The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-23
The May Magazines.

HARPERs.-The forty eighth volume of
Harper's Magazine concludes with number,
crowded with peculiarly interesting matter,
proiusely and beautifully Illustrated.
The number opens with reproduction of
''Corinna's Going a-Maying," one of Robert
Herrick's Pastoral Poems, with three grace
full illustrations by E. A. Abbey. An ex-
ceedlngly interesting paper, with fifteen en-
cravings, prepared by Helen S. Conant,
gives an account of DIR. Schweinfurth's Ex-
plorations in the heart of Africa. Ellis
Gray's description of the 'sFlower Nission,"
exquisitely illustra ed, is timely and very
suggestive. Mr.. Elliot contributes an illus.
trated@ paper on the Fur Seal of Alaska.
\ Moncure D. Conway concludes his survey OF
Ilkley, with "reminiscences of Robert Coll
yer's early days, appropriately illustrated. A
comprehensive review OF the remarkable
career OF John of Barnevad-the subject Of
Motley's new work is contributed by R. Fl.
st ,ddard, with four excellent engravings.
In addition to this variety of illustrated arti-
cles there are two illustrated poems -"The
Kingfsher," by James Maurice Thompson,
and 'How the Rain Comes" by Mary Mapes
Dodge.
Mrs. Craik's and Prot. De Miles serials
are continued; and two short stories are cs,77,-
tributed by Constance F. Woolson and Frank
Lee Benedict.
Harriet Prescott Spofford contributes a
beautiful poem, entitled Sat the Bridal"
and Nelly Nj. Hutchinson two danny bits of
verse under the title of 'Moods OF the Calen-
dar"
DR.. Samuel Osgood presents an array of
mortuary statistics, with suggestive COM
ment; and MIR. Charles ID. Deshler makes
powerful appeal to the Governor of New
York in behalf of the Defective Classes of
that State.
The Editorial Departments, including an
admirable summary Of Scientific Progress,
and very interesting Dracer, conclude a
number replete with entertainment and in
struction.
ST. NICHOLAS. The Frontispiece of st.
Nicholas for May is a very large and remark
ably fine engraving illustrating passage in
Gorthe's Poem, johanna Sebus" Indeed,
this number contains many engravings of un-
usual excellence: Miss Hallock has two, one
OF which is specimen OF her very best work
on wood Miss Ledyard has two; Eytnge and
Sheppard each has capital piece of charac-
ter drawing; there is beautiful little thing
copied from Michelet, and picture from one
of Hendschell's graceful and dainty sketches
There is even drawing from native Jspa-
nese artist. The literary contents this month
alternate very fairly between the practical and
the imaginative. There is an article on the
''Otigin of Bind Mans Buff" one on the
working and wonders of the Telegraph; pa
per by the late N. s. Dodge, on "Auctions
All Over the World;' "Christmas City,
capital description of toy-town which can
be built by any smart boy /; an account of the
origin OF the story of Blue Beard:
a true stcry from Holstein, of
missionary stork, and an article with
illustrations descriptive of "Haydn's Children's
Symphony" As to fiction, there are ths
three serial stories by Trowbridge, Stockton
and Olive Thorne, all full Of interest tbi.
month; story of Greenland, with an adysn-
ture with polar bears; a delightful little home
story called Miss Fanshaw's Tea-Party: a
Japanese Fairy tale, and "The JimmyjohnS
Sailor-Suts," one of Mrs. Diaz' popular sketch
es. "How Persimmons Took Cab OBJ DerBa
by," by Mrs. Lizzie w. Champney, is most
delightful piece of southern dialect poetry,
and with its capital illustrations, is sure to be
popular with old and young. "In the Wood
is sweet little poem with sweet little pict-
ure. The Departments are all good as usual,
especially Jack-in-the-Pulpit. in which there
is pre-eminently funny story ofa low-spirt-
ed turtle. The Riddle Box contains one OF
the best puzzles of the day, an EVERYDAY
song, written in the Language Oh the Rest
| less Imps."