The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-27

willingly, with prejudice against every
thing Scotch, which extends itself even to
SCOTS novels. 1t was raining and misty,
much sunshine was lacking, and there was
squalor and poverty and distress to be seen
besides the tired feet and aching backs from
walking many miles knapsack laden. But
the bright and CHEEKY spirit seems to have
been absent as well, which glorifes and
transhgures the highways and byways, and
makes light of discomfort and WEAKNESS
However, all this our travellers would have
been excused for feeling, If they had been
wise enough not to have laid their burdens
upon the shoulders of their readers. One
does not really care so much to know how
tired the Pencils felt, as to have descrip-
ton OF what they say, and it Is a little trying
TO the people who take the trouble to read
their book, to be told that ION walking
tour when the chance for pleasure comes
ones capacity for enjoyment has gone" and
that the Highlands should be declared "a
fraud" because although at this special
point the scenery was, they admitted, me st
lovely the WEAKNESS of walking over a dusty
road carrying heavy knapsack DESTROYED
all the charm of it. Now we frankly declare
that if our authors could not have journeyed
comfortably and amiably on foot they would
much better have staid at home; and this In
spite OF the charming sketches with which
this beautiful book is filed Ii Mr. and Mrs
Penneil had been under the necessity of
making this tour ON foot and had confided to
as their sufferings we might have been
cytunathQfio hut n 10 4, iii
exasperated.
Cleopatra, BY Ii. Rider Haggard. Illus
trated New York Harper Il Brothers; ;
For sale by Loring, Short g. Harmon) The
Harpers' new edition of the works of H.
Rider Haggard in covers of red morocco and
marble paper is extremely attractive in ap-
pearance and convenient to handle. The
gorgeous historical romance of Cleopatra is
the latest issue and has twenty-seven full
page illustrations. The author has made a
thorough study of his subject and attempts
to suggest possible answer to these sues-
tions: What malign influence and secret
hates were at work sapping the judgment of
Antony and Cleopatra? Why did Cleopatra
fly to Actium. and why did Antony follow
tion?" In Mr.. Haggard's romance
Harmachis, an Egyptian is selected by Isis
to redeem his country and destroy Cleopatra.
but instead falls in love with her, and is pun
ished for his treachery. But the story is
ALREADY familiar to most readers through the
columns Of the New York Sun and TIE Lon
don illustrated News.
Elements Of mental Science. BY Henry N
Dalp. On. Y. and Chicago: Irwin. Brakeman
q Co.. This text book in Mental Science is
designed to bea compact but comprehensive
presentation Of the facts of the human mind
in scientific method and form. The author
has written much upon kindred subjects or
perhaps we might better say, subdivisions of
this same subject, as well as upon other phil
osophical theses, and his works have been
mainly intended for use in schools and col
leges. There is always difficulty in pre-
pairing work upon this great subject; so
that, while making it comprehensive enough
In Itself, 1t may, at the same time be compre
hensible to the youthful groper into the
realms of science and philosophy. Abstract
propositions ars hard for boys and girls to
understand the more so, that nine out of ten
DO not care about them anyway.
Mr.. Days book is written with care, and,
very likely, comes as near as possible to an
ideal elementary text book upon this pro-
found subject. In make up, size. type and
binding 1t Is excellently adapted to its pur-
pose.
Log Cabins. How to Build and Furnish
Them. BY William s. Wicks Nav vorL
Forest & Stream Publishing Company A
book OF much value to sportsmen and other
people who spend their time in the woods.
and want to know how to build comforta-
BILE residence with the material at hand The
directions for building the log cabin are mi
mute enough to be of practical value to any
one. Numerous illustrations Of log cabins of
all shapes and designs are given, and artis-
tically considered merely the book is very
interesting and attractive.