The Portland daily press., 1879-08-23
SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 20.
Magazine Notices.

Without going so far as to echo the wish Of
the contemporary who calls for pictures III the
Atlantic Monthly it may fairly be said to lack
some elements of popularity III its present
number-whch however contains some eX-
ceedingly good things. The paper on Caesars
Art of War and of Writing isa vivid and effec-
tive sketch of the man who gave "happy des-
patch" to his enemies and his journal at once;
and when the sword was not sufficiently
mighty. resorted to the extreme measures OF
the pen. Miss Magdalena Peanuts is not much
of story, though il contains some amusing
character-sketches. On Latmos, sollloquy OF
Diana watching the sleeping Endymion, is
well imagined but lacks thoroughly poetic
quality and music in word and rhythm. Mr..
Il. S. Perry's Mountains in Literature is an adj
mirable article. He notes the curious fact
that the love of mountain scenery is an emo
ton of comparatively recent growth in the
minds of men. The olden folk feared the
mountains; it was the smiling valley, the gem
tie and bounteous field that they loved; and
they dreaded rather, the dark trees and the
steep places, and the storms that the mountains
sent down to the plains. Mr.. Perry quotes ap-
proprately from many authors; and makes
suggestive and fine monograph of mountains
Irene the Missionary keeps on its course-it is
not easy to guage its merits as yet. Married
Bohemians, by Mr. Edgar Fawcett, is-barring
some verbal affectations-a charming, bright
and genuine poem. The Use of Numbers in
Society Is practical and valuable paper by
Mr.. n. S. Shaler. The Race and Why Yale
Lost it is of interest to boating men. Ameri-
can Finances from 1889 to 1885 is written by
Mr. John Watts Kearney, and is OF interest III
connection with present problems. Mr. Ernest
Dale Owen sets forth in fair poetic fashion in
his verses, Genesis, and suddenly recollecting
himself turns from poetry to positivism. Mr.
Wilson Flagg's paper on birds and their song,
is delightful and valuable alike, full of keen
observation and charming comment. Mr. Jul
Illus Ward, being amazed that Mr. Tennyson
has reached his three score years and ten, pro-
ceeds to take retrospect of the laureate, CIV
ing many interesting particulars Of his life, not
attempting very much literary analysis. Pre-
cisely where lay the "waywardness'' OF Ienny-
sons young talent it is not easy to see-for lex
Utility and aptness to receive the last PERFECTION
of technical polish has always been notable In
Mr.. Tennyson's poetic genius Mr. Howells
discourses wittily, alphabetically, and charm
ingly of certain recent novels; his comments
upon Henri Greville's Mdrkof are particularly
fine and delicate. Mrs S. NJ Piatt sings one
of her rich and subtle melodies Of a mother
whose daughter is about to be married-per-
haps to the young man that Mrs. Mary Ainge
de We're sang of for the benefit OF Scribner's
readers. Nobility and Gentry is paper by
Mr.. Richard Grant White. Mr.. C. P. Cranch's
Word to Philosophers may be wisdom, but is
not poetry. Story-Paper Literature is bright
practical, and admirably written essay by Mr.
w. H. Bishop; it should he read by every one
who cares for the spread of good reading to the
exclusion of bad; aAd its fair, humane. and
brilliant style will fully commend it to notice.
Mr.. Bishop is fast proving himself one of the
brightest and strongest of the writers recently
brought before the reading public. The Con-
tributors' Club is always one of the first de-
partments one turns to-The Selfshness OF
Goethe, and How One Professional Writer
Works, are its best paragraphs Many valua-
BILE new books are reviewed at length, with the
usual care and Judgment to be expected of the
Atlantic. The correspondence is upon the
Jennings Sanitary Depot and Col. George E.
Waring To conclude, the large clientage of
the Atlantic Monthly have cause for congratu-
lation in the pleasure this number offers them.