The Portland daily press., 1899-12-19
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

lions. (Boston: HouRhton. Mifilin u
Co.; Portland: Lorina, Short & Har-
mon. Price Sc SOD A more entertain
Ing piece Of autobiography 1t would be
di flcult to lind In American literature.
Nrs. Howe was well born. Her grand
father Ward. the son Of Samuel Ward OF
Rhode Island, attained rank Of lieuten-
aut-colonel in the Revolutionary war.
His wife was the daughter OF Gov.
6rsene Of the same stats. Mes. Hows's
early years were spent In New YORK,
where under private tutors and In vari-
Gus priyate schools she received her sdu.
cation. Especially was great care taken
with reference to her musical education,
her father providing for her the most en-
nent instructors he could secure It 10
an exceedingly interesting glimpse that
Mrs. Howe gives us Of the literary New
York of her earlier years. and also OF ths
society circles with which she became ia
,niliar rs she grew into womanhood. Her
fathers house was on the corner OF Bond
street and broadway. Among those
who enjoyed Mr.. Wards generous hospi-
tally here were Longfellow, FELTON,,
Charles Sumner and DR.. Howe, together
with other Boston frienda Ward died
when Mrs Howe wa5 little more tran
twenty years Of age. Nothing could be
more delicate than her story Of her mar
rags to DIR. Howe, who was her senior
by nearly scorc OF years. The wedding
occurred In April, 1913, and with her
husband ard her youngest sister, Mrs.
Howe went abroad, Horace Mann and his
bride sailing with them. The psople they
met, eminent In the literary and social
circles of ondon and the larger cities
of the continent. she introduces In de-
lightful way, and the places they Visited
she skilifully sketches. 1t was wedding
journey worth remembering. In the su-
tumn of 1914. DIR. ard Mrs. Howe re-
turned to Boston, and one Of the most
interesting chapters In the book is that
In which she reoounts her experit noes
during her first year In Boston. In the
later chapters of the "Reminiscences ste
states her attitude ON the anti-siavery
q nestion and in religious matters Es-
pecially interesting arc her rscollscti ,ns
OF the Civil War and her story OF her
writing her famous hymn. the "Battle
Hymn Of the Republic" Mrs. Howe
states her connection with the womaD's
pt ace crusade and the woman's suffrage
movement Indsed there have been few
Important movem ents In Boston Of q re-
formatory character within the bounds
embraced BY the "Reminiscences, with
which Mre. Howe has not been more or
less clsely connected, and her pages
abound with interesting incidents concern
ing them. Indeed a more fascinating book
has not come to our table for long
time. II is a story of lie nobly lived.
and 20 a story worth telling.
The New Born Cuba, by franklin
Matthews, illustrated. New York: Har-
PER s. Brothers; Portland: Loring. Short
& Harmony Mr.. Matthew's book lie
IN ade up Of n series Of articles on Cuba
originally written for Harper's Magazine.
which Mr.. Matthews served as special
correspondent. MIR. Matthews went to
Cuta last February, and he was an eye
witness of the setting up Of military
government In that island, aud was con-
versant with all the troubles that beset
our commanders and the vast labor and
Infinite tact and patience with which
they were overcome. Mr.. Matthews pays
q high triub.e to our commanders who
have helped to start the new born Cuba
on the road to prosperity, whether the
island eventually becomes fres and indie
pendent or a part Of this country will de-
pend, MIR. Matthews believes, In large
measure on future Developments. but
whatever happens he believes. the future
will reveal and justify the wise and
heneiioent act of the American officials
during the most critical part of the
American occupation. The book givei
an account Of the great reforms that
have boon sat in motion In the island by
the Americans, and Is one Of the most
interesting and valuable yet produced In
relation to Cuba.
Another book on Cuba of great inter-
est is Tomorrow In Cuba, by Charles NJ.
Pepper. New York: Harper & Brothers:
Portland: Lroing, Short s. Harmon. }
Mr.. Pepper was newspaper correspond
emit and went to Cuta in the spring OF
1897, and remained until the RECONSTRUCT
ton period foliowingithe war. While not
history of the war sll Its points are in
terestingly skstched is sort OF prepare
ton for n confederation Of the future Of
the island with which the book Is es-
psciallly concerned. Mr.. Pepper takes a
cheerful view of the outlook, believing
there Ia practically no danger that Cuba
will fall into the condition Of Hayti,
and that the labor problem will sventu.
ally be solved by Immigration from
Spain. MIR. Pepper indirectly has mis-
givings about the success of Cuban self
government. but thinks II the Cubaps
so elect they must be permitted to try It.
Hawaiian A merioe; Something OF til
History. Resources and Prospects. by
Casper Whitney, author of On s nov
Il