The Portland daily press., 1892-06-03
CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY e. CAvAzzA.

Flower O. the Vine. By William Sharp
with Introduction by Thomas A. Janvier.
The prose and poetry of Mr.. Sharp, bril-
liant, versatile and sympathetic, are rap
idly making for him an excellent fame
among contemporary British authors.
His work has much variety; and shows
a talent happy in its own exercise. This
volume is arranged with especial tact, as
an expression of the two influences, far
apart, of the north and the south, which
have combined to form his poetic charac-
ter. In the Romantic Ballads and Poems
of Phantasy, the author appears like one
OF the charming young Scotchmen on
their literary promotion, that are met in
the novels Of Mr.. William Black. The
strenuous second-sight, the vague and
solemn imagery, the haunting lit of the
old Border ballads are in these verses.
This national and native bardic gift is, at
the same time, evidently under conscious
literary discipline, in course of study
under the masters-Rossetti, Keats,
Kingsleymay- be named-who have har-
monized with full chords these archaic
melodies. By means of this concern
with the literary side of his work, the
story and picturesque talent of Mr. Sharp
has made its sway steadily to the dis
covery of its own capabilities. In the
Sospiri de Roma. his beautiful poetic
gift is warmediinto full life and self-ex-
preston. These exquisite Roman remi-
niscences are alike original, sensitive and
artistic. Mr.. Sharp has seen Rome with
his own eyes; and without technical
prejudices or formulas he has reported
his impressions of it. In these semi
rhythms, mostly rhymeless, the ear of
the poet proves itself not less precise and
subtly appreciative than his eye. This
is poetry, pure. spontaneous and vital.
Mr.. Janvier's preface is graceful and
genial. New York: Charles L. Webster
& Co.; Portland: Loring, Short, &
Harmon. Price, $1.50.
The Art of Entertaining. By M. E. W.
Sherwood. Twas not wholly fantastic
idea, perhaps, when Lord Byron said that
he disliked to see woman eat. Not
that a beautiful hand, with jeweled rings
and the curves of a charming mouth are
without grace when a fork is in evidence
but so much feminine. gastronomic
science as Mrs. Sherwood displays in this
book appears like an enthusiastic PEN
dantry of the naenu, assumed for the oc-
casion. However she makes very
thorough study Of the material resources
of the American who would entertain
company, and,adorns her treatise with
many readable anecdotes and illustra-
tons. Then she proceeds to make some
good suggestions for the social diversions
more or less formal which pass the hours
agreeably; with descriptions of enter
tainments in different European countries.
Especially appreciative is her sketch of
the court of the beautiful and good Queen
Margherita of Italy. Mrs. Sherwood has
seen great deal of the social world and
is very entertaining raconteuse, with
out pretentiousness. She recalls what
she has observed, in order to help Ameri-
cans to choose the best methods of en-
pertaining their guests. It is not sur
prising that, now and then, a little mis-
apprehension of French or italian slips
into her work. For instance, in her story
of the manifold exterior arrangements of
the famous, olive Of the French gourmet,
she may be reminded that beccafico is
but small italian bird, yet his dimen-
sions allowed him to include, not to be
included in, that olive! (New York;
Dodd, Mead & Co.; Portland: Loring,
Short and Harmony
James Russell Lowell. By George
William Curtis. By the terms of the
letter of gift of the Brooklyn Institute,
it was provided by the founder, Mr..
Augustus Graham, that every year upon
the 22nd of February, a lecture should be
delivered there of which the subject
should be the character Of George Wash.
ington, or of some other benefactor Of
| America. The orator of the anniversary
| of 1892, was to have been Professor James
Russell Lowell, but since death prevent
ed him from being the speaker of the oc.
casion, it was determined that he should
be the theme of a discourse by Mr.. G.
W. Curtis. Naturally, this is polished
and cordial delineation of Professor
Lowell, as man, poet, scholar and either
and is expressed with the charm of Mr.
Curtis style. It is illustrated by por.
traits of Lowell at different periods o.
his life; and is bound in the delicate
good taste of the Black and White series
New York: Harper and Brothers; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony
Moonlight. By Dan Beard. Mr.
Beard, widely and well known as an ar