The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-10-14

fiction seems to be the most popular and tell
ing vehicle for theory and reform. Witness
the immense popularity of Mr.. Bellamy's
looking blackboard, and of class of semi
polemic novels. And this instinct is not err
roneous; statistics, impersonal and multitude
nous, OF the number of women in London
who live or die by underpaid work, would
not movepity as does Mr.. Besants vivid
picture OF the forlorn room where Melenda
and Lizzie and Lofty wrought endless pro-
cessions OF buttonholes; and a gentle spirit
OF practical charity is embodied in Valen-
tine, the girl who leaves her luxurious home
TO share AMI brighten the lives of these poor
sisters OF hers. Certain weak points of that
prescribed charity which recognizes the SOUL
but ignores the body, are not unkindly noted.
Inere Is, OF course, romance, complicated
by secret of identity, between two young
girls, one the real daughter, the other
the adopted child of benevolent and rich
woman. Society, for all its worldly wisdom,
is shown to be unable to detect which one
of these carefully educated girls is Miss Be-
atrice and which is plain Polly. Mr.. Besant
is too experienced and too honest to pretend
to give a universal specific against human
misery. But his hero and heroine compile
series of Earthly Tracts" upon the plain
rules of clean and honest living, by which
Nature metes out results in this world. and
which are no ill preparation for the spiritual
existence of the next world. The novels of
Mr.. Besant have the charm of Dickens
work, without the vugarities and cheapness
of sentiment which were the flaws Of thai
genius; and the later novelist has refinement
and resource which color the strong outlines
of his conscientious and vigorous romances.
New York. Harper Brothers; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmon. Price $l25.
A Short History of the French Revolution,
for Young People. By Lydia Hoyt Farmer
Although the sanguinary horrors of the
French Revolution are by no meaes desira-
BILE reading for sensitive children, students
of history who are somewhat beyond child
hood may desire to understand something of
the state of affairs in France which resulted
in the frightful excuses of that period. Mrs.
Farmer has made rapid and readable re-
sumo, by means of full citations from vari-
GUS great writers upon the subject; and has
handled her materials intelligently and apt
ly. The works of Lamartine, Michelet. Mig
net Theirs, Taine, Carlyle and others are
quoted; and especially pathetic are the ex-
tracts from the journal of Madame Royale,
the daughter of Louis XVI and Marie An
toinette. The compilation of the history is
done in intQrQcfipO nrQSapfipU n
strong series of pictures The volume is il
Illustrated. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell
& Co. Price $1.50.
Jed, a Boys Adventures in the Army of
'61-'65. BY Warren Lee Goss. This is cap
italy told story of the War OF Secession, and
will renew the recollections of veterans, as
well as acquaint the boys of the present day
with the army life which their fathers led,
quarter of century ago. Mr.. Goss writes
in an easy, straightforward manner, without
literary articles. He knows the whole sub
ject from experience, and, by means of
good memory and capable pen, he is able
to depict wartime as it was. with its strange
contrasts of tragedy and comedy. with the
characters whose strength was elected by
ehO hOOuo Va tuO OCCftoiUu, duu Lu6 dctS Ol
heroism and humanity, which, perhaps, I'M
recorded in history, pass into the spirit of
nation. The description of the loathsome
Andersonville prison is graphic in the ex-
IRENE. The book is in every respect COM
mendable; and Grand Army men will not
fail to put it in the memorandum of Christ
mas gifts for their boys. New York: Thorn
as Y. Crowell & Co. Price $3.50.
Within the Enemy's Lines. By Oliver
Optic. The latest volume of Oliver Optics
Blue and Gray series of war stories involves
the re-capture of a southern blockade runner,
and abounds in details of naval and military
service. The hero is boy of great courage
and GOODNESS, precisely the type which Oliver
Optic knows how to introduce so effectively
to the admiration of his young readers. Lit
tie more than the mention of this new
volume-to be followed rapidly by more of
the same series Sis needed to elicit demand
from Mr.. Optics clientage, scattered over the
country from Maine to Florida. Boston:
Lee & Shepard. Price $1.50)
Captain Polly. By Sophie SWEET. This
charming and wholesome story of girls and
boys, Is written by a Maine lady and orig
inally appeared in Harpers' Young People,
to the great pleasure of the readers of that
model of bright and worthwhile literature.
Polly's brevet title was earned by her as
sumption of command over a stranded boat.
ingeniously converted by her into charity
bazaar for the sale of home-mads candies.
There are young English lord with his note
book, an absurd would-be fashionable girl, a
dainty maiden with longings toward "style,"
an eccentric old lady, serene elder sister,
and other people who make up the circle in
which the lively Polly revolves upon the
pivot of her warm little heart. Sgd and
Polly will be the chosen friends of many
brother and sister who read Miss Swett's
pretty story. 1t is a thoroughly enjoyable.
refined and sensible little book. New York:
Harper & Brothers; Portland: Loring Short
Harmon. Price $10O)
Speaking Pieces. By Ellen O. Peck. A
handy little volume of selections suitable for
/ various occasions, such as occur In schools,
Sunday schools etc, with some Rotations
appropriate to Christmas, New Years Dec
Grafton Day wedding and Birthday anniver-
saries. Many of the selections are pretty
and pleasing, others have little literary worth
but there is room for the exercise of taste.
They are all spirited, easy of comprehension
by children, and of the right length for reci-
tation. The volume is neatly bound in green
boards. Boston: Lee & Shepard. Price 80
| cents.
MAGAZINE NOTICES.
The numbers of Littelps Living Age for the
weeks ending October 9th and 18th contain the
following: Italy Drifting, by the Marchese Al
feri de Sostegno, Nineteenth Century; Words
worth and the Quantock Hills. National Review;
Russian Characteristics Fortnightly Review