The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-01 00:00:00

MAGAZINE DAY.

Blackwood has a notice of " Mercer's Journal of
Waterloo, which transports the reader to times that seem
long past. His diary throws a light on the by-ways of
war, and will thus be acceptable to those who have had
enough of the general details of that oft-trodden field.
"Our Ironclad Ships" is a criticism on Mr. Reed's late
work on the subject. In- conclusion, the writer confesses
himself lost in speculation when he thinks of the ships our
navy may possess ten or twenty years hence. " John "
is continued in four chapters ; it is an eventful instal-
ment. " Earl's Dene "is also proceeded with at some
length. " Trade Unions " are considered in a second
article. It is forcibly pointed out that a noble opportunity
is afforded to the women of the working classes to exert
their influence on their husbands, and to gather up per-
ceptions•which they may be too slow to notice. If they
enter into an inquiry of the rules which govern these
Societies, and call for an account of the good,
and the evil they produce, much lasting benefit
might ensue, and we " should have smaller
need to write about the Trade Unions."
" Regina " presents us with a very interesting title page,
for though the Third Lecture on the " Science of Reli-
gion," by Professor Max Muller, may be more attractive
to the philosophical student than to the general magazine
reader, it is followed by plenty of lighter papers. " The
Adulteration of Food and Drugs" is a matter only too
painfully practical. The "Peck of Dirt," which, accord-
ing to our nursery traditions, every human being was
compelled to eat in the course of his life has certainly
increased of late years in as rapid a ratio as the value of
land in the city or the area of British commerce. Alas
with the increasing extent of that commerce the
" Peck of Dirt," has only too much to do !
The editor, Mr. Froude, himself finds something more to
say about the age of " Bluff King Hal," and the readers
of his histories can very readily guess whether the " fresh
evidence about Anne Boleyn," which greets us in the
June Fraser, is on behalf of the prosecution or defence.
Further on we have a glimpse into the twilight world of
Persian poetry, and a review of " Lothair," by Shirley, so
genial and appreciative, that it stands in striking contrast
to some of its monthly contemporaries. " Shirley" is a
pseudonym well known of old to the readers of
Fraser, and his introductory remarks on the advantage
of our statesmen being able to turn from their political
duties to the world of letters skews that he has not lost
his enlightenment, his taste, or his tolerance. There never
was a time, he says, when it was more essential that our
politicians should be something more than politicians' for
the sectarian trade spirit is in the ascendant, and Mr.
Disraeli has done good service in that his career has been
a not unsuccessful protest against it. That career, which
appeals to the imagination, has proved that wit and genius
and imagination are still powers in the land, that they
still pay even among a people bent on money making and
indifferent to ideas.

London Society contains an amusing sketch called the
".Social Uses of Guardsmen," which throws out some sug-
gestive hints to the frequenters of society. There is a
great variety to be met with in this number ; some stories
are continued with spirit, and we meet besides with
sketches in verse illustrative of different scenes and sub-
jects of social life. " Fashions to Follow " is a sharp
criticism on the extravagances of the period, not wholly un-
called for by what is passing around us. " Sketches and
Episodes of the London Season" is an appropriate paper
for this month. " The Piccadilly Papers' contain an
interesting notice of " Lothair." It is said that
" Loth= ' is a great novel ; but it is a novel
that could only have been written by a great gentleman,
and a great genius," also that it is impossible to
read. the work without recognising the authors' indivi-
duality, on every page, and feelings of political sympathy,
and antagonism, yield to those of admiration while we read,
The New Monthly patronises Danish literature as usual,
and the name of Hans Christian Andersen is a host in it-
self, and the quaint simplicity of the style recals the fami-
liar strain of the gifted childlike story teller. Mr. Rossetti's
poems receive an eulogistic criticism, while the very next
article deals 'with poetry of a very different order—
Tennyson's " In Memoriam."

The Fortnightly .Reriew, as usual, deals with weighty
subjects, dealt with in a weighty manner, from Mr. Mill
on the Land Question," to " Joseph Mazzini on the (Ecu-
menical Council." These two articles alone are sufficient,
one would imagine, to secure a pretty large circle of
readers for the June number of the Fortnightly, and the
doctrines of Stuart Mill on the one question will be about
as acceptable to our English and Irish landlords, as will
the attack of the Italian hero of a hundred revolutions
the prelates and dignitaries now assembled in Rome,
The Edinburgh reviewers are the most noticeable figures
in theGentleman'sMagazine, and the brilliant group of which
Jeffrey, Brougham, Sydney Smith, and Horner were the
ruling spirits, forms the subject of a very readable article.
The 10th of October, 1802, when the blue and yellow
Edinburgh first made its appearance, marks in the opinion
of the writer we are referring to the commencement
of one of the most prolific and brilliant periods in the
whole history of English literature. When he says
that the writers of the 18th century were hardly fit to
mend the pens of Pope, Addison, and Swift, and includes
Gray, Goldsmith, Johnson, and Cowper among his list,
be must expect to call forth a very active protest from
those to whom the " Progress of Poesy " and the " De-
serted Village," the " Vanity of Human Wishes " and the
"Mother's Picture" are something more than schoolbook
names. _ _

Colburn's United Service Magazine furnishes its readers
with all the most important points of naval and military
knowledge of the day, and keeps them au courant with
passing events of note.
The Food Journal is a review of sound and sanitary
economy, and a monthly record of food and public health.
One chapter contains an analysis of popular food which is
accomplished with great skill, though it cannot be said
that its details are illustrative of the saying that " know-
ledge is pleasure," being rather confirmatory of the notion
that ignorance is bliss.
Britannia is an attractive number. The continuation
of " How the World Wags " presents some stirring
sketches of life. " Through the Fire "is also very ex-
citing, and some eventful passages cecur in this instal-
ment.

Once a Week contains the month's collection of subjects
of varied kinds, and is quite equal to the average.
The circle of our magazine literature is so wide that
it finds room alike for the disquisitions of philosophers
and the caprices of the milliners.
In the Follet, an old favourite with the fair, and the
Milliner and Dressmaker, its homely sounding English
rival, we see art and taste doing all they can to set
the marvellous toilettes of the day in the best possible
light.