The Portland daily press., 1876-02-18
Magazine NOtices.

6urgh ReUieao for January, lately republished;by
the Leonard Scott Publishing Co., Al Barclay
Street, New York:
Scottish Statesmen of the Revolution; The
Dalrymples. Army Recruitment. The Two
Amperes. Gardeners Reign of James 1. Wag-
ner and the Modern Theory of Music. Post
Office Telegraphs. Pattison's Life of Casau.
bon. Iceland and its Explorers. The Suez
Canal.
In the first article the lives of Lord Stair and
his son, Sir John Dalrymple, men eminent in
law, literature, and diplomacy, are briefly mar.
rated.
The lives of The Two Amperes, distinguished
father and sou, are outlined. Pictures of
French manners, and especially of salon life in
Paris, under the auspices of Madame Recamier,
are intermingled with well written narrative
OF the career and character of these two re-
markable men.
The fourth paper commences with a few raps
at a recent review by the London Quarterly,
and then takes up the policy of the Commons
in the reign of Charles I. Much CT historical
interest will here be found relating to the rise
of the High Church party, the intention of the
House of Commons in passing the celebrated
Petition Of Right in 1923, and the right of the
Crown to raise subsidies
Wagner has of late been so conspicuous in
the musical world, that the readers Of the Edin.
burgh will be glad to find an exposition of that
reformer's theory and practice, which are in
direct conflict with popular notions-as for in
stance, in designating tune and rhythm as nom
essential qualities Of music The article
abounds with minute criticisms and illustra.
tions taken from Wagner's works, and discuss
es the relations between music and the drama,
with no inclination to indorse that composers
theories.
Pattison's Life Of Casanbon, which was re-
viewed at length in the British Quarterly Re
cieU for October, furnishes the subject of an ar
tice in view before US. 1t forms a very reada-
BILE biographical sketch, enlivening the literary
portraiture with minute social details
In Iceland and its Explorers we are surprised
to find our friend Capt. Burton, of African
fame, who would be supposed to be more at
home in desert than on glacier. However,
his book, or which detailed account is here
given, is reported to contain every thing that
the reader ''can require to know of Ireland"
Respecting the Suez Canal purchase the
reviewer does not deem advantageous, either
In financial of political point of view; fears
it will give rise to embarrassment; in fact
thinks that the Government were rather hasty,
and took too great responsibility.
OF the contents of the March st. Nicholas
Mr.. Whittier's poem, The Pressed Gentiau,
will probably be the most widely enjoyed. Next
in interest," perhaps, are the installments of the
serals-Mr. Brooks story containing an ex-
ceedingly vivid and realistic description of a
Buffalo stampede" and Mr.. Bayard Taylor's
fine picture of the wonder and stupefaction of
an Icelandic boy at his first view of the sights
of Scotland. Foreign scenery, indeed, enters
largely into the composition of the number,
since Mr.. Charles Dudley Warner gives US
delightful glimpse of the Festival of Tapers
in an Italian church, with its rolicking, mis-
chievous, irreverent, but entrancngly beautiful
and melodious choir-boy; Mrs. Olphant con-
tributes the first of her papers on Windsor
Castle, containing some very interesting details
of its early history; and there is given US toward
the close of the number, a story of Egyptian
life.
The series Of Talks with Girls is bsgun with
a charming "bit of talk'' from Louisa NJ
Alcott, whose words are always welcome to
the girls, and always worth their hearing; and
Rebecca Harding Davis furnishes one of the
best stories in the number.
As for other contribution, there is the usual
fullness and variety.
In Scribner for March full illustrated des.
cription is given of the new buildings of Trim
ity College, now in course of erection at Hart
ford. These mark ''new departure in the
college architecture of the country. DR.. Ed
ward Eggleston publishes a popular descrip-
tion of Froebel's principles and methods in an
article on the Child Garden. The text is ac-
companied by portrait of Froebel. numerous
diagrams, etc. Truro Parish is a short paper
which gives some amusing legends in connec-
ton with the Old Pohck Church and its rec
tors. This is one of the churches which Wash
ington has incidentally immortalized Albert
Rhodes sketches the career and character of
Balzac, and tells number of characteristic
anecdotes of the famous writer. Dorsey Gard
ner writes about the struggles and successes of
the celebrated ornithologist, Wilson. Another
installment of Revolutionary Letters is given
in this number. Rev. Mr.. Twichel of Hart
ford has here a paper Concerning Charles
Lamb, which gives the result of pilgrimage
among memorials and relics of Ella. Five
chapters of Bret Harte's Gabriel Conroy are
published; and two chapters Of Edward Ever
cit Hale's story, Philip Nolan's Friends. There
are short stories by Edward Bellamy and
George w. Cole.
In Topics of the Time, DR.. Holland discusses
Literary Virllty, The Public Schools, and Pub.
lie Halls. The Old Cabinet has something
about Baunseheidt versus Buncombe The De-
fects in works of Genius, Originality and Imi-
tation, and other matters. A new feature ap-
pears in Home and Society, namely. number
of paragraphs on rural topics by Mr. P. T.
Quinn, the well known agricultural writer, in
which specific directions are given for the lay
ing out of small places In Bric-a-Brac may
be found little poem by the late Professor
Morse, hitherto unpublished.