The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

safely recommended.
NEW PUBLICATIONS..
Said in Fun. By Philip III. Welch, author
of "The Tailor Made Girl, with Preface by
Robert Gordon Butler. and many full-page
illustrations by different artists. The late
I, Philip FL. WEIGH acquired a national reputa-
ton as humorist of the first rank; one
whose satire was as bright and polished as
twas good natured. None of Mr.. Welchs
jokes left sting, and yet none of them was
without point. The jokes and humorous
sketches in ''Said in Fun" have been gath
eredsfrom the different journals in which they
first appeared, and some fresh matter has
been added-an amusing beginning to pro-
posed comic "History of the United States"
Good as is this fun from the pen of Mr..
Welch, it is matched by the forty or SO Illus
trations which have been contributed by the
artists to whom Mr.. w. A. Rogers, the erigi-
nator of the idea of this memorial volume,
sent invitations to join in the testimonial.
The list includes, besides Mr. Rogers, such
well-known artists as F. G. Atwood, c.. G.
Bush, "Chip," z. B. Frost c. ID. Gibson, O.
Herford, Z. w. Kemble, j. A. Mitchell, +.
Opper, w. l.. Sheppard. W. T. Smedley, w.
p, Snyder, A. E. Sterner, c. Joy Taylor, S.
w. Van Schaick, and M. Woolf. The book
is full of entertainment. (For sale by Loring,
Short & Harmony
One of the most elegant books of the year
is The Quiet Life: Certain Verses by Vari,
GUS Hands; the Motive set forth in Pro-
logue and Epilogue by Austin Dobson: the
whole adorned with numerous drawings by
Edwin A. Abbey and Alfred Parsons. New
York: Harper & Brothers; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short 81 Harmony The poems which
are contained in this volume are The Gar
den, by Andrew MARVEL; the Wish, by
Abraham Crowley; Ounce. by Winthrop
| Mackworth Praed; Ode to Solitude, by
| Alexander Pope; rbe Married Man; To
| Master Anthony Stafford, by Thomas Ran
dolph. OF course the great attraction of the
volume consists in the elegant and artistic
sketches by Mr.. Abbey and Mr.. Parsons
In this kind of work Mr.. Abbey is without
peer in this country. He has the creative
power which belongs to the great artist,
coupled with brilliancy Of execution little
short of perfection itself. The illustrations
in the volume are marvels of the engraver's
art, and superior to anything of the kind from
any other source. No description of the
work can do more than family suggest its
beauty and attractiveness. Paper. binding
and letter press are all of the finest descrip-
| tion.
Ina Fair Country. By Thomas Went
worth Higgnson. Illustrations by Irene
| Jerome. Miss Jerome has selected for illus
tion this year MIR. Thomas Wentworth Hig-
| ginson's classic In Fair Country, work
more worthy of elaborate treatment than
some of those previously illustrated by her
have been. Miss Jerome is especially sue
| cessful with flower pieces, her landscapes
| frequently lack naturalness. The book be-
fore us is by far the best she has yet pro-
| duced, and the faults are much fewer than
| In its predecessors. The manner in which
the publishers have performed their part Of
the work leaves little to be desired. The
paper is of the finest quality, the letter press
is admirable In its clearness and evenness.
and the illustrations are executed with the
highest skill. The cover is a marvel of
beauty and good taste. Few more elegant
and appropriate gifts for the holiday season
can be found than this work. Boston: Lee
81 Shepard; New York; Chas. Il. Dilling-
ham; Portland: Stevens 81 Jones.)
The Lady with the Camelias By Alex
andre Dumas fills. A new translation, with
a new preface by the author. Forty-one
illustrations by Abner Lynch. (Phiadel
phia: Gebbie s. Co.; From the Publishers.)
Dnmas's novel. The Lady with the Camelias,
is chiefly known in this country from the
opera La Traviata. and the drama of Ca
mile, which are founded upon it. 1t is not
a healthful story, and whether the author so
intended or not, it practically amounts to an
apology for vice, or at any rate it presents
vice In such form as 10 appeal to the SYM
pathies. No good can come from increasing
familiarity with this story, while much
harm may result. A new translation was
not needed, and whatever its literary merit,
1t was time and talent misspent. AS regards
mechanical execution the book is great
credit to its publishers.
The Christmas Annual of Cassell's Fami-
ly Magazine, Yule Tide, is one of the most
attractive of the holiday publications. Its
leading literary feature is story by Will
liam Black, entitled Vancebill. Its pictorial
features are very attractive, the companion
engravings Catching and Caught, and Christ
mas in England, being especially striking
Along with the annual is presented large
colored print, entitled Wellington's First En-
counter with the French, from painting by
George w. JOY; "Wide Awake" and Fast
Asleep" from paintings by ALA Havers,
Strangers, by S. T. Dadd, and "Black to
Play" by A. Fairfax Mickery.
The Century. May, 1889, to October, 1885,
| New York: Century Company; Portland :
Loring, Short 81 Harmony The bound vol
umeslof the Century Magazine are perfect
mine of entertainment aud information. 1t
would be exceedingly difficult to pick out a
book combining so many attractive and val
liable features. All departments of litera-
ture are embraced within its covers-history,
biography, poety, fction-and each is of the
best. A man with set of the bound volumes
of this magazine is the possessor Of mine
of literary wealth.
Harpers' Young People for 1889. Harper's
magazine for young people is without a SUI
perior and few equals ia Its special field.
Its articles are of the best, always healthful
in tone and yet attractive in matter and man
ner, and of almost infinite variety. And the
eye, as we'll as the mind. is instructed and en-
tertained by its numerous engravings. No
better holiday gift for boys and girls can be
found than the bound volume of this maya
zine for 1889. (For sale by L0ring Short d