The Portland daily press., 1878-01-05
Magazine Noficas

Change of publishers has not affected the
North american ReUie,o in any way--except in
the color of its covers. Its January issue
shows all those marks of good editorship which
under its latest management have character
lied its numbers. The topics it treats Of are,
even the purely literary articles, of popular
and Immediate interest, aud the manner of
their treatment leaves little to be desired. The
Revieo is doing better than renewing its youth,
Ii is fulfilling the promise of that youth; and
while growing sturdier and more practical
without parting with the charm of elegant
scholarship it has always possessed, has dis
carded the provncialsm and affectation of its
earlier days. Its editor, Mr.. Allen Thorndike
Rice. has during the short time he has con-
trolled the Rsyie,o, shown rare qualifications
for the position, and the publishers of the new
number D. Appleton 8 Co., have evidently
given him all necessary assistance.
The January number opens with highly
eulogiStic yet calm-toned and discriminating
article by George T. Hoar on Charles Sumner,
In which Senator Hoar vigorously refutes the
charge that Sumner was not practical states
man. Following this John Fiske contributes
A Crumb for the Modern Symposium, in which
after discussing the old controversy between
the Idealists and Realists he is guilty Of the
logical fallacy of begging the question. His
conclusion is that while from the nature Of the
case we are cut off from ell scientific proof of the
immortality of the human soul the absence of
that proof affords no valid ground for neg gative
conclusion. Dion Boucicault begins series Of
articles on the Art Of Dramatic Composition,
and Tpiacka nnnaanntiaI tno of In
unities of the Greek tragic poets, retaining
only the unity of action. j. Randolph Tucker
advances plea for the extension of amnesty
to JEFF. Davis and in the interests of "concila-
ton" makes moving appeal in behalf Of that
eminent patriot. An interesting and instruct
i've chapter on the English aristocracy is pub
lished from advance sheets Of Lecky's History
Of England in the Eighteenth Century Gen
Dick Taylor, degenerate son Of a noble sire,
contributes "Reminiscences Of the Civil War, in
which he makes this incredible statement:
When General Grant was called to Washing
ton to take command OF the armies of the
Union conference was held between him,
President Lincoln, aud Secretary Stanton, in
which the approaching campaign in Virginia
was discussed; Grant said the advance on
Richmond should be made By the James River.
1t was replied that the government required
the interpostion Of an army between Lee and
Washington, and would not consent, at that
late day, to the adoption Of plan that would
be taken by the public as confession pre-
vious error Grant observed he was In liffer-
ent as to routes, but il the government pre-
feTred its own-5o often tTied-to the ne he
suggested, it must b9 prepared for tho add-
tional loss of hundred thousand men. The
men were promised, Grant accepted the gov
ernmental plan of compaign, aud was sup
ported to thei end" Apparently Gen. Taylor
has been drawing upon his Imagination as well
as his memory.
Mr. W. W. Story, painter, sculptor, poet and
scholar, furnishes an article on the Origin of
the Italian Language, and inclues to the the
ory Of Cantu that modern Italian Is the ancient
Latin vernaeular. HR0uG rustica, not changed
essentially, but simply modified by time and
accident. He is to follow up the discussion In
the next number Of the Re0ieio with paper on
the probable pronunciation OF Lstin. Bayard
Taylor contributes valuable article, emiuently
readable, under the caption Ephesus, Cyprus,
and Mycen@, in which he sums up and sets
forth the significance Of the discoveries by
Wood, Cesnola and Schliemsnn. Gen. Nc
Clellan continues his review of the Eastern
War, his resum5 including the capture of Kars
| and the fall of Plevna. The paper has two
good maps, A timely article is contributed by
Manton Marble on Currency Quacks aud the
Silver Bill. The book reviews are twelve in
| number, among them an excellent notice of
Dr.ssWoolsey 3 Political Science.
| Published by D. Appleton s. Co., New York.
The December numbay of the Maine Genealo.
| gist and Biographer is oue of the most valuable
as it certainiy is the most entertaining number
| Of this useful periodical which has yet ap.
| peared. Age agTees with the Genealogist, and
each quarter elbows some improvement. The
magazine meets need which has long been
tels in this state, and is doing valuable service
by its work of collecting data for family his
tory IS gell IS by the encouragement it holds
| out to genealogical research. The number
opens with sketches of the descendants of John
Hastings Of Cambridge (1643) written by the
late James P. Richardson, eldest child of ex-
Mayor Richardson of this city. The paper will
be interesting to Portland people on account of
the writer quite as much as because of the sub
jeot. An excellent portrait of the author 90
companies the paper. Following this is a note