The Portland daily press., 1895-10-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Stories of the Wagner Operas by II. A.
Guerber, author of "Myths of Greese and
Rome "'Myths of Northern Lands,
"Conteset Legendes' etc. 1t will be seen
by previous works of this author that she
is accomplished in her specially, the re-
telling of old tales In the present IN
stance Miss Guerber adopts method.
She deals with her legend as it commend
ed itself to the mind of Richard Wagner,
dramatist and composer. She then fol-
lows it upon the stage, quoting from the
libretto at times but telling the story in
her own way, while the illustrations to
the text are photographed from scenes
of the operas.
In these days it is necessary not only to
know something of German legendary
lore but to know it in the form in which
Wagner dealt with it, These stories do
not pretend to other than brief and SIM
pie treatment of the theme, they are
neither erudite nor profound. They give
us in pleasant form the plot OF some OF
Wagner's operas with Intelligent and
agreeable comment The contents are
Rienz; The Flying Dutchman; Tam
hauser; Lohengrin Titan and Isolde;
The Master Singers of Nuremberg; The
Nibelung's Ring -Rhiengold; The Wal
kyrie; Siegfrid; Dusk of the Gods; and
Parsival We recommend the volume
which is beautifully gotten up to admir-
ers of Wagner and to lovers of literature.
1t is excellent reading for young people,
who have reached the age where mytho-
logy holds an endless fascination for the
imaginative. (New York: Dpdd, Mead
y Company Price $780,
A Study of Death by Henry Mills
Alden, author of sfGod in His World, an
Interpretation. This latter work of Mr.
Alden's found an eager welcome in the
minds of thoughtful people for whom re-
ligion, philosophy and metaphysics hold
the heart of the universe and for whom
materialism means the outer husk only.
The belief that there can be no seeming
evil which more truly studied does not
slowly transform itself into blessing, some
what as by regarding one of the modern
signs now employed, you read another
legend by your change of view, is stead
iiy gaining ground. This present work,
"a Study of Death'' will contribute to
that increasing faith. The book is schol-
arly somewhat scientific and profound
vet mainly intended for the general stu
dent of life and its manifestation. 1t is
very spiritual in its perceptions and bears
a helpful optimism as it's message. Where
one does cot agree with thelauthor, he will
yet gather suggestion and food for
thought
The Proem, 1.-THE Dove and the Ser
pent'' is followed by Books 1, II and II.
on 'Two Visions of Death, Native Inn
pressions, Prodigal Sons-a Cosmic Para
ble' and "Death Unmasqued'
The author says "Love never denied
Death. and Death will not deny Love-"
The Evolutionists may possibly take ex-
ception to some of Mr.. Alden's positions
as regards the development of man.
Under Prodigal Sons, he writes, fThere
is no ethical resolutions of the problem
there is indeed no problem save of our
own making. The issues of life have
their spontaneous reconcilement, because
Life itself is eternal. There is in that
life principle which is creative; which
S as immoral as is childhood, because it
transcends morality; which makes not
for mere rectitude but for righteousness,
not for betterment merely, but for re-
newal; which does not mend the Prodi-
gal S rags, but brings him home" And
under "Another World', So does our
faith comprehend our travail and sorrow,
finding IN these the true way of life and
that there is no other way. Christian
philosophy, like science, finds in that
which is the ground of heaviness the
charm of leyiathan, the attraction which
binds together a universe. - New York