The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

fHIlp anu Wlles Wy oiSdACo
Deland, author of John Ward, Preacher,
etc. Mr.. Deland's latest story is very alb
sorbing and very suggestive. 1t sets one
specializing on how far duty demands
the sacrifice of ones ideal in the bonds
OF an unhappy marriage. Philip, the
hero of the book, is rather vaguely pre-
sented to US, and it is not quite easy to
interpret his motive always. Cecilia,
his wife, thwarts his best aspirations in
art, in the development of his intellect
and in his moral nature. Moreover, she
mars in their only child, a little ndaugh-
might have Of truth, and directly spoils
her by luxury and indulgence. Dramatic
and even sensational as some of the
scenes are, which deal with these two
natures utterly at variance and at war,
there still seems something of unnces-
sary stress about it. Was Philip truly un-
selfish after all? Might he have awakened
in Cecil, as Roger did, something of
higher, answering note? Still, If she did
not love him, how could anything bet
ter ever come out of it all? Perhaps this
very uncertainty in the readers mind is
just what stamps the study as one of
much psychologist force. for these are
the cases in real life where the weary
verdict 81 do not know" sounds itself
over and over again. The minor charac-
tiers of the book have great originality,
and are types drawn with rare skill and
talent. DR.. Lavendar, porting over his
sermons and his precious stones; Miss
Susan Carr, whose sturdy common sense
melts into romance at the last; Mrs.
Drayton, the professional, nervous in
valid-and fresh, sweet Alicia, true to
her womanly instincts and as revivify-
ing as a rose or as the dreams of inno-
cence.
The quiet humor of..New England folk,
the oddities and little natural touches
so charmingly produced, are a rest after
the tragic play of passions which will
make Philip and His Wife book to read
with eagerness, and to mediate upon
long sitter it's covers are closed. Boston
and New York: Houghton, Miffiin &
Company; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmon. Price $1.25.
Three Boys on an Electrical Boat by
John Trow bridge, author of The Electro
cal Boy. Two lads, rather alone in the
world, but who refused to be separated
one from tine other, after adventures with
an electrical ice boat, in Canada, bring
Hao md 40 hIa nlacfrinu1 Shi
bound.for Bermuda, where they join to
themselves third youth evidently des-
tined to show by his bullying the metal
of the other two. The story is written
by Harvard Professor. 1t is full Of
snap and go, and will lead lively, inquir-
ing boys with great zest through its ad-
ventures from page to page. That it's
happenings, though based upon scien.
tifc facts, would hardly come about as
here detailed, will not disturb young
readers whit 1t might all be true,
and it is good story; and that is. enough
adds another charm, land undoubtedly
with good sreason. Three Boys on an
Electrical Boat will sal into wide popu-
larity. Boston and New York: Hough-
ton, Miff1in & Company; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & Harmon. Price S1.00)
Talk at Country House. Fact and
Fiction, by Sir Edward Strachley. Bart.
is assstaid little volume, full of a con-
tinued discourse upon numerous sub
ients-- an English old historic r,onor
house; Persian poetry and allied themes;
Shakespeare; English politics; famous
men; the arrow-headed Inscriptions, the
difference between the Jewish and
Assyrian religions, and SO on, over wide
ranges. The distinguishing features of
this pleasant, printed talk are that it
comes from a mind1where learning, high