The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-07-24
Magazine Notices.

The chief feature of the August atlantic is
james Russell Lowelps stately ode, read under
the Washington Elm at Cambridge, July 3,
which surpasses his Concord Centennial Ode.
printed in the June number. There is also hu-
morous poem by DR.. o. w. Holmes called forth
by the same occasion. Mrs. Frances Anne Kem-
BILE contributes the first of her autobi ographi-
Co. papers, which is full of delightful anec-
dote, and Mark Twain brings to close his Old
Times on the Mississippi. David A. Wells
writes clearly and powerfully on The Greed of
Free Trade. There is long review, John
Quincy Adams, by William Everett, AID a
critical essay by T. S. Perry, on Victor Hugo
A vvacious irstalment of Mr.. James's Rod
erlck Hudson is given; short paper, Autumn
Days in Weimar, by Bayard Taylor, and New
England tale called A Roadside Romance, by
G. P. Lathrop; while lively and seasonable
account of Ten Days Sport on Salmon Rivers
is written by Dean Sage. Poetical contribu.
tions ere made by j. T. Trowbridge, Celia
Thaxter and Mrs. PIatt. The editorial de-
partments, though shorter than usual, discusss
recent American books, Tennyson's Queen
Mary, music and art; and the entire number
with its unusually brilliant list of writers-is
a very striking one.
The July number of tbe United States Official
Postal Guide closes the first year of this use
ful publication, and confirms the good impres.
sion which the previous numbers have made.
Besides its alphabetical list of all the post
offices in the country corrected up to date, it
gives the very important new information re-
specting foreign mails which results from the
recent treaty. The matter here given is the
official publication, is very full and comprehen-
sive, and invaluable to all persons having for
eign correspondence. The number contains
also contains the Rulings of the Post Office
Department during the last quarter, and re-
vision of all the regular matter which accom-.
Spanes the Guide. This publication has taken
an important place as an official, authentic and
accurate guide to the minute and widespread
organization which carries and brings the let
ters, papers, and other mail m after of a great
country; and the circulation of the work has
already served to diminish the vexatious cor
respondence with the Department, which had
been necessary hitherto in the absence of any
official guide.
The Publishers of Scribner call attention to
the series of articles by Col. WarIng, now be-
ing published in that magazine, under the
title of A Farmers Vacation These papers
are claimed to be among the most amusing as
well as practically valuable illustrated articles
which have appeared for some time past Col.
Waring is well known as an engineer and a
farmer. as we'll as graceful and entertaining
writer. His article in the August number
describes the pretty isle of Guernsey, and tells
q 1ao1 tIaks :. e
nous so-called Alderney Cow which is here
lat home" A MILDLY in Manila is a rollick-
ing little illustrated sketch, which reads very
like familiar letter. to some old "chum at
home. Albert Rhodess paper, Along the
Seine, is timely through its summer quality.
George w. Gable, of New Orleans, has a story
entitled Madame Delicieuse. DR.. Holland, in
this number of Sevenoaks. celebrates a we'd
ding in that rural neighborhood. Then there
is solid essay by G. f. Magoun, on Educa.
tion and Free Thought, also A Word of En-
couragement for Timd Linguists, The Stone
Period of the Antilles Containing some mat
ters not hitherto made public), An Euglewood
Mystery, How to Treat the Indians, by an
Indian Agent; an illustrated paper on Ice,
more of The Mysterious Island, and verses by
poets of note, and poets not of note. In the
Topics of the Time. by DR.. j. G. Holland, The
Old Cabinet, Home and Society. Bric-a. Brac.
The Worlds Work, ETC., the usual variety is
maintained.
ST. Nicholas brings US this month series of
excellent contributions, all interesting and
some OF them pleasantly suggestive of noun
tain air and sea breezes. The Cruise of the
Crusoe, for instance "a prolonged boat journey
such as almost every boy would like to take on
some one of these summer days., hardly needs
since it is itself very perfect pic
ture; yet it has six characteristic and familiar
scenes in pencil. There is an interesting pa.
per on Umbrellas, with picture of the first
Umbrella in the streets of London A Gun
powder Plot is the story of an assault upon
hornets nest, in which the strategy of the
attacking party has to contend against the
power and numbers of the garrison, and is nat
ural, humorous and pathetic, appealing
strongly to the interest of all boys. Rose Terry
Cooke gives us lively cor troversy in rhyme
between two chickens on that familiar sub.
fruitful source of contention
the origin of the species.
The Leonard Scott Publishing Co., al Bar
clay Street New York, have just published the
July rumber of Blackwoods Magazine. The
following are the contents: The Dilemma
Part iii. Paulo- Post-Mortem. Under the
Mask. Sketch of Canada as it now is. Abode
of Snow: Conclusion. New books. Speke's
Congo Horatian Lyrics.
Modern Scepticsm and its Fruit
"Paulo-Post Mcrtem"i is the sad self-commun-
ing of disembodied spirit who has returned
to visit his former haunts, where "all seems
other than it used to seem.''
The mysterious story, "Under tie Mask"
which appears to be the frs. part of serial,
lends so show how the witchcraft of the al
chemist is rendered powerless by the smiles of
a young maiden.
The sketch of Canada as it now is" is very
article on the geographical fea.
lures and government of Canada. of its fu-
ture the writer predicts, that with q united
and vigorous population, imbued with English
feelings, and retaining the good whilst reject
ing the evils of European society, Canada will
be the home OF a nation whose youth and
energy will be useful counterpoise to the al
most extravagant talent and restlessness of the
population of the American
Union.'
awe have reached the last paper of travels
through the "Abode of Snow" and find it as
interesting as the first. 1t g YES on account of
the lawless tribes that infest the borders of
Afghanistan.
Then comes the review of new books five