The Portland daily press., 1895-03-09

admirers Mt once, and it may be that
the critic would look more smilingly
upon his verse at present.
All the daring of late nineteenth centu-
ryism is in Narcissus, but it is work of
art. and it has whimsical freshness and
an unconventional charm not at all to be
resisted. 1t is nothing more nor less
than the drawing OF a character by lei
erence TO books read and friends he
loved. A rare little volume, to go into
that pet recess of favorite shelf where
intimate associates are bound and hon
ored.
We have made this notice Of The Book
Bills of Naroissus brief review OF the
author, because it is impossible to give
in writing any idea of the prose idyl it
self. 1t is sketch, so free and indefina-
BILE. SO much IL breath from poets soul,
so unlike "set piece" of any kind that
the only thing to be done with 1T is to
put it into the hands of your most APP
preciative book lover; even then it may
it is not volume which will appeal to
the general reader Mr.. Fowier's frontis-
piece is an Ideal head. New York: 6.
P. Punam's; London: John Lane; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmon. Price
S1.00.
Dust and Laurels. A Study in Nine
tenth Century Womanhood, by Mary
l.. rendered, portrays a young woman,
accomplished in books. literature and
authorship. putting these gifts to the
most fippant uses and employing her
beauty for the fascination of men. young
and old, married and single, and calmly
stating to her faithful friend that her
restless and sensuous nature will permit
her no continuous, higher ambition. The
flaw is evident. No young girl largely
endowed intellectually would SO slavish-
~ yield to unworthy aims. Much nigh
class English slang pervades the tale.
Here and there phrase is telling. Vera
remarks, after an upset out of the dog
cart drawn by French Cat" the frisky
mare, and resulting strains and bruises,
that she feels "like Chinese puzzle,
badly put together" Dust and Laurels
is not refined or sensitive story, and
frankly, we hardly see what is to be
gained by it's perusal. Diversions, perhaps,
if that sort of thing diverts. (New York
D. Appleton & Compay; Portland.
Loring, Short & Harmon. Price 81. 90. J
Noemi, by S. Barring Gould, author of
Little Tu'penny, is clear seut strik-
ing, powerful romance, dealing with
medieval times, the 14th century wars
between England and France. Spcifical-
ly with Aquitaine or Guierne. the scene
OF rioting and massacre, free booting
and oubliette torture, finally reunited
to the French crown in 1883" When
Louis VII was ravaging the territories OF
his indoc1le vassal, the Count of Cham
payne, he set fire to the church of the
little town of Vitry in which all the
citizens, their wives and children, had
taken refuge, and thirteen hundred per-
sons persisted in the flames. Such was
war in the Middle Ages. When Henry
V of England was entreated MOTTO burn
the towns and villages through which
he passed, "Bahl" said he, "would you
have me eat my meat without mustard2'
Among walled towns, Businesses in the
rock, free companies, feudal seignieurs
and ruthless msrauders, the auth OF
locates his story which lis lighted up by
the most sturdy of wooings, showing
that love i'll claim something OF beauty
despite untoward circumstances. Noemi's
challenge to Jean del' Peyra in the first
chapter, whereby she shows him that rec
lips and kisfrom them are a woman,
weapons-not the sword and frebrands-
is fine dramatic episode. IN short
Noemi is a vigorous and exciting story
renovating in effect in contrast to latter
day realism land introspection (Nev
York: D. Appleton & Company; Port
land: Loring, SShcrt & Harmon. Prlc
$1.00.)
| A Farm House Cobweb. AnNovel b,
Emory j. Haynes, is the grouping o
country folk and fashions into plot ant
| counterpart, Win happy maIrlmonla
close. 1t opens with the singing school
thoroughly well rendered, and leads int
accident and intrigue at once. The au
thor loves his woods and pastures
ponds and coves, sleigh bells and frost,
nights without any city infusion, ant
TO many people the book will be yer,
attractive We find it ourselves shadow
commonplace, but then olives ant
champagne turn one from an "altogeth
er" diet of pop corn and cider Som
times there is a dash of mock herois..
more elaborate than need be. but tn,
story is lively, full of color and bring
back the fast waning cid times and oil
associations. New York: Harper &
| Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short &