The Portland daily press., 1875-06-26
Mss6ziae Notices.

81. Nicholas for July opens strongly and does
not flag to the end. Its list of contributors is
headed by three of the most popular female
writers for children-Rose Terry Cooke, Emily
Huntington Miller and Louisa M. Alcott The
number has also one of the livelest and most
natural boys stories that have appeared for
months, written by Rossiter Johuson and en-
titled "a Great Speculation No true boy
will fail to appreciate it. Then there is an ar
ticle on How to Make a Boat which will
doubtless set hammer and saw to going, and
introduce to the waters of lake or river many
shapely craft, BUILT by the same young hands
and arms that man it. Our patriotic pride is
awakened by the fine portraits and anecdotes
of american Orators-and the Fourth-of- July
spirit is addressed by an historical sketch Of
the first naval battle in American waters one
hundred years ago, and by the contrasted pic
lures of Our Flag then and now. The account
by Nebraska woman of How the Grasshop-
pers Came, thoroughly proves its authorship
by the SAVIOR of reality in its vivid portrayal Of
the devastation and dlsmay which followed the
coming of these small but destructive maraud-
ers. Susan Coolidge and Sarah o. Jewett con-
tribute two capital stories for girls. The po-
ems of the number are excellent; the illustra-
tions are up to the usual standard of 50. Mich
olas, which leaves nothing to be desired; and
there are as many more attractions in tine num-
Der as those we have mentioned.
The contents of Scribner fer July are de-
scribed as follows: ''Kearny at Seven Pines, a
ballad by Stedman, illustrated by barley, takes
the lead in the July number of Scribner. Next
we have profusely illustrated sketch of The
City of the Golden Gate, by Samuel Williams,
one of the best-known editors of San Francis
Co. who writes apparently with discretion, as
we'll as enthusiasm. Not the least interesting
part of Mr.. Williams paper is that in which he
describes John Chinaman-but his article is
lively and readable from beginning to end. Col.
Warnings Farmers Vacation is this month de-
scriptive of The Blight of La Manche; he gives
US very bright aud racy article, with a great
many illustrations. DR.. Hollands Story of
Sevenoaks is continued: Frank r. Stockton
writes about The Girl at Rudder Grange; Mr.
A. b. Johnson, private secretary of Charles
Sumner, presents some more Recollections of
the Senator; J. B. Drury has an essay on Oar
winsm; Francis Gerry Fairfield prints an Ar
pendix to his paper on Spirituslism; aud among
the other contributions we note a story by Prof.
Boyesen, author of Gunnar and the Norseman's
Pilgrimage: something about TIE Middle-aged
Woman, by Mrs. Davis; and poem by Mis-,
Houston, daughter of the celebrated Sam
Houston.
In Topics Of the Time DR.. Holland writes
about Old aud New, now consolidated with
Scribner; International Copyright; The Par
ocbial Schools; and an American School of Art
The Old Cabinet contains A Confusion of
Terms; Thought in Art; The Plea of Humili.
ty, and the Pickpockets Excuse" Home and
Society, Culture and Progress, The Worlds
Work, and Bric-a-Brac have their usual varie-
ty The publishers promise that there will be
no falling off of interest in the summer months.
The July number of Peterson's Journal opens
with the beginning Of a new serial, "The De
serted Husband" which we judge will attract
great attention. Why the newly-wedded bride
should leave her young husband on his we'd
ding-day of course as yet can only be inferred.
That religious influences have something to do
with it, we surmise from the picture of the
Roman Catholic priest who is handing the
bride of few hours into the carriage-as also
from the chapter headed THE Two Priests
and Father Loupe's remark that it is never too
late to save fortune like that to the church.
Mrs. May Agnes Flemmins's popular story,
'The Mystery at Blackwood Grange,"is is con-
tiaued in this number, and grows still more
interesting. Among the large number of other
stories and articles of merit we may mention
the Light House at Avondale," by Ella
Wheeler; "Moody and Sankey, the American
Revivalists," "A Mans Amusement" "a Gu.
rious Companion" ''Sir Peter Lely's Windsor
Beauties ''The Hushes of Holwych," "May
Testers Pride, IAN Adventure ir Coal Pit,
etc., etc. There is also large amount of poet
ry in this number.