The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-12-11
The Month1ieS.

With a promptitude that reminds us that the
iron horse brings the mails across the great Amer
lean continent with n speed heretofore unknown,
the Monthlies for December were before us
waiting q kindly notice, on the 9th of the month
of their date. To have them delivered thus early
savors of the freshness of fruit gathered from the
tree.
Harpers, ever welcome and overfowing with
choice papers illustrated more or less with appro-
pirate engravings, has for its opening article. a
sketch of Frederick the Great. The story of the
Harvard and Oxford boat-race, illustrated, is
charmingly told, and the portraits of the actors in
it are very accurately drawn. No one will fail
to recognize the truthfulness of the portrait Of
the author of Our School Days at Rugby
Thomas Hughes, who may be called the patron
of whatever tends to develope muscle and health.
A short article on claiming wild Horses in Ha-
waii =" will attract attention only for its references
to our islands. The November number has a
thrilling story relating the adventures of a party
who assembled Mount Baker in Washington Ter
ritory. The illustrations are among the finest
we have ever seen in this superbly illustrated
periodical. 10 give an idea. of the value Of such
u contribution we Will add that the author is
understood to have received $3.50 for the article
certainly not a large sum, considering the
time and labor devoted to obtaining the facts
embodied in it. 1t may interest our readers to
know that Harper'S Magazine is edited by George
w. Curtis, Esq, one of the finest writer's in
America.
The Atlantic for December possesses rather
more than usual interest. Among the readable
articles are-the " Mormon Prophets Tragedy
in which is chronicled the death of Joe Smith,
the founder of Mormonism; American Industry
in the Census; Life saving as a Business and a
paper on the Chinese Question, entitled John,
showing the characteristics of the Chinese as
developed in California. This Magazine is edited
by James L. Fields. one of its publishers, assisted
by w. d. Howells. Since its publication of
Mrs. Stoves article on Lord Byron, It's reputa-
ton seems to have been shaken somewhat.
Whether the story eventually prove true or
not, matters very little it's publication was I'M
douhtedly injudicious while it will be difficult
for Mrs. s. to sustain her fair fame, as an author
ess, before the literary tribunal of her country
men, even should she essay to defend her state
ments.
The Ooerland for December, opens with an
article entitled SIN Lava Land written in
much the same style as a Lady's Trip to Ha-
waii," published in the same periodical and
before noticed by us. And in referring again to
this latter article, we ought to state that it was
not written by the lady then named, but by
another OF the same party. E" In Lava Land - is
a weak account of a ride from Kealakeakua to
Waiohinu and back, which attempts a descrip-
ton of the eruption and flow of 1868. The
writer takes occasion to abuse the hospitality OF
his host at Waiohinu, by saying all the unpleas-
ant things possible in regard to the accommoda-
tons furnished. Should future travellers in our
islands find it difficult to obtain a nights lodging
or a meal while touring through lava wastes,
they will have to thank such indiscreet persons
as the author of the article named.
Our space will not permit us to notice now
others of the popular monthlies received by
this mail. As the next date due opens with the
new year, we advise every reader to secure at
least one good monthly for his centre table and
for the instruction of his family.