The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

By Captain Charles King, U. S. A. New
York: Harper & Brothers; Portland; Lor-
ing, Short & Harmony Captain King has
the knack of story telling; he takes his own
experience of army life for background and
knows whereof he speaks. His style is
bright and breezy, wholesome and engaging,
and his novels have achieved wide popu-
larity. Between the Lines is story of the
war between the States, with an agreeable
dash of romance tempering the more harrow
ing details. 1t is not all pretty fooling" by
any means, and one gets an accurate idea of
the scenes and sufferings, the dangers and
the daring. of the civil war, and this gives
the book certain historical value.
Laramie: or The Queen of Dedlam, A
Story Of the Sioux War of 1876. By Captain
Charles King, U. S. A. philadelphia: ].
B. Lippincott g. Co.: Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmony That a pretty, refined,
vivacious lstory by popular writer should
have so unfortunate title is is be regretted.
1t probably never occurred to Captain King
that Bedlam, the name given by the soldiers
to one of the Fort Laramie barracks, would
be very uppleasantly suggestive to the un-
initiated. To the author it had, naturally,
interesting associations with army life, but
the Eastern civilian is reminded of the mad
house, and this has probably lost the story
many readers. The plot is peculiar, but in
teresting, and the authors ingenious yiyacity
is very telling.
Uncle Peters Trust, or Following the
Drum. By George d. Perry. Illustrated.
New York: Harper & Brothers; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony. This is one of the
volumes Of the Harper's Young Peoples Sc
ries, and has been widely read in the maya
zine of that name. 1t is an entertaining
story, with plenty OF sthe adventurous ele-
ment which boys find so attractive. 1t is
beautifully bound, fully illustrated and alto
gether most acceptable addition to Juvenile
literature.
How to Study Geography. BY Francis w.
Parker New York: d. Appleton & Co.:
Portland: Stevens & jones'. This book be.
longs to the International Educational Sc
ries. edited by William T. Harris, A. M,
LII. D., and seems to have been prepared
with excellent judgment and practical sense
by man OF wide experience in matters of
education. The aim Of this work is perhaps
best given in the authors own words: "This
book shows how to lead the pupil to this
highest form of actiyity-lnvestigation. He
is taught how to use all he has learned out
OF school In assimilating the new ideas of
his school lessons. He is taught, moreover
to use his school-acquired knowledge on his
surroundings, and thus TO rc-enforce his nat
ural powers of observation. The process Of
building up new ideas by the combination
OF already familiar ideas is called by the au-
thor "apperception." by this the pupil
learns to interpret the language of new sci
ence into his vocabulary Of already familiar
IDEAS"
Eight Hundred Miles in an Ambulance.
BY Laura Winthrop johnson. (Philadel-
phia: j. B. Lippincott Co.; Portland; Lor
ing, Short & Harmony. This volume contains
a simple and charming sketch by the sister
OF Theodore Winthrop, describing trip
made by twelve persons, including six ladies
and three children, under the care of pay
master OF the United States Army, to visit |
with him some of the forts and Indian agen-
cies OF Wyoming Territory and beyond. |
Two ambulances and their wagons carried |
the party, and all the comforts necessary in
camping out for several weeks, while an es- |
cort Of twenty horse was sent from Fort |
Lamoine to conduct them. To people unfa-
miliar with army life, and especially the |
feminine element In it, Mrs. Johnson's
sketch will have great interest The cross. |
ing the plains, the camping in the Rockies is |
described with a grace and gayety that is
very fascinating. and the touches of pathos
do not come amiss. The author says, ''Not |
many civilians see military life In its out
1oor aspect of the camp and bivouac, which |
Is its really fresh and charming side. Surely
4 most of our army resembles those with
whom we had to do, more brave, manly
md courteous set of men do not exist We /
we're proud of them as countrymen. They |
ire far from being the lazy bangers-on at bar
racks that Eastern people are apt to imagine.
Life to them is active, full of adventure.
sometimes danger; they must learn to endure
cold fatigue, hardship; they become shrewd
and alert They must bear separation from
their families and friends, from the world of
science, literature or amusement. Their |
bodies may lie frozen or massacred in the |
wilderness Yet. in spite of not little
they seem to like their life and
no wonder for 1t is real, and with all it's
1t Is fascinating to many" The