The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Life and Letters of Oliver
Wendell Holmes. By John
7. Morse, Jr. These volumes, ele-
CANT in exterior, opening Hospitality wide
to the reading eye, with none of the old
time stiff binding to annoy and detract
from ones pleasure In perusal, with por-
traits of Holmes and illustrations of the
pine Tree 1.-THE Gambrel- Rooted
House" the Beacon St, home, the men,
bers of the Saturday Club and other
matter, from one of the important pub
LEGATIONS of the year. in bellies letters.
And we think Houghtcn and Mif1in
have chosen favorable date for its pres
entation to the publio-a space somewhat
set apart from the winter rush of pre-
occupati on and fatigue. Mr.. Morse has
proved the person for this work. A con-
nection of DR.. Holmes family he has had
cooperation and authority. and he has
been extremely guarded against tempta-
tions to euiogy or over enthusiasms.
Not much material was at hand for these
memoirs, despite the fact that the doctor
intended to prepare more freely than he
did memoranda and Renaissance. More
oye= Holmes was not diligent writer of
letters and his correspondence was not
varied or general. His life. too. was
singulariy even and uneventful from the
point of view of excite ment, change or
adventure. Considering these facts, Mr..
Morse has handled his available material
exceedingly we'll; and we have an agree
able, readable and interesting account
of the Autoorat's youth, college days,
early stay abroad, professional studies,
social connections and literary career,
and we are brought into touch with the
royal group that circumference Whit
tier, Lowell, Agussiz, Longfellow, En-
erson, Motley and Hawthorne. Poet,
prose writer and wit, Holmes has OBJ
tanned a secure place in Americas af7ec-
tions. His genial philosophy, his lyric
genius, his shrewd humor (ths very in
carnation Of drollery). his staunoh pa
triotism, his broad sympathy with the
people, aristocrat though he was, his ap-
probation of Bohemia-have all made
him intensely beloved. Who has not ap-
propriated as a special personal bestowal
The Cham bered Nautilus, Voiceless, and
many another precious verse, and taken
to himself the showing up of nonsense or
idiosyncrasy in the Professor and the
Autocrat, Who but SMILES gently as he
recalls Mrs Sprowl's party-"Pm all
beat out afore any of the company's
GOMEZ" or glows with beating heart over
some splendid line in poem peculiarly
fitted to our national sensibilities!
Turn in these volumes where you like,
bon mot awaits you. The Century
Dictionary agent urged the Doctor IN
duly to purchase. II shall not be alive
when your last volumes come out" said
Holmes. Bat no objections were con-
sidered. Finally the man exclaimed
but DR.. Holmes, we've already got to
g. Quite tired with persuasion forced
upon him, Holmes retorted, "Well you
may 60 to n, and the quicker the bet.
ter"
tearing down, Unsuitable domicide;"
medical sign, slightest favors (tevers)
welcome;" ga man has million roosts,
but one nest;'' "the Saint Sebastian of a
literary correspondence: labial conso-
nant-the 18th letter of the alphabet Is
produced "by applying the lips of the
person speaking it to the cheek of
friend and parting the same with pa
ouliar explosive sound;" 81 like nine
tenths of any matter I study but do
not like to lick the plate;" II snatch at
all the fruits of knowledge and take a
good bite out of the sunny eide-after
that, let in the pigs" "If something
did not pinch there would be no
squeak" cataract, in kitten state
of development" ''as apropos as a wink
to joke;" to try to make new friends
after so is like cutting a third set of
teeth" take hold and blow, the Lord
will play the tune as he pleases."
Much more might be said-and will
he said concerning these delightful vol
umes. Boston and New York: Hough-
ton, Miff1n & Company; Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & Harmon. Two volu m es.
Price $4,000
The Reds of the Midi. An Episode Of
the French Revolution. Translated from
the Provencal of Felix Gras By Cathe-
rine A. Javiner, with an Introduction
by Thomas A. Janvier The Appletons
have of late brought out some volumes of
a notable distinction of STYLE ard this
little book Is one of them. The subject
matter also is unusual. The Marseilies
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