The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-02-20
The Magazines.

Now that the Montana is not expected to make
her appearance next week, we can recommend our
readers to fall back on Magazines for entertain
mcnt and profit. The American january Maya
zines are all at hand, from our nearest neighbor
the Overland Monthly onward to the East. Of
English periodicals only December dates have as
yet arrived. In commenting on the comparative
merits of these, concerning which any amount of
difference of opinion is allowable, we are COM
PEELED to place first the old standby, the atlantic
Monthly. 1t has its lazy spells, dry spells, de-
pressed spells, but, like other people, comes out
more brilliant than ever. The January number
is worth buying by itself alone. 1t contains one
of James Russell Lowell's most genial, cosmopol-
itan articles, " On n certain Condcscension in
Foreigners" We shall prescribe in connection
with this 4 re-reading of Dickens American
Notes. Parton, with incxhaustible inkstand, gives
The Mean Yankees at Home" rather conceited,
but very readable, and very true, especially when
he says, THAT people is fit for freedom which
can hold a proper public meeting" Oliver W.
Holmes grows garrulOus, and under the heading
of - Cindcrs from the Ashes" talks of his own
boy life and its "reminiscences. To those inter-
ested in American Politics, the article, q The Sig
niiicance of the Republican Triumph will be
profitable. Howells, a young writer, furnishes
the story of "Gnadenhuttcn. interesting to those
who study the relations of the aboriginal and the
aggressive races in America and elsewhere.
Putnam's Magazine is if anything more deli
catcly refined than the Atlantic, though not so
vigorous. 1t contains two engravings, also n fine
variety of Monthly Notes on Art, Literature and
all sorts of Current Topics. If for nothing else,
we should buy this number for the article by
Moses Colt Tyler on - How they Manage their
Lectures in England" The Literature of the
Coming Controversy - shows that even literary
magazines arc not hcsitant about recognizing Il
terrible antagonism ahead between the forces of
Professionalism and Romanism. 1.-The story-tcllcr
of Copenhagen, i. e., Hans Andersen, will assist
in becoming acquainted with living authors.
The rest of the Magazine is entertaining rather
than striking.
Speaking about Parton, the Overland current
literature critic is perfectly skeptical as to the
Partonian doctrines on - Smoking and Drinking
He laughs at him in true California style. he is a
rollicking, Jolly Overlandcr, with little reverence
and less sobriety, plenty of extra vitality to throw
away, and what cares he for such prim teachings
He thinks Parton had a good time when he was
young, and probably wants to see the folly of it
too. Now that we have taken up the Overland,
will the editor please never again give US a story
with such a horrid, disgusting finale as = Buried
Alive in the Sea- So much for trash.
We find one splendid practical article, .'Jour-
nalism as a Profession which . Potts and Slurk
Of this metropolis = Will probably read and profit
by. BY the way, in the November number of
this same Magazine, which didn't come to hand
as it ought to, was a most genial, happily writ
ten article on Kealakekua Bay,-the - Last Of
the Great Navigator, " by Mr.. Charles W. Stod-
dard, who evidently inhales the poetic aroma of
our atmosphere, and breathes forth in words moth
ing cynical or gross. We believe in the Orer-
land as the next thing to a home production.
The GALAXY is maintaining a good reputation.
Eugene Benson and Richard Grant White write
for it. The HaTper's Monthly is SUI generis, and
an even and undiminished excellence.
Hours at Home, also CornhiH, London Society.
Coed Words and other good English periodicals
are easily procurahlc.