serve as guide
book to the country to which it relates. II
treats of its climate, geography, resources,
routes Of travel, and health resorts AL
these are set forth in glowing colors. The
most is made Of every natural advantage,
and no one would suspect from this volume
that there are any drawbacks. The climate
is described as simply perfect, the soil as
prolific, the water abundant the mountains
high, the valleys fruitful, the air invigorat-
ing, the sun genial, the weather delightful.
Even the rain in its season falls mostly at
night, to accommodate the people, and es-
pecially invalids, who like to be out of doors
fOr Jnen anu LOT all, Tie Ioo6o DlO anu tut
fruits grow at all seasons Not word about
dust, and but little is said of fogs and earth,
quakes. Everything is attractive in this
book 1t is furnished with maps and Illus
trations. (New York: d. Appleton q Co.
Portland: Loring, Short q Harmony
Natural Resources of the United States
BY j. ii. Patten. The plan and purpose OF
the author is to give clear and concise
account of our original sources of wealth,
stored up in nature. Four classes are spec
tally brought to our notice, viz: precious
metals coal, iron, and petroleum. of these
four, iron and coal are shown to be more
important than gold and silver. The differ
ent species of coal are enumerated, and theiI
locality stated. Iron ores and the new pro-
cess of making steel are described at length
Copper, lead, zinc and tin, all receive due
attention. We are also instructed about ouI
forest trees, building and other stones, salt
mineral and medicinal springs, climate, rain
falls, ocean currents, the Gulf Stream, Mis-
sissippi Valley, the Pacific Coast and Cali
fornia. All these topics are treated with
sufficient fulness to be instructive and inter.