The Portland daily press., 1895-02-16


tional facilities for obtaining his material
and his well-known literary ability enabled
him to produce a valuable and enduring
historical work.
David Barker touches shoulders with
Adolpbus 1t is the handsome memorial
edition OF the writings of the Maine poet.
pub lished in Bangor in 1886, and which has
a personal interest for the writer because
of the reference to near relative IN one
of the poems. No weeding-out process to
which this shelf may hereafter be subjected
will dislodge the Poems by David Barker"
Next come two volumes by Thomas Sedg-
wick Steele, an ardent sportsman, respec-
lively entitled "Canoe and Camera" and
paddle and Portage" They are books
about Maine, but their author lives. or did
live, in Hartford, CT.
Then we have 1.-THE Smugglers of Chest
nut" by Clarence b. Burleigh, published
by E. E. Knowles Co. Augusta. I'm 1881.
The scene is laid in Aroostook county and
the story is capitally told and thoroughly
infused with local color and characteristics.
Next comes "Eastport and Passamaquod-
dy.n by W. II. Kilby, published by Edward
E. Shead &c Company. Eastport, IN 1888. IL
is one of the best local histories extant and
appeals to ali who are interested in that
section of the State. Mr.. Kilby was well
fitted for his task and has embodied in this
volume the labor of many years.
Life and Letters of John Greenieaf
Whittier" two handsome volumes by >. Il.
Pickard, editor of the Portland Transcript,
were recently reviewed in these columns,
and it only need be said that this work Is
a notable addition to Names literary
achievements. 1.-The History of the Anti
slavery Cause in State and Nation, by
Rev. Austin Wiley, stands beside Whit
tier, himself an active participant in the
anti-slavery movement. This is doubly a
Maine book, for it came from the press of
Brown Thurston, Portland, in 1856. Next
we have 1.-The Life of Abner Coburu," by
Charles E. Williams, printed by Thomas W.
Barr, Bangor.
Then "The Triangular Society; Leaves
from the Life of Portland Family pub
lished by Hoyt Fogg Donham, Portland,
1856. This is a series of very clever sketch hes
and noems. whose authorship has not been
made public.
Next we have sArnly Life, Private's
"reminiscences of the War;" by Rev. Theo-
dore Gerrish, goth Maine Volunteers, with
an introduction by Hon. Josiah IL. Drum
mend. The material of which this book is
composed first saw the light in the columns
of the Republican journal after editorial
revision and Mr.. Drummond says of the
book in his introduction: 1T was hrst
mainly published as newspaper articles,
and read by hundreds who participated In
the events of which Mr.. Gerrish has written.
If there were any material errors in his
sta tements, they would have been chal-
lenged at once by those properly Jealous of
their own regulations, and that of these
officers; SO that the author has really had
the advantage of the criticism and endorse
ment of very many equally as familiar with
the facts as himself, and. on. that account
his history may be taken as unusually relia-
ble.''
Another army book follows, and one much
priced from personal acquaintance with the
author. 1t is my "My Recollections of the
War of the Rebellion by William B. Lap
ham. Brevet-Major U. s. Volunteers. The
book was written for and dedicated to the
children of DR.. Lapham, and was privately
printed for the author by Burleigh x Flynt'
Augusta. 1892. The following extract from
the preface gives the keynote OF the vol
ume. and the spirit of the writer: There
is no act of my life that look back upon
with so much satisfaction and pride, as the
humble part bore in the war necessary to
emancipate the slave. When think OF years
of service in the Union army, l feel That
nv life has not been entirely in vain.
While the boosk are arranged simply by
size they seem to have grouped themselves
naturally for Lext comes Naval story
of the late war, Cruising and Blockadlng,
by W. H. Winslow, N. D. Phi. ID. DR.. Wins
low is a native of Belfast, but long resi-
dent OF Pittsburg, Pa, and this book, ii
the main. no doubt embodies his own ex-
periences.
The Life of Rev. John ALLEN. better
known as "Camp-meeting john" by Rev.
stephen Allen. D. D., touches upon another
snhere of Maine activity. The subject of
this me,noir was noted exhorter and tenn
nerance advocate, a man of worth and wit,
of whom it was said when he had passed
away at the age of go: ''The town and
State of his birth, the church of his adop-
ton. all Christian people and the world at
large rejoice that he has lived SO long and
feel sorry that he has died"
"Chat About Books" by Mayo Williamson
HaZeItine, is a volume to arouse local pride
for the author was Belfast boy who has
won rare distinction as a reviewer and edi-
torial writer. He was a student of Harvard
College and later at Oxford. England, and
for many years has been prominent MEM
her of the editorial staff of the New York
Sun. For a number of years the writer OF
these notes had read in the Sunday Sun the
very able reviews signed nj. w. H.. with
out knowing that they represented an &C
quaintance of boyhood. The distinction of
using even initials in the Sun was marked,
for the privilege is granted to few contri-
butors. 1t is thesesreviews. in some meas
ure revised. which make up the present vol
ume.
A novel Low, "Pudney & Walp." by f.
Bean, the scene laid in Penobscot Bay.
Pudney's Island is Vinalhaven, while many
of the characters are drawn from life. The
author was at one time resident of Vinal-
haven, but further than that we do not feel
- 1;l,or%r m h xur;f+a,,