The Portland daily press., 1892-06-03


He shows with force the evil of monopo-
lies. A fantastic little sketch, six feet
of Romance, is also included in the
volume, which is illustrated by the
author. The book is admirably bound
and printed. (New York: Charles L.
Webster and Co. Price, $1.00.)
Social and Literary Papers. By Charles
Chauncy Shackford. These essays by
the late Professor Shackford, are scholar
ly and thoughtful, comprising variety
of significant topics. In the Prometheus
of -Eschylus, "a soul severely grand like
that of Milton, austerely just like that of
Dante,'' he finds mastery treatment of
the problems with which modern social
science is concerned; the progress of
humanity, and its martyrs at the stake
of conservatism; the law of heredity; the
distribution of wealth; the sanitary laws;
the question of labor. These he sums
up in fine essay. The satirist Lucian;
the Greek idea of Nemisis; comments on
Browning; essays on the Republic of
Plato, and the Politics of Aristotle; on
various social phases; and finally, on
History as Development are titles which
indicate the contents of this volume, pub
lished Ply care of Mr.. A. w. Stevens of
the University Press. Boston: Roberts
Brothers: Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmon. Price $1.25.
The Evolution of Christianity. By
Lyman Abbott. In this series of chap
ters upon religious evolution, DR.. Alb
bott shows his customary liberal conser-
vatism and solid mentality. After trac-
ing the development of theological and
ethical philosophy, he comes to conclu-
sions in which he defines Christianity,
Inspiration, Revelation and other terms
important to theology; and lastly, Re-
igion, as Divine life transforming the
individual, the church, society into the
kingdom of God. To readers interested
in doctrinal and religious speculation as
represented by leading men in the vari-
GUS denominations, DIR. Abbott's volume
will be of interest and value. Boston:
Houghton, Mif1in & Co.; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmon. Price $1.25)
The Jew at Home. By Joseph Pen
nell. Mr.. Pennell, an observant and
clever tourist, well-armed with note
book and pencil, who has recorded for
the pleasure of readers many unconven-
tional and picturesque tours of his
sometimes falls into a tone of
querulous railing, which is perhaps
the result of the fatigues and in
conveniences of travel. And therefore it
may be that some discount ought to be
made upon his portrait of the average
Jew in southeastern Europe certainly
very unfattering likeness. He studied
the sons of Israel especially in the town
of Brody in Austria-Hungary where
nearly all the population is Jewish; and
from his notes he has been able to make
a vivacious volume. These chapters
originally appeared in the Illustrated in
London News, and called out contradic-
tory article from native of Brody.
Without entering into the discus
sion, Mr.. Pencils sensible advice may
be quoted to the effect that if the Russian
Jews are imported into America; he
should be treated precisely as other men
are, Austrians, Poles, Germans, of what
ever religion, so that they shall assimil-
ate with American nationality and civil
cation. The book is illustrated by some
of Mr.. Pennelrs characteristic drawings.
| New York: D. Appleton & Co.; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony
Stories and Interludes. By Barry
Pain. The prose of Mr.. Pain is so i'm
aginative and idealistic that there is no
effect of abrupt transition between his
stories and the brief poems which are
placed between them. While with the
works of some realistic authors such al
formations of prose and verse remind one
of the Sicilian fashion of placing laurel
leaf between sausages! The work of this
writer has distinction, of temperament
and Of style, he has vivid and capri
cious fantasy, and very flexible and swift
changes of tone that follow the feeling of
the moment. In stories like Supreme
Moments and Exchange the imagination
is balanced between the familiar and the
remote in very original fashion. Rural
Simplicity and Concealed Art are quite
modern and possible; they are compan-
ion sketches, the latter especially clever.
The series of White Nights with its in
definite place and time, its three prin-
cesses and its sad Jester, is SO entirely
remote that it belongs to the realm of
fairy tale. Oddly enough, Mr.. Pain S
verse is less tenderly ideal, more cynical
and sharply touched than his prose.
rBut all that he writes in this volume is
individual and attractive. One last word
shall be said for the piquant diablerie of
the binding of the book, with its flame
rcd cloth, and black bats fitting against
moon that is all swirl of golden fila
ments. New York: Harper & Brothers