The New York herald., 1870-01-23
The February Magazines.


Ptltna1n's Magazine for February Is hardly as in.
rerestng as was the January number, tne contents
being rather dull. There are however, several arti-
cles IN 1t or real merit american Railway Travel
llng is an excellent paper ana SO Is the article en-
titled "Weapons for Combat with Flre.n my
Notion About the Human Ear' has nothing what
ever of originality. No more common and vulgar
about the human ear'' whicn the writer enertains
"Father Hyacntne'S Predecessor" IL an interesting
review OF Father Felix. We find in this number
"The Magic Palace.n written by renimOre Cooper,
and descriptive ol the famous Ice palace constructed
by the Empress Anne OF Russia IN The year 1859.
"A Womans Right" Concerning Charlotte" and
Sketches IN Col0r' are continued. ..Nlrglnla-Old
and W,""Ben" !" "rral BY jury "rhe African
Gale at PassaIrsqaoddy.n "Tne Dealn Bell, The The
Story OF Crazy Martha," "Brevtes: Letter Writingn
Dreaming" "Greenouga's Chanting Cherubs,.a'
"Lterature, Science and Art Abroadn aud Current
Events" complete tne contents.
Hours at Home opens with capital paper by
Rev. George B. Bacon, on "Tne Literature OF Our
sunday Schools" 1t is written IN the same humor-
Gus, satrlcal style that has distinguished previous
papers on the same subject and is entertaining from
beginning to end. "Hero" is continued "Mary,
Queen OF Scots and Queen Elizabetnn Is an extract
from Froudes History Of England. In spite OF It's
palpable injustice to the unfortunate Mary, 1t Will
ne read with the deepest interest Mr. Froude is one
OF the most dram attic of writer's, and In his
account Of the execution OF Mary has given vivid
picture OF the tragic event. ..sonething About
Hats'' and ''rne Ministry OF Beauty are readable.
"Yae College One Hundred Years Ago. Is full OF In.
tereSI. "ConptOn Frlarsn Is concluded "Curiosl-
ties Of Vision" is well written but the subject Is
hardly fresh. In "fhe Darien Canal ExDlorationsn
we note several inaccuracies whcn Indicate that the
writer has not carefully studied hls subject "oooks
and Reading" ls the continuation OF series Of well
considered papers, which we think far above the
dinarJ average Of magazine literature "A Railway
IN Utopia" and "1he Frozen Wen at Brand0n' are
interesting. rnc poetry IN this number Of Hours at
Home u good.
PdcEard's Monthly contains on entertaining nc,
count Of 'Ailce aud Phebe Cary-Thelr Homes and
Frlends." The article on Adah lsaacs Menken, to
which we referred last month, is concluded Al
though written impartial spirit and quite read
able, we repeat our conviction that 1t would have
been better never to have published 1t. The best
article in this number Is one entitled "Shan Amerl.
can Wives be Childless ~ and written by Howard
Glyndon The subject is discussed with great deli
cacy and In thoroughly sensible manner. IL is q
great pity that the tendency of the age gives SO
much pertinence to the question. A considerable
part Of the magazine occupied Dy subjects relating
20 the lower Glasses Of this metropolis. What
Among the Working women" ana "Tbe Destitute
and Outcast Children OF New York; are the titles Of
the various articles devoted TO these people: THE
Man VINO Laughs' Is very unjust attack upon
sravagances, one OF the few ncons OF the age des
tncd TO live. The remainder OF the contents, ex-
cepttng the poetry, which Is very ordinary iairly
sustatns the reputation OF the magazine.
The chronological Journal contains numerous
papers well written and Of interest to those who
take pleasure in studying the science OF phrenoogy
There are several biographical and critical sketches
OF famous or prominent men, such as washington,
stanton. Hyaclnthe aud LOOms. The other articles
ere eu rARliahe and entertaining.