The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-06-19

though one couldn't commend it's moral
tone, because, as was said concerning
doubtful drain, there isn't any. The
General is rare drawing to the life
and sets forth American "bluff" delight
fully; while Us Last Horror, if irving
in it's realism, is sincere in its pathos.
For The Snen's Pigtail, that poor over
worked word "cever' must again be
marshaled to the fore. New York and
London: 6. P. Putnam's Sons; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmon. Price
SO ceuts.)
Cadet Days. A Story of West Point
by Captain Charles King, U.S.A. ,au-
thor of Between the Series, Campaigning
with Crook, A Wartime Wooing, etc.
Captain King is no longer a young man
but in this story ne marvelously pre-
serves and reproduces the snap and en-
thUsiasm of eighteen. He writes of West
Point in a way to capture the interest of
every lad who loves bright buttons, the
sight of drill or the sound of a sabre
elank. A reviewer calls the hero of the
book, Geordie Graham, otherwise "Pops"
the Tom Brown of the military academy.
AT all events he is gallant fellow. and
bears himself bravely, whether with the
Apaches of the wild West. or on pony
back from Arizona to Kansas, or later in
his West Point experiences. The reader
will realize what military discipline
oc hay dc fbac {aI
tions, and will find at times desperate
hardship not akin to the "fun" the
novice pictures in army drill. The book
is fully illustrated and capitally well
done too, save with one exceptional very
evident anachronism, namely, page 16,
scene pervades the drawing. not alto
gether in keeping with the order "Turn
out, E troop, lively; carbines and revolv-
ers, fur coats and gloves. Jump, now
men!" New York: Harper & Brothers;
Port land: Loring, Short & Harmon.
Price $1.25.)
Claudia Hyde. A Novel, by Frances
Courtenay Baylor, author of On Both
Sides, etc. The writer of this book is a
Southern woman, and has won for her.
self literary name and high standing
among story writers. In the present in
stance the old English tone of Virginia
society is made to appeal to young
scion of the elder soil, who has in his
own country met with ill treatment
financially as well as in matters of the
heart. Whether farming in Virginia
would have brought any return to the
English hero. Mr.. Gerald Curzon Siptrap
Midway, but for Claudia it remains for
the interested reader to decide. There is
variety of types in the narrative,
people of unusual traits, some good,
some bad; and beside the fresh and
winning tale of love well told, we have
some effective descriptions of scenery; but
chiefly we are drawn to the "Bower,n
the old manor house, where high breed
ing held its own with an art which
poverty could not efface. When Gerald
fell i'll, true hospitality led them to in
sist upon his coming to this haven of
rest. Aunt Hebe came and 'nussed'
him, and called him child and honey
to his great amusement; prattled to him
not little. 'Beverly-dat's my hus-
band-he was born in de family. | come
by Miss Lucy, you see. when she got
married. We come from King and Queen.
She was a Herbert and heiress. She
brought Mass Addison heap of money,
and two properties down in lower Vir-
ginia, and more sniggers than you can
shake stick at. Yes, we was quality
both sides"
Along with the American runs an
English thread, making a blended wool
and fitting preparation for "nome
again." (Roston and New York:
Houghton, Miffiin & Co.. Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmon. Price s1.25.)
His Vanished Star, by Charles Egbert
Craddock. To one not familiar with
Miss Murfree's writing book like the
volume at hand would furnish a verita-
BILE new sensation; for her delineation of
life on the Great Smokies-the moon
sinners with their Illicit stills, the con-
tract with and contrast between men
from the city and the native Tennessee
ans; the singular, shrewd humor of the
latter in their primitive utterances; the
beauty of the women whose stolidity is
not incompatible with a fiery loyalty
and strong PASSIONS unlike anything
in literature, and is incontrovertibly a
new find. The wit of the story, too, is
mastery in its condensed pithiness.
A temper airy star seen by one of the
characters of the story, gives it it's title
and draws by it's magnetic qualities sew
eral beautiful and poetic descriptions
from the authors pen. Not alone does
she write with true eloquence of the
heavens. but of fire and flood and all the
varying phases of nature.
Miss Cornelia Taft, aged eleven years,
is remarkable young person. Joe, her
brother, is couple of years older but
she entirely superintends his actions
sometimes with, sometimes without his