The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-09-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

One might be led to believe that if every
American, man, woman and child, read nov
els all the time, and read nothing else, the
supply would equal the demand And still
it comes, this everlasting quantity of light
literature" from nearly every publishing
house in the country; and we can only be
thankful when il is the best of its kind rath-
er than the worst, or the volumes of the
month, in paper covers. we have Qrom L. Y
Crowell & Co., New York; the realistic Rus
sian novel by Feodor Dostoyevsky, entitled
Crime and Punishment powerful and pain.
full work. SO vivid picture and so skill
fully painted that we read it eagerly in spite
OF its unpleasantness. Another translation,
this time from the French of Madame Gagne-
bin and belonging to the same series, is A
Happy Find, a story of little waif and es-
tray, pleasantly told, and quite harmless. as
the modern French novel is not apt to be.
Messrs. Cassell & Co., in their Sunshine
Series give us Mrs. Stoddard's novel. The
Morgesons. Strong, nervous and energetic
In style, picturesque and vivid, all lovers of
clean story will welcome with pleasure the
revival Of the works of this writer.
In the Globe Library (of Rand, Mentally &
Co., Chicago and New York; we find Mr..
Clark Russeps tempestuous and fascinating
sea tale, Marooned, well known to the host
OF admirers of this popular author; and A
Crooked Path, by Mrs. Alexander, which is
too long, more sensational, and of less fine
quality than most Of her stories.
The latest from ID. Appleton G. Co.. in their
Town and Country Library is Arius the Lib
yam. A Romance of the Primitive Church,
which has been much admired as work Of
great beauty and power, portraying the con-
fiict between early Christianity and idolatry
with force and vividness
The same house publish, also in paper COW
ers, Christianity and Agnosticism, consist
ing Of the papers by DR.. WAGE, Prof. Hulk
lock, and Mrs. Humphrey Ward, recently
printed in the Nineteenth Century and other
periodicals.; the controversy which has ex-
Cited such great and widespread interest.
The Worlds Best Books. A Key to the
Treasures of Literature. By Frank Par
sons, F. E. Crawford and II. L. Richardson.
Boston: Little & Brown; Portland Loring,
Short & Harmony II the authors of this
work have not accomplished their undertake
ing to an entire satisfaction, they have GER
tainly covered great deal of ground. Wheth.
er it is possible to classify the leading books
In the various departments of literature Sc
''that the student may not only know the
hundred or four hundred greatest books, but
may see them in their true graduation" is a
question. Opinions differ so widely even
among the highest authorities as to the rela-
tive value Of the works of the great masters
in literature that it is impossible to fix upon
an absolute standard. However, there is
much that is valuable, interesting and sug.
gestive in the present volume, and it will be
useful as practical handbook of universal
| literature for the use of students. business
men. teachers. and any persons who direc,
| the reading Of others, as suggested in the
preface" It calls attention to the impor
lance OF reading only the best books, and Of
surveying the field of literature thoroughly
before making selection. 1t discusses the
| value OF reading with system and thorough
ness; and the appendix contains a series Of
the thoughts Of great men about books ant
reading" The classified lists of the best
works Of the poets, noyellsts, historians and
| scientists will be found extremely convenient
for reference, especially to the novice in the
| world of books.
Poems and Translations. By Lewis Freder
lex Starrett Boston: Rand. Avery Company
Printers). A pretty volume of original and
translated poems which merit high praise
The collection Is a very interesting one, and
the translations from tie German are ex
tremely well done, graceful and musical, OF
full Of vigor and cerrc, with a keen apprecia
tion of the sentiment and style of the origin.
al. If Mr.. Starrett be new aspirant for
literary honors he surely deserves them
One rarely finds so felicitous rendering Of
the charming songs Of Heine, INLAND, Ruck-
| ert and Freiligrath; and the translation o.
Korner's Death Song Is remarkably fine ant
Impressive. The original poems are marked
by high thought and delicacy Of feeling an(
| verses, suggested by some occasion or Incl
dent. An interesting book, in fine, and on
| Of which its author may well be proud.
The Franklin Square Song Collection
No. 6. Selected by j. P. McCloskey. New
York: Harper & Brothers; Portland: LorinI
Short & HARMONY The value Of Mr.. Nc
Closkey's work of collecting and preserving
some of the best hymns and songs Of the
world is inestimable. This number, like thu
| others. contains 200 selections, consisting o.
| hymns, love, college, war, slave and nursery
| songs, and the national airs Of Spain, Wales
| Germany and Scotland. There is the usua
amount of valuable reading matter and al
| instructive treatise on The Elements O
| Music.