The Portland daily press., 1893-10-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

The Witness to Immortality in Literal
ture, Philosophy and Life is a recently
published volume by Rev. George A.
Gordon, Minister of the Old South
Church, Boston. DR.. Gordon is of ortho-
dox theology but of liberal faith.
Whether one agrees with him or not in
doctrine there is inspiration in his SER
mons from the pulpit and in the dis
courses which he writes and publishes
The book at hand is free from dogma
tism and is thoughtful, scholarly and
clear presen tation of that theme which
with all races and all ages has kept it's
hold upon the human heart. In crudest
form there has ever existed mysterious
sense of something not material and OF a
power that did not and could not die,
and in this case the evidence of things
not seen" is placed by the author, after
an able Introductory paper, under the
following headings. The Hebrew Proph-
cts and Immortality; The Poet; The
Philosophers; The Apostle Paul; Jesus
Christ and Immortality; and Trust and
Immortality; the Grounds OF Faith To-
day. This is book to strengthen .and
upIift the heart and increase the spirit
ual knowledge of the reverend and relig-
ious soul Its literary attributes are
sound study, keen discernm emit and elo-
quence which has weight and is never
sensational Boston and New York:
Houghton, Miff1in and Company; Port
land Loring, Short and Harmon. Price
81. 50.)
ESSAYS in London and Elsewhere by
Henry James, are short dozen in num-
Der and have for their subjects, London;
James Russell Lowell; Frances Anne
Kemble; Gustave Haubert: Lott; The
Journal of The Brothers de Goncourt;
Browning; Ibsen; Mrs. Humphrey
Ward; Criticism; and bit of dialogue
entitled san Animated Conversation.
They are marked by the elegance, re-
finement and aristocratic delicacy that
characterizes this writer.
Mr.. James will never be the genial
critic of Whipple's ilk, but he handles
the blade of analysis and discrimination
finely Occasionally witty, often apt and
original, his text is refreshing after the
brutal realism of some of our moderns
One comes from the perusal of his clever
sketches and stories with the feeling of
association with men who are not mis-
called gentlemen" and women who may
be both reticent and charming. New
York: Harper & Brothers; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmon.
A Japanese Interior. By Alice Mabel
Bacon. Miss Bacon has published for
me- study of our friends of the Eastern
Empire entitled Japanese Girls and
Women. She has lived and taught among
them; and.not only this, but has asso-
ciated with what Americans call mice
people," lie. persons of intelligence, cul-
ture and rank When she tells of their
domestic living and Of their traits and
characteristics it is from personal expert
ence. This she does in the simple and
unpretentious style of informal chat. A
japanese Interior is pleasant reading,
and to those with whom Japan is fad,
recently published books upon it's his
tory, art and customs will be excellently
supplemented by Miss Bacon's book.
| (Boston & New York: Houghton, Miff1in
& Company; Portland: Loring, Short
& Harmon Price $1.25.)
The Petrie Estate, by Helen Dawes
Brown, author of Two College Girls, ven
lures to deal with the hackneyed subject
of lost and found last will and testa-
ment. The incident however, has a
touch of novelty in its outcome, and in
any event so much terse, sparkling, fresh
setting forth of people. and things goes
with it, that the story is far above the
average. The heroine is that ideal
creature, nevertheless real and present
| with us in this day and generation, a
woman who has brain power and is self
reliant yet withal womanly and sweet
The Petrie Estate is an agreeable and
| wholesome story with not little real