The New York herald., 1869-09-18
LITERATURE.
The October Nfaraxiues,


Tho October Magazines,
The mouthlies for October are nearly all out ana
are every respect superior to those OF the previous
month. The Atlantic Monthly II full OF excellent
reading and ia remarkably silent the subject Of
the Byron scandal. 1ts most noticeable papers are
sThe Egotist in Llfe,n "ParlOr Slngng'' 10 really
sensible and well written artclel, Earthquakes Of
the American Continentn and "A Dredging Excur-
sion in the Gulf Stream" by Mrs Agassls. The
most interesting contribution, however, Is that OF Dr.
Edward Jarvis on "Tho Increase OF Human Life."
II s not only entertaining 1t Is also instructnR. We
have read this paper with great pleasure. Mr.. Do
Forest contributes story which he calls 'sThe City
OF Brass and In which there s something aimed at.
but what that something ID we cannot even imagine.
II Intended as q mere story IL Is very poor. IAN
August Pastoral }" by Bayard Taylor we do not Ike;
Indeed we never saw poem by this authorthat was
mirable; as poet he Is below mediOcrity. With
these exceptions, the Atlantic for October Is an
admirable magazine.
The GALAXY IL an improvement on the September
number. The novel "Susan Fieiding' is continued,
and is accorded tho post of honor In the make up"
MIR. Justice Mccarthy furnishes well considered
paper on "The Real Louis Napoleon;' "a Journey
In Northern China" Ii entertaining. "Put Yourself
In His Placer Is continued and Is undoubtedly the
most attractive feature. "Renaissance'' Is very
good paper, but ID too superficial for instruction IL
discusses In few pages subject which should have
been treated at greater length and more carefully.
"Why Thieves Prosper" is = mixture Of fact aud as.
sertion IN which, Of course. the judiciary and police
OF New York are represented as vilanOqsly corrupt
Frank II. Norton gives some interesting reminls'
OF the Aat0r Library which ne entered In 1906
Is M G learn nat e 1e 1Go9s S mos ID
this library are those on the subject or heraidry and
genealogy" "In Box" y quite ordinary; "Shaks, "a Is
readable as his abOmiDable egotism can make It,
The remaining articles comprising "Drlftwood'"
Literature and Art' and "Nebul1''-are goOd
The Catholic World.-The most vigorous and the
spiciest articles in this number are-'An imaginary
CONTRADICTORY and morality OF the City OF Rome"
the last named being sharp reply to assertions
made regarding the morality Of the Eternal City. IL
will be read with deep interest. "The Council OF
Trent is quite interesting The other papers OF more
than ordinary interest are-"Appeal 10 Young Chris
tian Women" "The Church In Paris and France"
''The Total Eclipse Of August T." 'Region in Prl-
sons'' and "Cathoicity and Panthesm" All the rest
are good, but contain nothing Of more than ordl-
nary character. The articles defending Catholicism
and the Catholic Church from attacks are especially
readable. They are sharp trenchant and vigorous
aggressive. without being ahusye-and full OF logic
and close reasoning. One feature In this magazine
American tone. This, 1t may be said, is nothing
more Than It should be; which we admit. But here
magszine necessarily represented foreign IDEAS,
which Ia lar from being the case III me CdMo!tc
World.
Putnana's Magazine for October is also an i'm
provement on previous numbers. The contents
comprise the first part OF q new story by Edward
Spencer, entitled 'The Lady Cinella" 'The Last OF
the Troubadours," very good poem in blank verse
on ''The Dream Of Pilates Wife," the conclusion OF
"Lavinia," "Old Boston and st. Botolphis," 'Trea.
sure Trove,n "Childhood-a Voluntary" "Prtncess
Begiojoso on Italy," "Leaves from Publishers
Note Book,"in in which Mr.. Putnam furnishes SONS.
Interesting "reminiscences; the second paper OF
'NOtes Among the Indians" by Vincent C0llyer and
very poor notes they are, tool and "a Mining Ad-
venture In New Mexico" There are some other
papers including "Literature-a Home" "Fine
Arts, I" '1able Talk" &C., which are very good.
Hours at Home Is q charming number. the
initial arti,le on "Trades Unions and Strikes" Is
well written, carefully considered paper. "Ahmed
Aglea the JANUARY" Is pleasant sketch OF Mos.
lem; "Curious Repetitons In History" is interesting
enough, but the facts narrated are not new. 'The
Jesuits In the Middle Kingdom" Is o very impartial
history Of the Catholic Church in China. 1t is well
worth reading. "Sunnybank Papers," by Marion
Harland, Is continued. "Newly Discovered Prose
Writings Of John Milton,, "Somethng About Hum.
ming Birds "The Great Fire In 1885 In New YORK."
'The Total Eclipse OF 1869" and Books and Read
ing, No. s, History and Historical Reading are the
other articles OF note. This number OF Hours at
Home concludes the ninth volume OF one OF the most
entertaining OF our magazines. The tone Is pure
and Is altogether free from the sensational without
being In the least purltanical.