The Portland daily press., 1893-10-24


A Roadside Harp, a Book of Verses by
Louise Imogen Quincy, ranges in theme
from ballad and legend to sonnet and
lyric. 1t is daintily printed in subdued
tint of green and silver and is pretty
book for a gift or remem brance to
friend who loves an artistic poem, for
between the covers turks good deal of
music. Here is an exquisite bit:
"The japanese Anemone."
All summer the breath of the roses
around
Exhales with delicate, passionate
sound;
And when from the trellis, in holiday
places,
They Groom and cajole, with their slum-
brous faces,
A. lad in the lane must slacken his PAGES.
Fragrance of these is a voice in bower:
But low by the wall is my odorless flow
So pure, SO controlled, not d fume is
above her,
That poet or bee should delay there or
hover
For she is a silence, and therefore love
her.
And never mortal by,morn or midnight
Is called to her hid little house of de-
light;
And she keeps from the wind, on his
pillages olden,
Upon true staff in rough weather be-
holden,
Her winter-white gourd with the hollow
moon golden.
While arbors of sroses contend and in
crease,
Methinks she has found how noble is
peace,
discover,
Not absent to men, tho resumed by the
Giver,
And dead long ago, being lonely forever.
Boston and New York: Houghton,
Miff1in & Company; Portland Loring,
Short & Harmon. Price s1.o0.
The Work of John Ruskin. Its In
fuence upon Modern Thought and Life.
By,Charles Waldstein. Readers of Call
ingwood's Life of Ruskin, delightful
biography, will welcome this critical
essay from an especially competent source
as both valuable and interesting. The
author is cool, calm and impartial,
which is saying good deal where MIR.
Ruskin is in any way involved. We have
here, in tiny book form, restful to the
hand and easily carried in an overcoat
pocket, an outline of Ruskin as a writer
on art; founder Of "Phaenomenology" of
nature: as prose poet; as dealing with
social, political and economical ques-
tions, with final chapter entitled Mr..
Ruskin and the Sports and Pastimes
of England" This last seems to have
been introduced largely that the au-
hor may disagree with Ruskin. 1t hard
ly belongs The preceding material
is fresh and discriminating and bears
the stamp of work done without surface
tools;-it goes to the foundation and
builds with integrity. The student of
Ruskin will find satisfaction in this bro
chure. New York: Harper & Brothers;
Portland: Loring, Short &H armon.)
Household Art, edited by Candace
Wheeler, belongs to the Distaf Series,
wholly the work of women, in both liter
airy and mechanical get-up.
Mrs. Wheeler. includes The Development
of American Homes, by Mrs. Van
Rensselaer,; Some Work of the "Associat-
ed Artists, by Mrs. Burton Harrison;
three papers on Decoration, one on wall
paper and one on furnishings In this
little book is packed much common
sense It contains simple and excellent
suggestion as to art in the home. In
these days of anti-Macassars and bric-a-
brac it is needed, and we commend
heartily these pleasant talks.
In the same series-quite distinct how
ever, as to each volume-comes The Kin
dergarten, edited by Mrs. Wiggin. Here
again one notes the advance and devel-
opement of American institutions-one
being the annulling SO far as may be,
the spirit .of that very word "institu-
tion.n It is possible for the kindergarten
devotee to exaggerate her work and its
details, but given proper proportion, and
a teacher of talent for her task. which
by the way is also her privilege and her
Q6llRuU, dud UucIO CdlI w liz StouOU uaou
in principle and practise the kindergarten
is the proper educational beginning for
little folks. If there be other views the
careful reading of this volume will modi-
fy and convert the hereto, we do not
hesitate to affirm. (New York: Harper
& Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short
& Harmon. Price $1.00 per volume.),
:. The Dayspring From on High. Sc
lections arranged byssEmma Forbes Cary.
These selections are arranged for daily
reading, and are of religious character.
Under every date is passage of Scrip
ture, and one or more extracts of prose
and verse, taken mostly from Roman
Catholic writers, although some. of the
most noted, Protestant authors. have been
drawn from. The selections have been
carefully made, and the book ranks
among our best daily reading books. 1t
is prettily bound in olive brown, orna-
mented with a golden star, from which
long rays of light stream, and bunch of
pansies for thoughts" Boston and