Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-30
THE MAGAZINES.

Harper - Magazine for February Is an unusu-
ally br ight and fresh number, with nearly sixty
exquisite engravngs. The number opens with a
very interesting paper, beautifully illustrated, on
Cardiff and the valley of the Taft, in Wales.
Among the illustrations portraits of Lord and
Lady Butte. DR.. Bottoms article on "Tbe Log
Book of the Savannah" is a novelty. The Sa-
vannah was the first steamer that crossed the At
lanlic. The log book Of the vessel, containing
quaint narrative of the voyage, is still preserved
by the descendants of its captain, Moses Rogers
A faithful picture of the book itself, and fac
simile of of its entries, among the illustra
lions of the article, together with two portraits of
Captain Rogers, picture of the steamer, etc. j.
F. Pierce has it for sale
Mr. Whittier begins the February issue of the
Atlantic Monthly with six-page ballad, called
THE Witch of Wenhem," charming poem in his
best vein. The same number has a short poem,
"a Dutch Picture" by Mr.. Longiellow. and one
by Edmund c. stedman. Characteristic
poem by DR.. Holmes, on the Presidential
question-"How Not to Settle It'-appears at the
end of the magazine In "Studies of Animal Ma
ture" Bayard Taylor contrives to assemble many
fresh and amusing anecdotes Of animal sag aciiy,
and argues for better understanding between
men and brues. The Political Condition OF
South Carolina" by SoulhCaronan, is an art.
Gle of great interest.
The February Scrbner opens with the third Of
the occasional papers on outdoor sports" an
nounced by the editors in the November number
The writer is Edward Seymour, and the subject
Trout Fishing in the Rlngely Lakes"-waters
which have recently acquitted fame among sports
men for the great size of the brook trout taken,
there The article is full of pictures and deals
with region new to the general public The
second part of General McCellan's "Winter on
the Nile" contains well-written description of
the passage of the Cataracts with sketches and
pictures of Nubian life. a third illustrated paper
is a sympathetic study by E. S. Nada, of that de-
lightful writer, "White, of Seborne;" the paper
has number of anecdotes and concludes with
quaint sermon OF Whites which has not been in
corporated in any "lfe" of the naturalist. There
is also popular science article on "The Micro
scope among the Flowers" by Mrs. S. b. IIerrick
with drawings by the author, who describes the
agency of insects in the fertilization of flowers,
and tells why it is unhealthy to keep flowers in
bedroom at night.
Blackwood for January has been republished by
the Leonard Scott Publishing Co, Al Barclay
Street, n. Y, and, Judging from the contents of
the present number, promises well for the coming
year. Tue place OF honor, the first article, has
been given to a story which is understood to have
been written by au American author, but his name
has not been announced. The second paper brings
before the public some Of the peculiarities and
the manner of hansacting business in the House
Of Commons. The eighth part of "The Woman
Halter" is followed by a very eulogsstic article on
George Sand, suggested by recently published
autobiography. 1t gives some short extracts from
her writings, mentions "Indiana," Jacques, ." and
one or two of her other works, and considers ala
Mare au Diable" as "the simplest and most per-
feet of ALL" "Weariness Tale from France"
is quiet story Of little man who grew tired of
this world and stepped into the other with the aid
OF razor The closing article headed ''The
New Year. is devoted mainly to the Eastern
Question
Lippincott's Magazine for February is especial
Iy strong in fiction. Besides the continuation of
George Macionald's serial 1.-THE Marquis of Los
sie,' there are two capital short stories, "Hebe,"
by the author of"Blindpits," and "The Cruise of
the Heron" by James L. Mckay, and the open
Ing chapters of Auelbach's new tale, "Young
Alloys; Or The Gawk from America" of the
other articles, the most noticeable are Gail Ham
lton's RAILROAD Reflections" suggested by a
journey on the Union Pacif; Railroad, and pre-
senting vivid picture of the obstacles encoun-
tered in the achievement Of that great enterprise;
the concluding portions Of of Edward Kings
pictures from Spain" and Edward Bruce's
~Floor of Fire." both full of entertaining infor-
nation, and amply illustrated; and scholarly
analysis Of the second part of Goethes Faust"
by Prof. w. Ii. Goodyear. There are several
poems in the number, the best being 'The Christ
mas Tree" by Emma Lazarus, and sonnet on
"The Wabash" by Maurice Thompson.
The February number of the Eclectic is embel-
lished with very fine and striking portrait of
George Macdonald, the poet and novelist. In the
letterpress the editor supplements the portrait
with brief sketch Of his life.
The leading article is a reprint of highly in.
structve address ''0n Popular Culture" by John
Morley. The other contents are as follows
Towards the North Pole !" "The Secret Cham
Der: A Ghost Story" "Automatism and Evolu-
ton" by Charles Elan, M. d. "a Rhymcr's
Wish )" "Notes on the Turk" by Edwin DeLeon;