The Portland daily press., 1891-01-28
CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY e, oAyAzzA.


Immediate usefulness in his work. The con-
struction of the book is not very fortunate.
Nothing In the theories or structures regard
ing society in this world needed to be trans
ported to the planet Mars to make them eff
fective. There is little or no attempt at q
narrative or at remote or strange civilization,
such as might require so foreign a scene.
Indeed, Mr.. Bellamy's Looking Backward
contented itself with the Boston of the fu-
ture, distance Of time, not Of space, lending
enchantments to his particular view. Mr.
Leggetts book has no romance. no report Of
novelties. but may be defined as a descrip-
tion OF American civilization as it seems to
himself. His notions are based on morality
and common sense, but appear limited, pro-
sale, and not sufficiently recognizant OF ex-
listing good. In diseouragiDg extrayagance
and show. for example, his theory would at
the same time stifle the instinct Of art para
lyze the highest forms Of skilled labor, and
check noble pleasures. He fills the news
papers Of Mars with only useful news and
Information. speculative philosophy and
moral and religions articles. And no adver-
tisements. Novels, and poems. wit and
bellies lettres. seem to have no place in the
journals OF Mars. Nor is romance ad-
mitted into coartship and marriage--accord-
ing to Mr.. Legeett's ideal. After q proposal
OF mutual investigation of the ancestry,
character, habits etc. of the man and maid,
begins what be terEs :he sentimental part
OF the aarair. This is merely a comparison
OF tastes and aims, to judge IL the mental
dispositions are compatible. Finally, the
marriage contract. Evidently there is not
much business for young Cupid therel Per
haps 1t Is little less than tair to take SUBJ
humorously such a solemn treatise. But
Mr.. Leggett, not being avery imaginative
writer. would have done better to note In
simpler form some Of the present Ills Of So
ciety and their remedy. as he believes. AS
literary work. his book is narrow and mar
tistic; in theory 1t shows care and good
will, but not much invention or novelty Of
convictions. Philadelphia: J. b. Lippin-
colt Co. Price $1.o0.)
Japan. A Sailors Visit to the Island
Empire. By M. B. Cook. Although Cap
tain Cook asks indulgence for his first liter
| airy venture, he may be assured that 1t needs
no apology. tits Straightforward, compe-
tent and agreeable description Of Japan and
Its people, as observed by person whose
keen eyes and intelligence made the most
Of opportunities. How refreshing it is to
meet with book Of travels written with the
single purpose Of telling clearly what was
seen and enjoyed. Captain Cook INDUCES
in no Zine writing" and nowhere betrays
the least vanity Of authorship. Hence h e is
very pleasant guide, whether to the majesty
OF the sacred mountain; or to the theatre,
where with good taste, an over-tragic ending
is indicated by shower of plum or cherry
blossoms at the door where the victims have
made their exit. His accounts of local lsu-
perstitions are interesting. Young readers
will be delighted with the Feast of Dole,
and the bird at the Geological Garden whose
long tail is put into curLpapers every night.
The festival day Of. the PRONUNCIATION of the
Constitution took place during Captain
Cooks visit. and gives occasion for des-
cription Of the pageant, and also of the new
form Of government. The manufactures,
especially of porcelain and of lacquer the
books and newspapers, and the social Gus
toms of Japan are also well noted. Al
though there exist many valuable and copi-
GUS works upon Japan, this little volume by
Captain Cook merits Its share of popularity
on account OF the compact, genial and direct
way In which Its information is offered,
New York: John B. Alden.)
Seven Dreamers. By Annie Trumbull
Slosson. Almost every town has at least
one among its inhabitants who cheIishes
some odd delusion, although on other points
be or she may appear Of sound enough mind
What men tai chord has been over-strained
and In what manner, is not certain, bnt the
dreamer's life is dominated by fixed idea.
In these stories. Mrs. Slosson has sketched
seven such types, with variety, humor, inge-
nuity and pathos. Her recognition of the
ways OF the dreamers is subtle and dramatic;
aud the motif of each story is clearly accen
tuated. The defects of her work are rather
In execution than design; carried away
by very alert fancy and decided 4
gift at quaint and amusing charac-
terizatlon, she overdoes her effects, and
so renders her sketches literary rather
than lifelike. Her eccentric personaRes
are too apt In their language, too connected
and extensive In their alterations of mind.
Even when the stories are most amusing or
most pathetic-and they 60 far in each d.
authors cleverness. never once lost In the
mistiness Of fancy which would belong to a
realistic treatment of these dreamers,
Botany Bay and Fishin' Jimmy are two
types which come rather mes verify. The one
is gatherer of herbs and wild-fowers the
other shy fisher of lonely streams, each &C.
cessible only though his favorite pursuit
Deacon Pheby. again, is type of uncon-
scious goodness that would have been i'm.
pressive but for the storyteller's too great
insistepce In depicting him. Butterneggs, the
story Of the little girl, shipgrecked, alone on
desert island who, later, appeared in her
New England home equipped with eyery
principle and tenet common to her family, is
very laughable extravaganza; yet not the
cracked brain Of poor Loretty, but the very
sound and cool Imagination of Mrs. Slosson
could evolve such parsonage. Equally in
genious and unnatural is the story of the
little ghost who spoke pieces with such an |
propriateness to the event Of the moment. |
These protests are made in order to show
where the line Of Mrs. Sl0sson's entertain
ing work departs from that of the veracious
and pure art of.Miss Sarah Jewett or Miss
Mary wilkins. But the Seven Dreamers are
original and entertaining company with
whom to pass an afternoon. And it should
not be difficult for Mrs. Slosson to correct
certain tendencies Of style, and write Sec
ond volume of stories that will do her entire
credit. New York: Harper & Brothers;
Portland: Loring. Short & Harmon.
Widow Guthrie. By Richard Malcolm
Johnston. 1t is said that Mr.. Johnston him.
self prefers this novel to any of its predeces-
sors from his pen. and he is doubtless right
For he, better than stranger, can judge how
thoroughly 1t represents the social condition
of Georgia In earlier time than these. 1t is
a strong and varied p0rtraiture Of types.
white and black; and shows the curious con-
trasts, the punctilios, the crudities. the POM
posities, the brutalities of southern society.
Widow Guthrie herself Is the most carefully
drawn Of these likenesses, and Is quite l
masterpiece; an imperative overpoweriDg !
virago, yet with a warm, uncontrolled heart. |
The treachery of Duncan Guthrie and the |
noble sweetness Of Alice are simply and /
strongly outlined: as indaad a,a oiso +ba