The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-27
LITERATURE.
The February MaDdsineS.

promises we'll. There is no dull pro-
iogue; the interest is awakened in read
ing the very first page. The most no.
ticeable article Of the number is "A Ma
ton Without Neighbors," by DR.. Coan,
in which the American social state is
considered, and the dangers to which
the nation is exposed from its isolation.
Now 1t is our boast that we do not belong, as
responsible members, to the family Of nations:
that we need neither conciliate nor fear them,
nor hold ourselves responsible to any Of them
day, when 1t becomes worth our while, we may
chastise the rest OF the family for our own plea
sure. / say nothing OF the improbability Of
national characterp And may not this false
feeling explain some of the passages in our
history, as for instance, that Of repudlationp
would remark that this subject Is not treated
it is the central fact of our history for many d
European, the first thing that is suggested to
him by the word "America."
The poem by Lucy Hooper has most
merit of any in the number. The short
story, "John Weich's Wife," is excellent.
In Nebul9 the editor chats about " Oman's
love of dress, and refers to something in
the recently published diary of Queen
Victoria to the point.
In the course OF her walks she meets ard
sketches ga lovely housemaid and three good
little peasant girls" She remarks that al
though they are quite poor children, tney are
well and cleanly dressed-she says in ''nice
ccan thirgs"-and then she adds, "Ths is be-
cause they are peasants, and do not aspire to
be more. Oh! il our people would only dress
like peasants, and not 80 about IN flimsy faded
silk bOnnets ami shawls!' Good for her Ma
jesty! She has hit the nail on the head. The
cause Of most of the bad dressing that we see
among women, and OF alIthe eXtrayagance, Is
the cndeayor TO appear finer than is either be-
coming or honest In the wearers OF the absurd
ly preLentious garments which SO offend the
eyes Of all sensible people. But what an i'm
possible wish on the part of her Majesty! How
'uoes she expect that the wife or the daughter
Of IN lnde ependent Anglo saxon, ON whatever
side Of the Atlantic, Is 10 be convinced that il
Is more respectable, more becoming, pretLief,
for her to dress IN good serviceable stuff of IN
feri0r cost, rkan to get herself up in hImsy
faded silk bonnets ana shawls which are poor
caIcatrfrc of the garments worn by women Of
rlcncr condition ana higher social positlon2
The truth can not be blinked that no little OF
the very bad and at the same time wickedly
eXtravagant dressing among the women of
Lnglan and America is due TO the progress OF
democracy. A peasant may be con cnt to wear
a peasants dress, and so be pleasant to the eye,
and in good Keeping with herself: but woman
VINO thinks she ie as good as anybody, and tha'
she would seem So to all eyes, ii she had only lhe
money, will strive tlrsG of all to maze 'ner
uress IN It's outside appearance as like Us pos
sible TO that oil other women who nave as much
to spend in week as she has III year.
sCRIBNER.
The number opens with the poem "FOr
Cupid Dead" illustrated, by Louise
Chandler Moulton:
When Love Is dead, what more but funeral
L rites
To lay his sweet corse Lovingly to rest,
| To cover him w iIh rose and pIvautlne.
And ali fair posies that he loved the best?
What more. but kisses for his close shut eyes
His cold, still lips that never more will speak
His hair, too bright for dust OF ucath to uinl-
The Hush scarce faded from his frozen cheek
What moro but tears that will not warm hi
brow,
Although they burn the eyes from which they
startl-
No bitter weeping or more bitter words
Can rouse to one more thIob that pulselcs
- hcartO
So dead he is, who once was so alive!
In summer, when the ardent days were long
He was as warm as June, us gay and glad
AS any bird that swelied Its throat with song
So dead!-yet all things were his minister's
All birds and blossoms, and the joyous June
Would they had died, and kept sweet Low,
alive:
Since he is gone the world is out of tune.
Major Powell contributes SECOND
paper ON "Tne Canons of Colorado ,
which is accompanied by striking illus
tratIons that add much to its interest
Augustus Blauvelt contributes an able
paper OH "Christ's supernaturalism
Scientifically Considered"
To the straightforward scientific investigator
only two suppositlons here are open: First
that the supernaturallsm Of Christianity die
not have its origin III fraud at all, but in very
fact or, secondly, that 1t mad its origin in ucl
shocking catalogue of coIlusions and imposl.
tions that all the leading actors must have
been the most execrable oil knaves, and fools
and charlatans. But to adopt the former hy-
pouhesis is to abandon the unhistorical view OF
the origin of the supernaturalIsm of Christian.
ity; whereas, to adopt the latter, is dogmatic-
ally to invent personal character for all tho
leading actors in the founding Of Christianity
in direct and shameless contradiction to every
historical evidence, and glimpse Of evidence
which we possess about them.
FOr,mOre than eighteen hundred years, there.
fore, Jesus OF Nazareth has occupied the posi-
ton, III the faith Of myriads OF men, of di-
vinely superhulnan being And IN YieW Of the
anti l-supernaturalistic hypo,heses OF ms per-
Son, mission, and Credentials, advanced re-
spectively by Paulus. Strauss. and Renan, il
would now appear to take the form of u rigid
scientific demonstration that this traditional
falth concerning Jesus can be exploded nei-
ther, first, by q mere method of naturaistlc in-
terpre alton OF the gospels, which is not sup
ported by any attack upon their historical va
lidity; nor, secondly, by an attack upon the
historical Validity of the gospels, which is moi
supplemented by an attack upon the personal
intes gritty and character of Christ and mis- dis
ciples; not yet, thirdly. by an attack upon the
historical validity OF the gospels, even if it is
supplemented by an attack upon the personal
Integrity and character OF Christ and mis- dis
cipes. ar
What more, therefore, has modern thought
and culture to urge by way Of invaluatmg The
belief that Jesus Of Nazareth was, as muulel
OF historical verify, a diyinely superhuman be-
ing? Does not this belief repose, i'll fine, upon
sufficiently ''valid evidence and sound reason
ing," to be at length Iegtimatcly entitled to
"take its place as part Of sciences"
Readers fond of personalities will revel
in the article "Latter-day British Poets -
it is to be continued in the next number.
Several pages are devoted to Theodore
Thomas, "the most popular musician in
America" and what he has accomplish
ed in his profession. The sketch is ac-
companied by portrait as large as life
and somewhat handsomer. The install.
ments of "rhe story of Sevenoaks''
maintain the interest of the opening
chapters. The editorial department is
up to the customary standard. .,4-
HARPER.
An attractive feature of the number is
the article 'New Washington" in which
the Capital as it was before the war.
!, nix bo,ID 4