The Portland daily press., 1889-10-30

CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY E. CAvAZZA.

Chita. Memory of Last Island. By
Lafcadio Hearn. This romance, simple in
theme, magnificent In execution, is work of
veritable genius. As yet. it is not possible |
to Judge whether Mr.. Hearn has capability |
of constructing and maintaining the plot Of |
fully proportioned novel; but 1t may be as
serted that he has a mastery Of words that
opens new regions of literary art In prose, a
mastery comparable to that Of Mr.. Swim
burne In poetry. Mr.. Hearn's manner is
tropical, fiery and rapid; he lavishes upon
single page OF prose enough Of imagery and
fancy to make dozen ordinary sonnets; and
every detail is so justly ascertained, SO truth
fully and vividly rendered. that no phrase
can be indiffer, ntly passed over. Dramatic
sympathy, seconded by this marvellously
rich and flexible style, is everywhere pre-
sent. The range and moduations of this
amazing new voice are impressive, and pro-
duce in the reader constant series OF lively
sensations. 1t seems hardly needful tc sug-
gest the pne peril Of this luxuriant style-ex-
aggeration of color and disregard OF the
boundary line between eloquent prose and
semi-rhythmic rhapsody: for Mr.. Hearn evil
IDENTITY possesses good taste and the power
Of selfrestraint The refinement of his work
is as noticeable as its power aud passion.
New York. Harper Brothers; Portland:
LoriDg, Short & Harmony
The Romance of Dollard. By Mary
Hartwell Catherwood. Another admirable
romance-in temperament, theme and man.
ner widely remote from Mr.. Hearn's idyl of
the tropics-is Mrs. Catherwood's historical
tale, founded upon the heroic adventures of
the Sieur des Ormeaux in Canada, during
the reign of Louis XIV. Since the novel
has already appeared as a serial:in the Gen.
tury Magazine, 1t may be sufficient here to
call attention to the attractive book form in
which 1t is arrayed for the holiday season;
and to note the vigorous Imagination, the
efficient and graphic style, the conscientious
and able.handlink Of historic matter, and to
congratulate Mrs. Catherwood upon a gen.
uine success in a difficult as well as noble de-
partment of fiction. The illustrations are
excellent New Y ork: The Century Com.
pany; Price $1.25.)
A Few More Verses. By Susan Coolidge.
In this delicate and dainty little volume, all
white and gold for holiday gift, is found
verse of truly poetic quality. The author
has sentiment which, not especially dramatic
or intense. is always natural, genuine and
wholesome. She never strains her womanly
voice; 1t remains tuneful. persuasive and
agreeable in every cadence. Such verse as
hers meets the sympathy and desire of large
class of readers whom 1t is praise to be able
to please. Sometimes the moral tone Is some
what too prominent for the artistic beauty of
the verse; and In future edition little care
will remedy the case of lines left without the
relative rhyme. and certain unpermissible
rhymes. The proof-reader may be reminded
that the accent over the in the title Of the
poem Paolo Francesca, changes the con-
junction into verb. But these are things of
BsEy ultt aa significance compaEed tn tie
many admirers will derive from her new
volume. Boston: Roberts Brothers; Port.
land Loring, Short & Harmon. Price 81 .OO.)
Daddy Jake, The Runaway and Other
Stories. By Joel Chandler Harris. This
delightful volume, generous in size and in
type, with Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit
and Brer Turkey -Buzzard smiling upon its
cover-this original, racy, inimitable book is
worth any given number of volumes of con-
ventional fiction. 1t purports to be volume
for juvenile readers-but parents and guar
dams will be sure to buy it long enough be-
fore Christmas to read and enjoy 1t them
selves before entrusting it to the young
clients of Santa Claus. Daddy Jake is
worthy already introduced to the readers of
the st. Nicholas Magazine; and the story of
his escape, the quest Of little Lucen aud
Lillian, and the joyful return, is an interest
ing picture of plantation life. The shorter
stories are about the half.human, wholly
Irresistible circle of animals, Brer Rabbit and
his neighbors. miss Meadows gals"-who
seem like quaint kinsfolk of the antique
nymphs-appear again, and at last we learn
something definite of these elusive maids, for
one of them Gt still remains mystery which
one) became. after rhy thmic spells and much
timorous debate, the bride Of Brer Rabbit.
The Illustrations are large and thoroughly
good. The very sight Of the volume Is an
undeniable appeal to the buyer of holiday
gifts. New York: The Century Co. Price
$780,
Travels and Adventures of Little Baron
Trump and His Wonderful Dog Bulger. BY
Ernest Ingersoll Lockwood. II one may
credit the artless tale of little Baron Trump,
he was descended from crusader who mar.
ried Moslem maid, the very great grand
daughter of the Princess Scheherezade, the
accomplished narrator of the Arabian Nights
Entertainment. The doughty deeds of little
Baron and his lively manner Of telling them
prove him worthy scion of war and ro-
nance. Young readers will find his adyen-
lures irresistible; they remind one of all the
famous wonder-stories, Baron Munchausen,
Gulliver's Travels, the Good Giants of
Rabelais, with even an odd reminder of Don
Quix0te-and yet 1t remains that Trump and
Bulger are an original and precious pair. 1t
is possible only to hint at the variety of adj.
ventures which befell them, among the
Mountains of the Moon, in the Land of the
Melodions Sneezers, the Port of Noman's
Port With Its People the Wind Eaters,
among the irresponsible inhabitants of the
OF the Sculptor's Isle, the Man Hoppers and
the Round Bodies. The veritableness OF
these studies Of impossible anthropology and
geography is excellent. The language has a
comical and illogical dignity. like the style
OF Mr.. Rider Haggard under the influence of
laughing gas. Briefly it must be admitted
that the attempt to define this amazing and |
amusing extravaganza results in criticism
hardly less bizarre. The volume. with its |
clever Illustrations by Mr.. G. w. Edwards, |
IS sure to be among the favorite holiday gifts. |
1t is story of which young readers win not |
soon tire. Some of Baron Trump's remarks
deserve to become as classic as the hest /
phrases of Alice in Wonderland. Boston:
Lee d Shepard; Portland; Loring, Short G.
Harmon. Price S200.)
STATE TOPICS OF INTEREST.
Mrs. r. l.. Noble, owner of the stallion
A daniae that ha told Ira Irr