The Portland daily press., 1889-05-27

vealed to him and teaches him that che does
not suffer alone. The writings of Epictetus
are consulted less frequently and he finally
| decides that man has not the right to shorten
his time of dwelling in the body, that the
power that placed him there is eternal.
Roschen. vain and pretty, Won Raven weak
and egotistical and Mercedes, a beautiful
syrciety girl, who renounces her ambition for
loye-s.,l add to the interest of the story.
Gabrielle, the heroine is a delightful charac-
ter and at the close she fears no evil for love
guards the door.
Messrs. Houghton. Miffii1 ana Company
announce that they have begun a serlcs OF
books designed especially for boys and girls
who are laying the foundation of private
libraries. The books to be included In the
series will not be ephemeral publications. to
be read hastily and quickly forgotten; both
the authors and the subjects treated indicate
that they will be books to last The great
subjects Of History, Biography Mechanics,
Travel, Natural History. Adventure, and
kindred themes will form the principal por-
ton of the library. The aut hors engaged are
for the most part writers who already have
won attention, but the publishers propose to
| give hospitable reception TO all who may
have something worth saying to the young,
and the power to say 1t in good English and
in an attractive manner. The books in the
Library will be designed especially for boys
| and girls who are hard at work at school,
but they will not be written in what some
one has called the Childese dialect. Fiction
| will not necessarily be excluded, but 1t will
| not form the main feature of the Library.
| The publishers do not propose to use fiction
as preferable form when information is to
be given; they believe that the young are to
| be interested in any honest, clear, and
Straightforward presentation of interesting
| facts, and do not need instruction to be like
sugar coated pill. At the same time they
hold themselves free to use story whenever
they have one to offer which they think will
stand the test of time; for they wish to make
a Library which its owners will not outgrow.
The books will be illustrated whenever the
subject treated needs illustration; history
and travel win be accompanied by maps !;
history and biography by portraits; but the
aim will be to make the accomplishments to
the text real additions The compactness
and low price of the books forbid profuse il
lustration. The books will be uniform in
size, containing from 200 to $50 pages each,
will be strongly and attractiyely bound in
cloth, and sold at the price of 70 cents vol
ume The issues for the spring Of 1889 are
as follows: The War for Independence; by
John Fiske George Washington: an his
torcal Biography; by Horace E. Scudder.
Birds through an Opera-Glass; by Florence
/ Marian In nd ba H.,
Mary e. Bamford.
| Other books are in preparation and will be
announced from time to time. The pub
fishers hope to have the active coo operation
of parents, teachers. superintendent, all
who are interested IN the formation of good
good taste in reading among your people.
The Book Buyer, published monthly by
Chrales Scribner's Sons, New York, is a
magazine which no person Of literary tastes
/ or habits can afford to be without. The sub
scription price, one dollar year, is merely
nominal; for the little pamphlet contains al
ways host of good things, excellent literary
matter in all departments of letters, and ex-
cellent suggestions to book lovers, book read
ers or book writers. In addition to this each
Il
literateur or author, besides numerous
specimens Of illustrations. to be found in
the newest publications, skilfully reproduced
in wood engraving, photo and arto-type.
The April number, for instance, contains
charming portrait of Miss Alice French,
whose pen-name, Octave Thanet, is SO we'll
known in reading circles. The picture is ac-
| companied by an interesting sketch of tine
| author of her works. Each number
of this magazine includes an
| interesting "Boston Letter" from
the pen of Mr.. Arlo Bates. and also
London letter Of English Literary Notes
from Mr.. J. Ashby Sterry. Following these
comes reviews. critiques, extracts from
current literature, list of the books of the
month, and last, but not least, very useful
| and interesting department. in charge of Mr..
Rossiter johnson, "The Literary Querist"
In which questions may be asked and
answered, with pleasure and profit. A
person who is fond of books will find the
Messrs Scribners pretty and delightful
publication timely and valuable, and one
cannot speak too highly of its merits.
We have received from the Lakeside Press
Oh AUBURN an elegant roster of the State
| government-both its military and civil
branches. The book contains portraits in
photogravure of all the civil and military Off
Gals and members of the Senate and House
with brief biographical sketches of each.
The portraits, as rule, are very faithful
| likenesses, and the exceptions are attribute
BILE to bad photographs. The work is ar
ranged by A. M. Edwards. The book does
great credit to the Lakeside Press. Its price
is So, and as the supply is limited application
should be made Immediately.
Volume XXXVII of the Century Maya
zine embraces the monthly numbers from
Nov. 1888 to April, 1889. 1t contains $50
pages and 416 illustrations, of which Sc are
full page pictures, including frontispiece of
Washington Taking the Oath, Napoleon be-
fore the Sphinx, Giotto's Head OF Christ,
Portraits of Lord Nelson and The Grand
Lama. Nothing need be said in commenda-
ton of this volume, for the Century is so
well known and popular that commendation
would be superfuous. 1t is very doubtful if
III the same number of pages can be found
n muah In ctrunflan md W.T.