The Portland daily press., 1895-12-21

Norte, by Maude Mason Austin. Illus.
trated. Harper's Little Novels are OF
convenient form and tasteful makeup,
and have been marked all the way
along by unusual merit. It's nice little
series to own entire. The present ad.
dition is full Of local color. The very
atmosphere Of Mexico and the Rie
Grande valley have been. incorporated
here. TITS sad little idyl, both grace.
full and delicate. 'Cension will take her
place amongst our memories of perfect
youth and purity; and the story has Il
simplicity not readily preserved in these
feverish days. New York: EHarper &
Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short G.
Harmon. Price ST.. 0O.)
The B ritish Barbarians. A HILLTOP
Novel by Grant Allen. The author tells
us that he has now reached a point in
literary construction where publishers
will sometimes take his work and pub
lish it in book form without catering to
the public taste as such. Every novel SO
published he considers piece of emanci-
patton, and adds to it's title the sublime
A Hilltop Novel. He also says he will
publish independent matter by serial
first, if he shall find an editor fearless
enough to do this for him. If The Brit
ism Barbarians be sample of pure
freedom, we protest IN the name Of the
old conservatism, despised but not who'll
ly anihilated, against it's outcome. The
idea of the story is that the taboo, or
superstition of barbarous races Is in full
force in England today, only under an
| outward polish and veneer. TO this we
agree But for the development of the
theme, that is another matter. Such
doctrine as is here set forth we consider
vicious and misleading. 1t is wretched
steering away from moorings not to be
loosed surely till better tie bind the
drifting craft. Moreover it is protltless
way of dealing with principles. New
York: G. P. Putnam's Sons; Portland
Loring, Short & Harmon. Price $780,.
Mrs. Tregaskiss. A Novel of Anglo
Australian Life, by Mrs. Campbell
Praed, author Of Outlaw and Lawmaker
etc. Here, too, is suggestion thrown ou
to which we must needs take exception
The story is told with realism and spirit
1t gives very graphically the surround
ings of rough life in almost desert re
| gions, and it is full of vivid reproduc
tons of scenery, people and human mo
tive at play under repressed conditions
| But the morale of the novel we consider
perverting and unwholesome, in that the
highest or ideal standard is not ever
striven for-''a standard probably as un
realisable in the practical sense as th
typical Christian standard is unrealisabl
under present day conventions, bu
with which her life must be better ant
purer, just as the world must be bette
for an example of strict morality, how
ever imp ossible of actual attainment.
Of what useto word that sort of teaching
For the rest, Mrs. Tregaskiss skim
the danger line at every point. TIL
children, half castles, indeed all the fac
tors in the story are individual and In
U0ToSUlUS. u6 u6Clu6i tdl6ub VI I'll
writer ought to produce better things
{ New York: D. Appleton & Company
Town and Country Library No. 1871
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmon
Price S1.00.)
i Methods of Mind Training, Conoentra
ed Attention and Memory, by Catherine
Aiken. Miss Aiken's School for Youn
Ladies Stamford, Conn, has Away
taken high rank among educational in
stitutions and the preceptress herself
has been recognized as q authority il
matters pertaining to the development c
the young. Her long experience resulte
in dissatisfaction with the nrdinar
methods of mental training and fror
this questioning emerged her schem
for strengthening the memory, quicker
ing the perceptions and fixing the al
tention-in short concentration Of min
the art of knowing how to study. Ii
this volume, illustrated by drawings an
exercises, the author sets forth her ger
eral ideas, which are excellent. We rec
J ommend the book to all interested in TIL
training Of the mind, to young and Of
to the teacher aud also to those adult
who are trying to remedy early defects i
, | hni to1