The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-06-14
CONCERNING BOOKS.
ny E. cAyAzzA.

CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY e. CAvAzzA.
Emerson in Concord. This intermate,
competent, and simple memoir, written by
Mr.. Edward Waldo Emerson, son Of the
poet, was much needed to complete the
portraitures already given to the public by
various writers. Those have shown us
Emerson the guide and philosopher; this
depicts him as the friend and neighbor. II
is the praiseworthy practice of the Social
Circle of Concord, Massachusetts, to
spread upon the pages of its record memoirs
of Its numbers, especially relating to their
social and family life. To Mr.. E. w
Emerson was allotted the duty of preparing
the memorial of his father and Of this pious
task he acquits himself with great intelli
gence, sympathy, and directness. The
description of Emerson's childhood is in
teresting, and shows how severe were the
exactions Of New England nurture, and how
little allowance was made for childish
caprice. inexperience, and need of being
comprehended. The little Ralph was ex
pected, at the age of three years, to recite
before breakfast sentence of English gram
mar; and a week before his third birthday
his father regretfully records that Ralph
does not read very well. 1t Is refreshing tc
learn, that Ralph retained enough human
nature, notwithstanding the atmosphere Of
mental and moral austerity, to play truant
dive from the end of Charles street into the
river, and take pride in the local fire engines
An exquisite sketch. of which the tints
colored the later life of Emerson, is that Of
the remembrance of Peters Field, where
'ae boy strayed with young companions, and
, transformed the familiar landscape with al
sorts OF fancies. The plain details Of
Emerson's life as citizen prove that hi,
daily actions were moved by the spirit thai
spoke in his writings. Ones ideal of hin
suffers no loss, but is made more lovable and
material by knowledge of his private
existence. He had an interesting fancy to
keep in his journal the record, it may bt
said, of dual identity. Osman is the
name that he gave to the representative Of
his best self, the man that he aspired to be-
and impartial history will Judge Osman moi
so different from Emerson as the poets
humility believed. To students of Emerson
the present memoir will be found indispen
sable; and they will not fail to appreciate
the fine and modest quality of its execution
Boston: Houghton, Miffiin & Co.. Port
land: Loring. Short & Harmony Price
81 70.
A new volume Of Mr.. w. d. Howell's
tricksy and delicious farces includes The
Parlor Cars, the Sleeping Car. The Register
and The Elevator. From the mechanism OF
these prosaic modern inventions he has con.
trived to elicit the most cleyerly contriyed
situations for c0mediettas of society. or the
four pieces perhaps the Parlor Car is to be
credited with less invention and charm than
the rest, although 1t is very pretty. The
Register has more thoroughly constructed
plot than the others, while the play OF
character is most facile and brilliant in The
Elevator, and the yigor and movement of the
Sleeping Car render it the most comic and
effective. Mr.. Howell's farces-as origin al
as they are refined and humorous-are SO
we'll known as to need no fresh commenda-
ton to his public, other than the suggestion
that this volume and its companion, The
Mouse Trap, are republished just in time
and in a convenient form for amateur
theatricals at pleasure resorts in course OF
the coming summer. Boston: Houghton,
Mifiin & Cos Portland: Lorng, Short 4
Harmony
Girl Graduate, by. Celia Parker Woolley.
One of the curious anomalies of American
society is the young woman who, by means
OF the advantages of study and of association
given by the public schools, finds herself,
upon graduation, in circle of acquaintance
and in an atmosphere Of wishes and ex-
pectations quite different from those offered
by her parents and home. The balance of
disadvantage and advantage probably varies
according to individual cases; In any such
case, however it must be misfortune for a
girl not to be able to turn to her mothers
experience for guidance in social matters,
but obliged to rely solely on her own I'M
trained. impulsive crudeness. The indepen-
dence of the American is pathetically mex
pert, she is bold with the innocence of a
baby, she is agile in making her way through
the world which she does not comprehend.
Maggie Dean, the heroine of Mrs. Woolley's
novel, Is Of this type. continually straying
INTO imprudent little actions. yet guided in
the main bya warm and sound heart. The
author has observed carefully and writes
with spirit, describing the society of small
city with accuracy and humor. Some of the
characters are very well portrayed; Mr..
Dean, the father of the heroine, is type Of
the heroism Of labor; the rector aud the
judge are very clever portraits. The younger
men are drawn with at least the average
skill Of a feminine novelist. The tone of the
story is wholesome and thoughtful; 1t does
not lack quiet humor, and the interest Is
well maintained. 1t will be sure to prove
popular favorite with young girls, for
whom, perhaps, it was especially intended.
If it lacks something of literary distinction
and charm. A Girl Graduate certainly has
many qualities which commend it as a novel
of more than ephemerai worth. Boston:
Houghtop, Miffiin q Co.'S Portland: Loring
Short & HARMONY Price,.S1.5O.
Burgoyne's Invasion. BY Samuel Drake.
This short and well arranged sketch of
Burgoyne's campaign and of the American
invasion of Canada which preceded 1t, be-
longs to series Of similar books upon the
Decisive Events of American History. Mr..
Drake has studied carefully not only the
movements Of Burgoyne, but the man him
self, and depicts the self-conscious poetic,
unlucky, heroic Burgoyne. rendered promi-
nent beyond his own deserts by the magni-
tude Of his defeat. Mr.. Drake writes clearly
and unaffectedly, adding explanatory notes
and subdividing the historic matter very con-
veniently. The work is also indexed. 1t is
modest and solid contribution to American
popular history. Boston: Lee & Shepard;
Portland; Stevens q Jones. Price, 50 cts)
The Story of Patsy. By Kate Douglas
Wiggin. From the authors experience in
Kindergarten work in San Francisco, she
has taken the material for this tender, sad
little sketch. She has the happy, faclIity-so
useful in real life, so agreeable in literature
of rapid and easy transition from serious to
bright words. The humor and pathos. and
above all, the sincere humanity of this little
story will win favor from its readers. In
point of literary merit it is much better