The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-12-30
THE MAGAZINES.

AARPERs MoNrHLY-The January number
TO HARfAR's MAGAZINE offers fresh and unusu.
al attractions to the numerous readers Of this
periodical. In its poetry, its stories, its illus.
trated papers, its miscellaneous articles, and it's
editorial departments, this number reaches the
highest standard of excellence Of its twenty
articles eight are illustrated, the number con-
tanning altogether sixty eight engravings.
Tho January number sparkies with brilliant
contributions fren such gifted authors as Juuius
Henri Browne, Miss Mary E. Dodge. Dr. Hayes
John G. SAKE, Jane G. Austiu, besides the ever
popular ''Drawer," and other reliable matter.
Among the good things in the "Drawer' we
lad this:
CARD-FLAYINo AND PRovIDENcE.-.How
good thisl Writing to Mrs. s. K. Minot in 1896
Miss Sedgwick says: Last evening was apol.
ogising to Mr.. Field for playing cards in his
presence, and said hoped be was aot Of tho
opinion OF a certain gentleman in Now York.
who had written to entreat would change the
game OF marbles mentioned in my little tract as,
OF course, one of thu boys plays to kite, because
marbles were immoral, as by betting they in.
voaved an appeal to God, as did cutting and deal
ing cards. it being all regulated by the inferno.
sition Of Providence. &c. said MIR. Watts, =,
cutting weed, especially Billy Brogan's; for,
when he Lifts up his axe, Heaven only knows
where it will strike! ~
ScRlBNERs MoNTHLY.-This superior period.
ical is now established on firm basis of popular
| favor. No magazine in this country ever
achieved such An excellent reputation in so brief
a space as Scribner's.
But how could it have been otherwise, than
sudden and brilliant success9 1t is conducted
by Dr. j. d. Holland, distinguished author, a
fine poet, good novelist, experienced traveller
and observer, assisted as he is by corps of able
writer's, and every artice is gem in itself.
Among the leading articles in the January
number, are THE Orphans Christmas tree"
illustrated, by Bayard Taylor; "The Wonders
of the Vest and "The Big Trees and the
Yosemite" illustrated BY Fl. Bromley. 1.-THE
last man of Mexican Camp" Joaquin Miller,
1.-THE Two Mrs. Scudmores" concluded &c. &c.
An item appropriate to this season, which We
insert here, from the number before US, will
prove interesting, especially to our younger
readers:
TwELTTH.NIGHT PARTY.
The FIRST essential of Twelfth. Night party is
q large richly.frosted plum-cake in which dried
| pea and bean is baked The London pastry.
cooks ornament these cakes with all sorts of
devices in sugar-kings queens lords, ladies,
dragons, lions fish, milk.maids, serpents, and in
Vulnerable other forms. With these are sold
"characters'- "a series of pasteboard slips, each
bearing small picture aad few rhymes, more
or less comic. These slips are numbered; those
meant foe girls are put with one box, and those
for beys with another. When the young people
are aid assembled, the cake is cut into slices cor.
Responding to the aumber of the company. The
boy who draws tbs bean is pronounced king, the
girl who draws the pea, queen. Their maj esties
are ssleonly enthroned side by side in two large
chairs, and the boxes of 'characters' are passed
about among the rest of the party, each child
being expected to read his OF her verso aloud,
and to support the character drawn for the rest
of the evening. OF course this makes much fun,
especially when the part allotted happens to be a
grotesque one, such as "Sir Gregory Goose or
'Sir Punbelly Clumsy"
The evening winds up with dance and sup.
per, and what With the quaint character of the
entertainment, and it's novelty, We are not sure
but it might be advantageously introduced as
holiday pleasure en- this side the sea, and form
refreshing variety to the stereotyped "children's
party OF which in our large cities each winter
produces such dreary e1amples.-Home and
soesey, .Scrataer's for January.