The Portland daily press., 1879-09-20
Magazine Notices.

Harper's Magazine for October is more at
tractive if possible, than is its custom. 1t is
full of bright, strong and effective work in
each department. On the Skirt of the
Alps by Col. Geo. E. Waring, gives a pictu-
rescue account of modern Venice at morning
when the sun comes sailing up the lagoons,
and the city awakes. At night, with its dusky
gondolas and glancing lights, Venice is made
up of the past and of dreams; but the morning
sets it all astir with active business and daily
care-and it is this scene that Col. Waring
transfers to the pages of Harper's Magazine
with the exactness and rapidity of the photo
graph. His descriptions OF the lake regions of
Northern Italy are charming. The article is
illustrated by excellent woodcuts, which are
spirited and-barring one or two failures in
rendering clouds, earth, etc.-the engraving is
good. Painted Glass in Household Decoration
by Mr.. Charles A. Cole, gives much interest
ing information as to colored glass in general,
and the New York decorators of glass in partic-
ular. 1t is a very practical and artistic essay,
and is accompanied by several fine designs for
window screens, etc.. in painted glass A very
remarkable design for dining room window,
composed by Mr.. William Gibson, is admirable
in its direct and vigorous treatment, fairly me-
deval in feeling.s A screen by the same artist
representing the Lost Piece of Silver, is very
effective To Mr.. Gibson, says Mr.. Cole, the
art of glass-painting in America owes its pros
perity. Miss J. l.. Cloud writes graphically
and pleasantly of the scenery and people of the
Connemara Hills of Ireland, the description
ending with the sketch of comely peasant
girl dancing while the piper plays. The third
and last paper of Mr.. S. G. w. Benjamins
Fifty Years of American Art discusses the
works of Bierstadt, Hill Thomas Moran, Nc
Entee, Wyant and others, with engravings af-
ter some of the paintings of these artists. Mrs.
Helen S. Conant writes very charmin gly of
some of the attractions of Central Park; with
spirited illustrations, among which Riding the
Donkey, An Island in the Lake, and Children
and Lambs are particularly well designed,
though the texture of the grass in the latter is
rendered poorly by the engraver. Mr.. Philip
Bourke Marstons poem, The Two Burdens, is
at the height of his passionate and musical ut
terance. Its harmony of words and metrical
balance are perfect. Its music is like that OF
some exquisite violin, of which the song Is sup
ported by the softened voices OF the orchestra.
1t is a model of modern song. Mr.. Frank Tay-
lor's paper on Texas is full of valuable informa-
ton pleasantly given, with clever illustrations
-one of which, the Yuma stage leaving for
Fort Worth is as good as story by Bret Harte;
it is a chorus of Goodbye, Colonel" i" Colonel,
goodbye scored in black and white. Mr..
William Blacks yachting romance, White
Wings and Mr.. r. ID. Blackmore's Mary An
erly keep on the serial tenor of their way; and
Miss Mulock's Young Mrs Jardine is good to
the verge of goodyism, womanly to the degree
of womanishness, and so well-meant that one
disliles to call it wishy-washy. Bellies Diary