The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-03

though not especially Striking, are Pheasant
and readable webster and the Constilu-
ton" is vivid pen picture of the great de-
bate in the L. s. Senate on Foot's resolution,
or, as it is better known, perhaps, of the ora.
torlca sctto between Webster and llayne.
The story is somewhat old, but always reada-
BILE. The poetry all suffers from the depres-
sion now affecting all departments of maya
zine verse, but the editorial departments are
copious and newsy even beyond their aver
age.
Scribncr's.
or the so illustrations IN the March Serb
ner % are devoted to an elaborate description
of the great New York Aquarium. Phila-
delphia may have her Memorial Hall and
perpetual exhibition in the great Centennial
Building, but New York eclipses all that by
her big aquarium 1t is indeed wonderful
institution, of which one can only begin to
form definite conception from reading the
article in Scribner. The college article for
the month is devoted to Princeton, with the
promise that Oberlln is to come next. Clar-
ence Cook continues his familiar talks on
house furnishing, and gives many unique
designs and practical suggestions apropos to
the house cleaning season. McClellan's
Winter on the Nile is continued, and Is en-
riched by pleasant description Of an Arab
tournament Mrs. TIerrick describes the
Pitcher Plants, accompanied with some won
derlul drawings from nature. Miss Stuart
gives series of very pleasant "reminiscences
of her father, Gilbert Stuart, the great paint
er, who, among other cccentriclties, was very
absent.mlnded, and of whom, IN that ccnnec-
ton, she tells this anecdote:
Stuart once painted picture for Mr. Hare
of Philadelphia. On its completion, Mr..
Hare made the requisite payment to my fatt.
err who at once said: Excuse me, this pic
ture has been paid for" Excuse me for
contradicting, Mr.. Stuart but 1t has not, /
assure YOU" replied Mr. Hare My father
could not remember the circumstance Mr..
Here persisted in paying the amount due,
and handed him SIX hundred dollars, which
was high price for that period
Mr.. Stuart appears to have inherited his
absence OF mind, for in the same article Miss
Smart says
On one occasion, my grandfather (who
was the most absent-minded of mem, while
Jogging along on his pillion to church lost
in reverie, dropped my grandmother on the
road. He soon became aware of her absence,
however, and turning suddenly, rode back,
exclaiming, "God'smy.llfe, are you hurt?"
There she sat enjoying her anticipation of his
surprise when he should discover her plight.
Dr. Hollands Minturn joys along pleasant.
ly; The Lass o. Lowrie grows in interest;
Farmer Bassctt's Romance, by SAKE Holm,
is concluded; Bret Harte appears among the
poetic contributors, with Mrs. Anne Lynch
Botta, Mr.. Boyeson and others. There is
also among the contents not to be overlooked
here clear and admirable exposition of Life
Insurance, by Julius Wilcox, and well
written defence of Chinese immigration, by an
anonymous writer. DIR. Holland is excep.
tionally attractive In Topics of the Times,
sweet clipping:
1t is really pitful 10 see good, conscien-
tious little mother resolutely shutting herself
away from so much that is best and sweetest
In her children's lives, for the sake of tuck.
ing their dresses and rutfling their pettcoa,s.
How surprised and grleved she will be to
ind that her boys and girls, at sixteen, re-
gard mother chiefly as a most excellent
person to keep shirts in order and TO make
new dresses, and not as one to whom they
care to go for social cOmpanionship! Yet,
before they are snubbed out of it by repeated
rebuffs, such as "Run away, I'm too busy to
listen to your nonsense" children naturally
go to their mothers with all their sorrows and
pleasures and il mother" can only enter
into all their little plans, how pleased they
are! Such shout of delight as heard last
summer from Mrs. Friendly's croquet-ground,
where her two little girls were playing! "Oh,
goOdy, goody, mamma Is coming TO play
with usr' She was a busy mother, too, and
know would have much preferred to use
what few moments of recreation she could
snatch, for something more interesting than
playing croquet with little children, not tall
or than their mallets. She has often said
to me, 81 cannot let my children grow away
from me, l must keep right along with them
all the time, and whether il is crOquet with
the little ones, or Latin grammar and base
ball with the boys, or French dictlOn and
sashribbons with the girls, l must be in IL
as tar as can
st. Nicholas.
The first to attract the eye in the March
st. Nicholas is the frontlspiece, beautiful
picture, illustrating fine folk story of won.
derful things that happened in little Ger.
man cottage. Then come series of ex.
ceedingly funny cuts, illustrating poem
called the Seven Ages, by Hopkins. The
Golden Fish of Dwarf Castle is a recital of
some surprising facts about race Of Kite
flyers. Old Winter has farewell benefit in
the article On the Ice, and Spring comes IN
with sweet anu juicy article on Making
Maple Sugar.
There are four CT five good stories, besides
the Serials and .Jack-iL-.he-Pulpt coolly
disposes In few words nj such marvels as
Crystalizcd Horses and Freshwater Whale.
The Very Little Folks are treated To the two