The Portland daily press., 1891-11-12

Houghton, MiAn Is Co.; Portland. Ior.
ing, Short Il Harmony
The Amber Gods and Other Stories. By
harriet prescott Spofford. New York:
ohited states Book Company. successors
70 John w. Lowell Coz The-day of short
stories Is at hand, and French, English and
american authors are venturing in this
uirectlon with more or less success. The
palm is generally conceded, however, to
american writers, and among these Mrs.
Harriet Prescott Spofford holds an unique
place. Long ago Mrs. Spofford-then Miss
Prescott-sent to the Atlantic Monthly
her story entitled In Cellar-the first that
she had ever published. 1t was received
by the reading public with enthusiasm,
and in 1863 was incorporated into volume
entitled The Amber Gods and Other Sto-
ries. remarkable collection of brilliant
and clever sketches. which are more than
mere stories. At the present moment,
nearly thirty years later, new edition of
Mrs. Spoff0rd's book has been issued, and
we believe 1t will make more distinct
impression and be more fully appreciated
than at its first appearance.
In reviewing this volume it would be
impossible to speak of the authors style,
so varied. SO utterly unlike are the stories.
That with which the book opens, and
which gives it its title, The Amber Gods,
Is riotously imaginative, and fnll Of fire
and perfume and sensuous fancy; yet
through it all runs vein of practical COM
mon sense which shows that the
author has her subject we'll in hand; that
she knows what she is doing and never
goes beyond her artistic perception, which
is keen and critical. Sensuous, we say,
but not sensual; for 1t is all pure and
sweet, though so seemingly loose vein is
given to writer's fancy. The strong sense
and healthful vigor of mind keep her from
going astray. and the result is delightful.
In Cellar, the second story In the vol
ume is as clever and clear cut as one of Ga
boreau's. Indeed it was at first declined
by the editor of the Atlantic with the COM
ment 'We do not publish translations," =
which this most surely Is not,-and was
afterward accepted with effusion. Circum-
stances, is strong and terrible, and founded
on New England legend of dreadful
creature called the Indian Devil In
Desert Sands again we find the purely i'm
aginative element predominating, tempered
by pathos and tenderness. Midsummer
and May. is brilliant and clever, while not
SO absolutely individual and unique, as the
others. While Knitting Sale Socks is
pretty county .idyl. simple, natural and
charming. The South Breaker is delight
full story, fitted to win all hearts. The
wonderful versatility displayed in this col
lection is not its least remarkable feature.
Fun. pathos. tragedy, follow each other.
each with distinct flavor of the authors
brilliant mind, vivid Imagination, and a
keen emotional nature. A more delightful
collection of stories is not to be found to-
day, and anybody who takes up the book
| for the first time will find 1t enchanting.
The many who have known it In its earlier
days will come to it .again with as keen
zest as when they turned its pages for the
| first time.
In the wars and diplomacy of the aborig-
ines who Inhabited the Northern and East
ern portion of this continent when the
white men began to settle and conquer
there was one great dividing line between
those Indians who were called Algonquins
and the lroquois. The latter lived in the
| great strategic centre Of this continent,
middle New York, whence there was easy
access by waterways and easy trails to
nearly the whole Of the United States and
| Canada lying east Of the Rockies. This
| position, added to the indomitable bravery
| and great abilities of the lroquois, or six
nations, as their confederation was called
made them the master Indians of the east.
Their very name was terror to the Algon-
quin hunter, whether he pitched his camp
on the Penobscot, the Illinois, or north of
the st. Lawrence. When Champlain.
Montcalm, Fsther Rasle and the other
French warriors and priests gained the
friendship and aid of the Algoquin savages
they failed to get the six nations. In the
long and cruel but romantic contest be-
tween France and England for the Domin-
ion Of North America the six nations were
the allies of the English, and of untold i'm
portance. Mohawk warriors fought beside
Massachusetts soldiers in defending the
settlements of Maine, they helped take
| Crown Point from the French, they were
the invaluable fighters and scouts with
whom the English colonists were able to
meet the French and their savage allies.
The man who did most to keep these Iro-
quois allies true to the English cause, who
neutralized the intrigues of French priests
| and traders, was Sir William johnson, the
| Lord of johnson manor in the valley of
the Mohawk, one Of the ablest diplomatists,
| soldiers and statesmen that this continent
has produced. He came to America poor
boy, and settled on the remote frontier
where his associates were Indians and
hunters. But over those Indians and
hunters he gained such influence and COM
mand that he was able to stand as one of
the chief bulwarks of England In America
against the splendid schemes of the House
of Bourbon. William Elliot Grifis has
told the story of the Life of Sir William
johnson in one of the books of the Makers
of America Series. The work has been
done with due regard to the general history
Of the times as well as the personal history
of the subject. and is valuable and inter-
esting contribution to American History.
New York: Dodd, Mead 6 Co.; Portland
Loring, Short d HARMONY