The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-08

though it is as far from q text book as
can well be imagined. Indeed it pre-
supposes wide knowledge of music and
considerable technical training in the
reader. Written in an earnest, vivaclous
style, from the standpoint of an enthusi-
astic lover of music, original and some
times daring in conception, it is book
that will make a profound impression
upon the audience to which it is adj
dressed. (New York: Harper. & Broth
ers; Portland: Loring, Short 6 Harmony
Through EColonial Doorways is Anne
Hallingsw orth Wharton's attempt to re-
cover for this generation the society and
home life of the days when this country
was dependency of Great Britain. The
book is drawn from OLD family records,
letters and other manuscripts, which
have been submitted to the author for
her use The material has been wisely
employed and the result is charming
description, tender and witty, and re-
markably vivid, of the personal life of
the past The chapters on the Wistar
parties and the Philadelphia dancing as
semblies are particularly vivacious and
interesting. philadelphia: J. B. Lippin-
colt Company; Portland: Loring, Short
d Harmon. Price slips.
The Dictator, by Justin Mccarthy,
purports to be novel of politics and So
ciety, the society being that of London
and the politics those of an unidentified
South American Republic, passing under
the name of Gloria OF this Republic
the hero of the book is an ex-dictator,
and his adventures for the recovery of
his lost power furnish the motive for the
story. Attempts to murder him by
dagger and dynamite bomb give pleas
ant flavor of lawlessness to the book. 1t
is published by Harper & Brothers.
From the same house and in the Frank
lin Square Library we have In Prom
ised Land, by M. A. Bengough. one of
those stories Of South African adventure
and the diamond fields in which the Brit
ish novel reader seems to take delight.
1t is rather dreary tale of the fortunes
of tiresome people; but there is good
deal of it, which is of course merit in
time killer. Henry M. Stanleys valua-
BILE and very interesting papers on Slav-
cry and the Slave Trade in Africa, fully
illustrated, form a volume in the popu-
lar Black and White Series. In the Ii
brary edition of William Blacks novels
the latest issue is his Shandon! Bells, one
of the most entertaining of his stories, it
not one of the greatest. All these books
are for sale in Portland by Loring, Short
& Harmony
Miss Matt Grim is always entertaining,
and her latest story, Elizabeth: Christian
Scientist (New York: Charles L. Web
ster & Company; Portland Loring,
Short & Harmon, price ~, is in many
respects the best work she has done.
Written with sympathy it gives clearer
we are wont to get in the literature of
the day. Though we may decline to &C
cept Miss Crim's philosophy we cannot
withhold our affectionate esteem from
her heroine, young girl who leaves her
home in the Georgia mountains with the
object of converting the world to Chris
tian Science. Of course there is love
story, and a charming one, too, in the
book.
The Stormy Petrol is an ambitious at
tempt at historical romance of Col. John
Bowles, the days described being those
of slavery and the civil war. There are
some striking scenes in the story, but as
a whole it is tedious. The author fire.
quently grows excited, but lacks the art
Of conveying that excitement to the read
er. New York: A. Lowell 6 Company
Only Flock of Women, by Mrs. A.
NJ. Diaz, is collection of thoughtful
papers, always sensible and sometimes
witty, about men. women and children.
The flock of women belong to club, and
this volume is in part defence of wom-
ems clubs-institutions which have
proved their usefulness and right to ex-
ist. and standing, it would seem, in
no need Of defence. However, Mrs.
Diaz thinks otherwise, and if there be
still those who question the benefit or
the propriety of the club movement
perusal Of her opening pages will con-
vince them of their error of opinion.
Boston: D. Lothrop Company; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony