The Portland daily press., 1899-01-04
CONCERNING BOOKS.


Estes & Coz is q book that Is sure to
win great popularity. for 1t gives In mar
ratiye form, and with many fine portraits
and Illustrations, n full and concise his
tory of the war with Spain, beginning
with the arrival OF our battleship Maine
In the harbor of Havana, and ending with
the agreement for the establishing OF
peace.
The authors description OF the blowing
up of the Maine Is most vivid and thrill.
ing. Following this Is the Account OF the
declaration of war, with copies OF all the
official documents pertaining to 1t and
then a detailed and stirring recital OF
the battle of Manila Bay the silencing
of the Spanish batteries in Cardenas
Harbor on May llth; Hobson and the
Merrimac; General Skaters report Of
the operations around Santiago; the Porto
Rican campaign; the fall of Manila, and
Peace. (such as 1t isi) There is no fiction
In this interesting narrative. 1t Is all
facts, circumstantial, and told In man
ner adapted equally TO the older or young
er reader. 1t is put in form that boys
and girls can understand. en- joy and as
simulate, and yet 1t is quite suitable to
the most experienced and critical adult
mind.
The illustrations are many and excel
lent There are portraits oil All the most
prominent army and navy officers,
American and Spanish; of the President
and his cabinet, including General Aiger
There are pictures of our battleships,
making in all sixty-two fine full-page
illustrations.
II MIR Otis's book does not have an enor-
nous sale l shall be very much surprised,
for its sty'e is judicial and reasonable,
and his facts are facts
BY the way, 1t must have taken Gov,
Roosevelt the greater part of his time to
sit-or stand-for his photographs. The
war was short, the portraits are appar
emily innumerable, and no two OF them
are alike. Insatiate artists would not
one suffice With all due respect and
regard for the new Governor Of New
York. and am not wanting in either,
here register vow not &c renew my sub
scription to any periodical that prints
another portrait of His Excellency Theo-
dore Roosevelt.
The Atlantic Monthly is winning fresh
iaurels with every new number, that for
January being in no wise behind its pre-
decessors in interesting and varied matter
Prince Krapotkin continues his striking
hy Of Ravnlntinnist and
brings his readers to the significant period
In his remarkable career where he OBJ
tanned a command in a Cossack Regiment
in Siberian service.
Mrs. Julia W ard Ho wes "reminiscences
meander along pleasantly, and she tells
us of the many delightful people who
were friends and guests in her fathers
New York home. Among 9th rs she
speaks of Irving, Dickens, Mrs. Jameson.
Madame Malibran, Fitz Greene Halleck,
the Astors and Crawfords.
She says that Washington Irving talked
very little, and often fell asleep at the
dinner table of the friend at whose house
be was guest. 1t is all mild and kindly
gossip. and the picture of New York social
life more than sixty years ago Will be read
with interest by many persons of the
present generation.
Other notable articles are Destr uctive
and Constructive Engines of our Govern
ment Compared. by President Eliot of
Harvard, and Psychology and Mysticism,
by Hugo Mupsterberx.
III. L. B. w.