The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Winters in Algeria. Written and Illus
trated by Frederick Arthur Bridgman.
New York: Harper & Brothers; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony. This is very
handsome and attractive volume full of beau
tiful and clever illustrations combined with
bright, chatty and picturesque descriptions
of region and people somewhat unfamiliar
to most of us. Mr.. Bridgman seems to have
been given every opportunity by the people
of Algiers. for observing their customs, man
ners and habits. He also describes his ex-
cursions in various directions beyond the
city, and especially visit to the famous
monastery of La Trappe. one of the rules of
this being that the monks never speak. Our
artist found it q melancholy place. Upon
the walls of the large chapel were numerous
inscriptions reminding one of the mseries
of this life, two of which he especially notes
SSH est triste de uioie a la Trappe, gull est
douI d'y mourir;;" and again: III rant bien
la peine de riure sans ptaisir pour aroir le
plaisir de MOURN sans peine."
A trip to the desert of Sahara is made
most interesting, and Mr.. Bridghams agree
able sketches of people and places add much
to the beauty and value of delightful book.
The Able Constantin. By Ludovic
Halevy of the Academic Franchise. Illus
rated by Madame Madeleine Lemaire.
New York: Dodd, Mead & Co.; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmony. Were Halevy's
famous work less. interestingtin itself, this
edition of it would charm the eye of a book
lover. for type, paper, illustrations are Of the
mnst haantiful Mnxo laco Of ba
of the original is always lost in translation
but in this case the rendering is as correct
and spirited as it is possible to, make it, and
Madame Lemaire's drawings, beautifully re-
produced, aid the text wonderfully. If one
wishes to possess Halevy's masterpieces in
English. this transcription will be found
most satisfactory in every detail. The cever
is ornamented with charming sketch In
c0l0rs.
Pawnee hero Stories and Folk, Tales. By
George Bird Grinnell. illustrated. New
York: Forest g. Stream Publishing co.. The
Pawnees, like most Indian tribes, have
vast fund of folk tales and traditions which
have been transmittedi from generation to
generation, and which it is important to pre-
serve, since under the changed conditions of
the tribe they will otherwise fall into obliy-
ion and be lost to the world. These Pawnee
stories are of course indications of the quail
ties of the American Indian.
Years ago, when the tribe lived in Nebras-
ka, Mr. Grinnell camped and hunted with
them and joined in their village life. The
nights were devoted to story telling, and the
tales told by the campfire were carefully
translated and written down. With viewEto
extending this collection the author made
literary pilgrimage in the spring of 'S9 to the
Pawnee reservation in the Indian Territory,
where ne made fresh studies with the rich
results TO be found in his extremely interest
ing volume. These are stories of,Indans, as
told by indians. and the author has added
neither romance nor coloring of any kind.
Twenty years experience with the tribe has
enabled Mr.. Grinnel to make his work
thorough, comprehensive in scope. and full
of valuable intellectual, social and historical
record.
The Lily among Thorns. A study of the
Biblical Drama entitled THE SONG OF SONGS.
BY William Elliot Griffis d. d. Boston:
Houghton, Mifflin e. Co.. Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmony DR.. Grifis, as one who
has enjoyed the Bible as literature as well
as revelation" has made an elaborate study
of the Song of Songs. which he presents to
our consideration. In his preface he says,
1.-The fruits of a century of critical study of
Hebrew are now within reach of all. Three
generations of reverent students of text
rather than of tradition, have revealed the
Bible as literature. The remarkable agree
ment In theory and.result reached, and the
total wealth of old truths re-discovered. are
equally causes for gratitude" And again;
Inc great Hebraists of our Century, like
.he prince In Teutonic story, have not con-
Ien'eo themselves with beholding the out