Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-20
THE MAGAZINES.

The Atlantic for May opens with an article on
the primitive musical instruments used 10 various
barbarous and sem-civilized nations, being the
first in the series on "Crude and Curious Iuven-
lions at the Centennial Exhibition" by Edward
II. Knight, author of Knights American Me-
chanical Dictionary" Eleven illustrations add to
I be interest of the text. Mr.. James brings his
story Of 1.-The American" to conclusion. In the
second and concluding part OF the "Diary of
British Officer in Boston in l775," the writer men
lions the battle of Bunker Hill, but gives it much
less prominence than the Concord and Lexington
fights. Charles Francis Adams, Jr. contributes a
paper on "The Maypole of Merrymouut," in
which he describes Wollastons settlement on the
shores of Boston bay in 1925. Colonel George
Z. Waring, Jr discusses the Life and Work Of
the Eastern Farmer" and argues in favor I the
village system of Europe as the best meth cd of
preventing the evils and drawbacks of isolated
farm life. The Wagner Music Drama at Bayreuth
last year is described by Henry T. Finck, and
there are two short stories: "0n Sand Island"
by Sarah S. Pritchard, and "Croombe, by George
P. Lathrop. Mr. Whittier contributes poem en-
titled Hymn of the Dunkers," at Klostcr Kedar,
Pennsylvania, 1888; Mr.. Longfellow gives some
verses on "Castles in SPAIN" E. C. Stedman has
poem on Seeking the Mayaower," and w. w.
Story, the sculptor, Girolamo detto il Flor
entino. "Spring Miracles" is the title of little
poem by Elizabeth Akers Allen. The Contrbu.
tors Club continues to be one of the most at,rac-
tive parts of the magazine.
Lippucott's Magazine for May is unusually va
-,o -. "a. nr
down the Rhine" the first of series by Lady
Blanche Murphy, is noticeable both for the exqu-
site engravngs and its agreeable sketches of IA
nous old towns, romantic scenery, and the quaint
costumes and primitive habits of the Alsatian
peasantry. "Parsian Club.L ife' is described at
length by c. II. Harding, while Chauncey Hickox
discusses briefly some of Schliemanns discoveries
and gives the welcome intelligence that the great
explorer is about to revisit America. Walter
Mitchell writes musingy and critically of "Burials
and Burial Places" and J. Brander Matthews
gives a quantity of theatrical gossip and anec-
dotes relative to the subject of Damned Plays p
OF stories, in addition to long installment oil
The Marquis of Lossie," which has now reached
a crisis, we have The Abbess Of Ischia," by
Robert a. Mcleod, which has a tragical interest;
a humorous love story, called "a Superiority OF
Nsughtiness," by Edward Bellamy and "a
Queen of Burlesque," which is both odd and pa.
thetic, aud is evidently drawn from real life
There are poem. by Emma Lazarus, Mary B
Dodge, and other writers, aud the Monthly GOSSIP
contains number Of short papers on Bulgarian
| Rose-lIarvests." Selling q House." and othel
miscellaneous topics. The contents are of
| thoroughly popular and attractive character.
| Harper's Magazine for May, has score of ar
ticles aud nineiy-fve illustrations. The gem O
the number is Mrs. Francis l.. Mack's poem as
raft" with eight illustrations by Frederieks. A
richly illustrated article Florence is contributed
by o. NJ. Spencer, author of the article recent,
published on Genoa. Writ Skies contributes an
other illustrated article about Wales-seiectinl
this time the valley Of the Usk, and specially the
site oil ng Arthurs Round Table. Mrs. Mar,
Treat gives some fresh observations concerning