The Ottawa free trader., 1879-02-22
LITERATURE.

LITERATURE.
HARpER's Magazine for March dcvotes two
Illustrated papers to art subjects Theirst by
=. G. W. Benjamin, refers TO the new move
mcnt in American art, which it Is fashionable
to say received its impulse from the Ceh'eh-
NAL Exhibition, but which the writer traces
hack TO influences which have been gathering
momentum for over twenty years. The other
art paper is devoted to Rembrandt, the first OF
the old Dutch masters.
Among the other illustrated papers "Ihe En-
clish home of the WashinglOnsn will he found
to contain many important facts not common
" known; A few Sea-Birds' will attract by
its lively pictures; "Sketchcs IN the lyroF'
will not only interest the reader on account ol
its magnificent illustrations, but as introduc-
ing him to country and people in regard t"
whom few are well posted; and English ana
American Locomotives" the American reader
will read with avdity as titellation OF his ma
tonal pride ;but perhaps the most readable of all
will be found Mrs. Lambs comprehensive ac-
count of the origin, development and present
situation of the t. S. coast survey. Few III
these days probably have even heard the name
of Iasslar, the father Of what IS now so eab-
oratc and important IA system, but habitueS
about Washington 25 years ago were full o!
anecdotes of the stalwart, sturdy, grim old
ISwiss A characteristic one is given in the
paper before us Mr. Hasslar, in his Jealous
devotion to the great work IN hand found his
personal expenses greatly outrunning his Inca
ger salary of some $4,000, and struck for high
cr pay; and being unable to come to an under
standing with the secretary Of the treasury on
the subject, appealed to Gen. Jackson:
"Well, how much do you think you ought
to havc?" asked Old Hickory.
| Six tousand dollars, sir"
"Why, Mr. Hasslar, that is rs much as Mr..
| Woodbury., my secretary OF the treasury, HIM
self receives"
"Mr. Woodbury." screamed lIasslar, rising
from his chair and vibrating his long ioretn-
ger toward his own heart. "PLe-c-nty Mr..
! Voodburys, ple.enty Mr.. Everybodys for
secretary Of dc treasury; v-one, v-one 1r.
EIasslar FOR de head of dc coast survey" and
erecting himself in II naughty attitude, he
looked down upon Jackson in supreme scorn
at his daring comparison.
President Jackson, sympathlzing with a
character having some traits in common with
| his own, granted lTasslar's demand, and at the
close of the next cabinet meeting told the joke,
| to the great entertainment Of the gentlemen
present.
| Other papers in the present number of time
| ly interest are n description of the magnetic
motor of Mr.. Wesley Gary The English III
India; Climates for lnvalds, Afghanistan, &c,
Miss Mulock's novel, Young Mrs jar
dine" is continued and there are three short
stories; besides all which are the always we'll
conducted editorial departments, including
the graceful gossip Of the Easy Chair, a com.
prehensivc critical record of recent books, a
summary Of scientific progress, IA resume OF
current historical events, and an amusing
" Drawer"
The INTERNATIONAL REVIEW. CA S
Barnes Il Co., NY $500 a year, The Feb
ruary number opens with a thoughtful paper
| by Philip Gilbert lIamcrton on English and
American Art, as shown at the Paris EXhlbi
tion. 1t is no small concession, at least, by an
English writer, that American Art is worthy to
claim comparison with that of England any
where. Professor Trowbridgc, ancnt the pres
cnt agitation on the subject of the electric
! light, writes apparently to console and rc-as
sure the holder. of gas stocks The Birth OF
/ the Commune" is IA very readable personal re
miniscence by one who was behind the scene.
during sundry communal cllervesccnces in
Paris from 1881 to 1889 Carl Blind gives
second and concluding paper Of Personal Re
collections OF Mazzini's Views of Russia ant
the East In An Entering Wedge" Edwin
! C. Taylor shows how American artists arc
s,riding ahead of those of England in the mat
ter of work in gold and silver A very abl,
paper on Robert Browning is contributed by
George Barnet Smith; and Prof Caldcrwoot
gives Us a readable disquisition on Expression
| of Emotions on the Human Countcnancc Re
cent English French and German books re
cclvc due consideration III the concluding
pages,
SUNDAY AFTERNOON. Springfield, Mass
$500 IA year, Rev. Phillips Brooks as
preacher though not named in 1t, is the theme
of very readable paper in the March .SUaday
.iGeraOOn. and scarcely less entertaining is
second contribution in the same number abou
Michael Faraday, the great scientist. An ar
ticlc translated from the JOurHd dts EcOH0
mists does away with the common notion tha
inianncide legally allowed or even common il
lChna There is IA trenchant article on Chang
ing Crceds; \ Working Woman's BureaI tell
OF Miss Jane Helps and her work. the Inter
national Sunday School Lesson System /
sharply criticised; Edward Bellamy tells
story in which love conquerS intemperance
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps has An Hour will
Gwendoyln, and there are also Our Debt t