The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-21


these Gays without your dashing historic
romance of adventure and intrigue, dam
ger and defiance. An Enemy to the King
Is well written, spirited and as little
modern or realistic as heart could wish.
Starting in 1878 with ohivalry and an
avowed pursuit of a really magnificent
love affair, and cutting its way, Dumas
fashion. through royalty and battle and
high estate, to triumphant close. This
volume belongs to the ''Red Letter Fio-
ton" series. price per volume $1.25
Boston: L. c. Page & Company; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony. Com
panlon volumes are Gautier's immortal
Captain Fracasse, and The Count of Mi
deck. from Erckmann- Chatrain, adapted
by Ralph Browning Fiske The trans
lations are good; and both books are well
bound and printed, but deserve better
illustrating. Captain Fracasse, it will
be remembered, was originally written for
La Revue Rationale, ls61-66. 1t Ia a
splendid piece of work, and now, as then,
leads thousands captive by right of ro-
nance and history rightly blended and
charm OF literary distinction and style.
The Count of Mideck starts off at sharp
canter and is almost too condensed and
short Of sentence. Abundant sensation
exists in it's "Black Plague" gnomes
and she-wolves.
Sam q Walter Foss's Dreams in Home
spun is attractively gotten up for the
holidays. This writer stands we'll to
the front in simple poetry which deals
with matters of the heart and locates
itself chiefly in rural scenes At least
this author loves to dwell on clover
fields and pastured kline; yet he can
launch bit of satire or turn rhyme
that shall inculcate sound sense and
sturdy philosophy.
| Songs Tsame, by Annie Fellows Johns
| ton and Albion Fellows Bacon. The
binding of this book of really charming
verse;, of poems simple, yet full of delica-
cy and true feeling, sets us wondering II
these sisters are twins, and If "Tsame''
means "more songs" and why woman
should be named "Albion." If we won
der as to these statistics others we have
knowledge Of; namely, that Mrs. John
ston has written some charming prose as
well as verse, while Mrs. Bacon's work
is probably now first seen in book form.
At all events the combination is pleas
ing, and tho result to our behoof.
The former of these writer's is the au-
thor Of Ole Mammy's Torment. one of the
cosy Corner Series" Boston: l.. G.
Page Sc Company; Portland: Loring,
Short g. Harmon. Price so cents), de-
licious darkey story, full of fun, alterna-
ting with pathos, where the mantle of
''the Rev. Gawge" depends upon "John
Jay"-John Jay, as gay little black
bird as ever flung music to the breeze,
but who gets his "call'' for learning.
and marks out for himself footprints
which he means to follow.
Another juvenile is Thess Farmers Dog
and His Fellow, by VIII Allen Drom-
goole. In both these books, by the way,
the illustrations should be especially
praised; the latter by Amy M.kSacker;
the former by the same together with
Mary G. Johnston. The Farmers Dog
is very lovely little story. 1t teaches
affection to animals, at least it would
be hard heart that could resist "Bay-
daw" and his crinkly tail. We find but
one fault. Like some of Mrs. Ewing
stories, Mr.. Dromgoole's story brings
tears too quickly to loving eyes and pain
to gentle hearts. Like all idealizing it
appeals more readily to the mature mind.
Thoroughly normal, hearty little folks
like very optimistic literature. Still
there is objective work in this little 10y I,
happily.
Blown Away. A Nonsensical Nara
tive without Rhyme or Reason, related
by Richard Mansfield. published by l..
G. Page & Company; Portland: Loring,
Short 81 Harmony. This book of excel
lent large print is thoroughly well made
and capitally illustrated. More than
that, it's just fun enough. We wish we
could give the droliery Of it's brief preface
entire, or do justice to the clear cut wit
and jolly fantasies that follow Space
only permits IN enthusiastic endorsement
and recommendation of every page as
|
small boys and girls.
New kindergarten stories are incorpor-
ated in Among the Meadow People,
which are graceful, poetic and chatty as
well, and are enhanced in value by really
fascinating head pieces to each chapter,
done by F. @. Gordon. These pretty fan
oies about butterflies, snails. mosquitoes,
frogs and katydids will fill want, and
we predict for the little boz K tbs success
it richly deserves. New YORK: e. 2.
Dutton & Company; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmon. Price $1.25.)
Wanolasset. The Little One Who
Laughs, by A. G. Plympton, author of
Dear Daughter Dorothy etc., illustrated
by the author, tells of that never falling
excitement to young readers, the Indi-
ans, in the time of King Philips War,
1915. The town of Medfield and dear
little Puritan maiden, it's patron saint.