The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-27


Ion Of "oldport (Newport) wharves"i and DIR.
naycs furnishes the first of series of papers
on hie IN the Arctic regions, which, with re-
views ana literary notices, completes the prose
contents OF tne humber. The poetieal con-
tributors are Whittier. Bryant and Lowell,
truly brilliant triumvirate. Whittier's con-
tribution is called "The Wife; an Idyl of
Bearcamp Water" and II is one of those ex-
quisitely sweet and tender little poems by
which the best-loved of our New England po-
cts Is accustomed
sTo ,ach
In this light way the blind eyes to discern,
And the cold hearts to feel, in common things,
Beati; udes of beauty"
Bryant gives US translation of the Combat
OF Diomed and Mars in the fifth book of the
Had. Like all his transations il reads like a
nopie and melodious English poem. Prof
Lowers beautiful lines entitled ''In the Twi-
hght, we print on the fourth page OF this is
STE
The GALAXY has treated itself to a new and
very tasteful cover and starts off fresh, yigor-
Gus and prosperous in the new years race.
The number opens with the FIST half of cap
ital story about a firt, by Henry James, jr.
and Olive Logan talks in her usual entertain
ing manner about american and Foreign
Theatres" Mr.. Richard rockingham con-
cludes his account of his Spiri ualistie Ex-
periences," giving some very remarkable facts
in connection with this little understood sub
ject. The conclusions at which he arrives, af
ter four years of careful investigation, are that
"spiritualism is a great fact, not philosophy;
and that it should be made a science, not a re-
ligiOn.' He regards the spiritual manifesto
tions as Of great value to any who are incln-
ed to doubt of u future life, but he urgently
counsels every investigator to believe not ev-
cry spirit, but to try the spirits, whether they
are of God; because many false teachers are
gone out" from their ranks into the world
"Bureoyne in q New Light" is an interest
ing historical article by William L. Stone;
"The Political Outlook" a short essay, pro-
nounces for General Grant for the Presiden-
cy; "Elizabetta's Christmas" is story by
Harriet Prescott Spoford. E. E. Hale writes
of f"The Same Christmas in Old England and
New" the story Of Steven Lawrence" is cen
tinued, and there is a chapter of rather feeble
cynicisms about women, by man who claims
to have had experiences with the sex. II we
may be allowed to take these "aphorism s" of
his as clue to his character and mental cali
bre we should say the women had used him
quite as well as he deserved. The editor al
eNebule" are good as usual. ia .u.
The RIVERSIDE AND Our YOUNG Folks
1t is a neck and neck race, just now, between
these two rival candidates for the favor of
youthful readers. One can hardly tell which
is likely to come in winner. In the superiori-
ty of its illustrations and the beauty of its
Typography the RiUerside has fairly distanced
its competitor; but no sooner has it done so
than Our Young Folks starts ahead with an
original story by the prince of story teliers,
Charles Dickens. 1t is called "A Holiday Ro-
nance" and begins in the January number,
with an illustration by John Gilbert There
are many other good things in this number
Mrs. Diaz begins a German story called
"Wide- mouthed Kuhn; Mrs. Chollet writes
funny account of some Christmas Wishes; /;
Miss Moulton tells us about "Mr. Turk, and
what became of him." and there are pleasant
stories by Miss Helen Weeks, Sophie May,
and others, with music, charades, picture-puz-
zles, Sc. ~. tr.lr- sf ..t
The Riverside is very noticeable in the mat :
ter of its illustrations. The frontispiece is a
full page drawing By La Fargo, illustrating
Browning's poem OF "The Pied Piper" which
is printed in the number. 1t shows the Piper
dancing swiftly down the hill, out of Hamelin
town, with the crowd of children whirling
and spinning after him. Only a few of the
children's faces are defined, but those are very
expressive; and the figure of the Piper is cap
ital. Another very fine illustration shows
some children with young pet bear, which
they are obliging to dance for his supper
There is toad dialogue, illustrated with six
droli toad pictures, by Stephens, some draw
ings of squirrels and fairy piece illustrated.
Jacob Abbott begins one of his capital stories
in this number, and the other literary matter
is Of an interesting and varied character.