Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-26

called ellis Majesty, Myself, and is the story
OF the career of young man who believes in
nothing but himself 1t is most peculiar, and
vet has certain strength, but on the whole
is most unsatisfactory. Current gossip gives
the credit of the authorship to William NJ.
Baker; and certainly, IL he is not the author,
some one has succeeded in initiating his style
most effectively. During the past year the
Transcript has published an occasional col
umn under the head Of "Causerie." 1t was
full of bright, sparkling paragraphs, stories
daintily told, quaint bits of humor and
whimsical oddities These have been col
lected and put into dainty little volume I'M
der tho old title which headed the column in
the Transcript. 1t has been an open secret
from the first that "Causerie" was Mr.. Will
liam A. Hovey, the genial editor Of the Tran
script.
The January 1tlaAtic appears in an en-
larged form, with large, clear typo, and six
teen additional pages. There is new story
by Howells, "Au Undiscovered Country"
and several fine essays and poems. The por-
trait of DIR. Holmes, which is given to every
subscriber to the Atlantic, is one of the very
finest of all the portraits they have issued.
It is of a uniform size with the portraits of
Lougfellow, Whittier and Lowell published
in previous years. By the way, Miss Mary
A. Sprague, the author of "An Earnest Tri-
fler" has been in Boston. She came on to be
present at the Holmes breakfast, and remain
ed for some time the guest of the various
leading literary people. She is graceful and
pretty, has a very simple, unaffected manner,
a pleasant voice, and dresses in good taste.
Eyeryb ly who met her is as charmed with
her, as they were at first with her book.
The newsboys reading room was opened
on Monday, and | think will be a favorite
place of resort of the boys for whose use it
has been established. 1t is a really practical
work of benevolence, and was set on foot,
and carried to successful issue by four
young business men of the city. They gave
what they could themselves, made an appeal
through the papers for assistance, met with
encouragement from all sides, and now, after
only about four months of preparation, the
rooms ar, open. They are on Bloomfield
street, aud include Il library, reading room
and a bath room. Only the best class of
books and papers will be admitted, and to
these the boys will have free access they
will be allowed entrance to the rooms at any
hour of the day and evening, the only condi-
ton being good behavior. A mntrou and a
suparint, ndent will constantly be in attend
ance. There are all kinds of games to amuse
the boys, and there will he evening classes
arranged for those who wish to study.
Among the boys are several who show r, a.
talent for drawing, and for their benefit it is
proposed to have n drawing class, and a young
lady, well-knoSn in Boston society, has vol
untoercd to take charge Of the class. On
Thanksgiving day dinner was given which
was attended by two hundred and fifty boys,
and dou't believe there was a happier table
full in the whole commonwealth. 1t was
great fun, and the boys behaved spleudidly.
| think they appreciate what is being done
for them, and know they appreciated their
dinner. 1t is philanthropy like this which
does good to everybody, the helpers and the
helped alike. SALLIE JOY WHITE.