The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-08-09

q Harmony This book of travels Is of the
light and airy order, and sis respectfully
dedicated to Mrs. Grundy." Thus 1t will be
seen that the author writes without fear or
favor" and while her style is not always Of
the most refined, nor her grammar the
most perfect. there is much that is bright,
amusing, entertaining. and indeed one
might say instructive in her volume. 1t is
what the young people would call "a jolly
book" and, so far. they would be quite right
Two girls, one American and the other Eng
lish decide to personally conduct themselves
in tour round the world, and how they
succeeded and what were their adventures Is
told by one of the party in this book of 400
pages.
Midnight Talks at the Club. Reported by
Amos K. Flske. (New York: FoTds, How
ard & Hurlburt; Portland: Loring, Short q
Harmony These are bright, pleasant,
thoughtful chats upon the various and vary
ing topics of the times talks held on Satur-
day night in quiet corner of the Asphodel
Club, by an "Owl Party" Of four men.
The "Owls" are Tom Benedict, young,
amiable and religious married man. who
never smokes and whose individual glass
contains moth ng worse than ginger ale and
Appolinaris water; ''the Judge" calm, Sc
rene and sincere, with his single glass of
Rhine wine; ''the Colonel" fierce, ford,
somewhat profane, exceedingly convivial and
addicted to frequent brandy-and-sod
while he smokes necessarily; and "The
Listener" who takes notes and writes them
out for our benefit The party discourse on
Temperance and Prohibition; they discuss
the way in which the clergy neglect the sin
Hers and always look after the souls of the
saints. AS In devoting the resources of the
churches to maintaining services In costly
buildings for the satisfaction of we'll
dressed and well-to-do people. They talk Of
Sunday observance and the closing of libra
ries and picture galleries on the day OF the
week when the working people have leisure
to benefit by them; and again the Judge
gets diverted to discourse upon political
immortality, and longs for the coming Of the
kingdom of common sense and common
honesty. Here tbero 10 some FREQ discussion
of superstition and worship and the power
of personality. All good and bright talk,
full of clear thought and generous feeling,
agreeably expressed. Most of the papers In
this volume originally appeared as a series
in the Sunday issues of the New York
Times, and the great demand for these
''Talks" has wisely induced the author to
put them into book form.
Lord Will BY Force and Faithful laden.
By Janet G. McInnes. New York: q. Z.
Putnam's Sons; Portland: Loring. Short b
Harmony This pretty and daintily bound
volume contains the story of a little boy who
is called Lord Win BY Force, and his faith
uinurse laden Brennan. 1t Is said to be
the true record of real life, and 1t Is the
hope of the writer shat those principles
which saved Lord Will By Force from moral
and physical destruction, and gave to the
world an honest man, may be possessed and
cultivated" by other boys. The hero OF the
story is certainly violent young specimen,
and the putting into print for the perusal Of
other small boys such "tricks and manners"
might lead the m to suppose that such
processes were necessary in order to reach
the pitch of perfection at which Lord Will
eventually arrives. Indeed the first part OF
this book is quite too much refined and
glorifed sort of "Peck's Bad Boy" though
the sincere and earnest purpose of the writer
calls for our highest respect.