The Portland daily press., 1878-03-12
The North American Review.

The North american ReuieD for NJ arch is
entirely devoted to the consideration OF top
les of current interest, and the table of con-
tents emphasizes the great change which has
| come about in the Oldest and most conserva-
tive Of American periodical publications. The
change is decidedly for the better. We miss
those delightful studies of literature and
art which enriched its, pages in former
days, and we miss also, but do net mourn,
the many articles which were scholarly it is
true but heavy as ilLbaked bread, and as in
digestible. The brilliant articles were few,
OF the dull there were not few, and of the
articles the reading Of which was Invariably
postponed to a more convenient time that
never came, there we're many. The cause Of
the dulness is not far to seek. Sometimes a
number was almost wholly written by one
pen, and three hundred pages Of monologue
are too much for any man unless he be a
genius or bis subject be one OF living interest.
Now, even if the articles are neither brilliant
nor profound, they entertain us because they
treat of subjects about which we are all
gossipping. It should not be forgotten by
the way, that we owe this manner of maga-
zine writing to the late lamented Galary, a
magazine which offered good entertainment
in its day.
The current number of the North Amers-
can opens with paper of especial value and
interest in these times when the very exist
ence OF our national police is menaced by
deserters and ill-wishers. In Congress an
alliance has been formed between the men
who left the colors in 1851 and the men who
refused to stand by the colors in the civil
war. The object of the alliance is the Grip
pling of the United States army, and that
object is prosecuted with all the maliceswhich
hate and shame give to the renegade and the
traitor The paper in question is the first Of
series of articles upon the Army of the
United States, by Gen. Garfield. The in
stalment given in this number is made up
mainly of the letters written by Gems. Sher-
man and Hancock 10 1876 to the joint com
mission to which was referred the subject
OF the reorganization of the army, appointed
under an act of Congress of that year. The
second paper, by President Eliot of Harvard.
is devoted to comparison of some of the
more obvious pecnliarities of English and
American universities, comparison by which
our colleges suffer, considering their youth
and poverty, less than might reasonably be
expected. Gen. "Dick' Taylor continues
his "reminiscences of the Rebellion, furnishing
this time chapter which might well pro-
woke the slang inquiry, "What are yer givin'
US ~ for it contains nothing that is new ex-
cept the statement that Stonewall Jackson
was very fond of lemons-Gu naturel and
not in the usual Southern form, punch. Even
this statement must, in view of the Generals
exploits with the famous old Eaglish weapon
which won Cressy, be placed among the
ben trooata. George w. Julian of Indiana,
who became Democrat as soon as the Re-
publcans got tired of sending him to Con-
gress, furnishes an article called The Death
Struggle of the Republican Party. It reads
like an ingenious satire on his new allies, so
ingenious indeed that not few of the re-
viewers have taken it du serieu1. Mr.. Julian
is a master of irony. The Position Of the
Jews in America by the Rabbi Gustav Got
theil. is the first article of series which
promises to be of unusual value and inter-
est. The Political Alliance of the South
with the West, as understood by Senator
Morgan of Alabama, is an alliance for the
purpose of cheating the national creditors.
Fortunately the alliance has not been made,
The article is as interesting as it is mischiev-
ous-and that is saying good deal for its
interest.
The paper in the number of greatest popu-
lar interest land perhaps of least genuine
WORTHY bears the taking title The Doctrine of
Eternal Punishment. It is discussion of
that famous dogma by six eminent theologi-
ans. 1t is fashion to call discussion like
this symposium. He'll may be fit subject
tor chat over the walnuts and wine, but most
Of us would prefer other topics. 1t is of too
grave import for merry-making. But the
word symposium" as used by our magazines
is doubtless only an affectation, not levity.
The discussion is carried on by President
Porter of Yale, "liberal-orthodox," O. B.
rockingham, nationalist, Vicar-General
Thomas s Preston, "Catholic," the Rev. DR..
Bellows, "Unitarian," the Rev. DR.. Williams,
"Calvinist," and the Rev DR.. Sawyer, "Uni-
versalist." DR.. Porter opens and closes the
debate, which is carried on with, for a theo-
logical discussion, wonderful courtesy. One
is inclined to think that after all these men
do not differ so widely in opinion as they per-
suade themselves, that their chief trouble is
with words. and that they are much like the
Six Men of Indostan whose story SAKE has
told US in the following lines:
1t was six men of Indostan,
10 Learning much inclined
Who went to see the Elephant,
Tb0ugh all of them were blnd)
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The first approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl;
"God bless me-but the Elephant
Is very like WALL"
The second, feeling of the tusk,
Cries, "Ho! what have we here
Sovery round. and smooth and sharp?
To me tits mighty clear
This wonder OF an Elephant
Is very like spear!"
".
The third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands.
Thus boldly up he 8. AXE:
II see," quoth he, ''tbe Elephant
Is very like snakev'
Y.
The fourth reached out his eager hand.
And felt about the knee:
"What most this wondrous beast is like.
Is mighty plain quoth he:
lis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like treer
VI,
The fifth. who CHANGED to TOT ch the ear.
Said, "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what thi. re- embles most:
Deny the fact who can
This ma vel of an El. plant
Is very like fan!'