The Portland daily press., 1879-09-27

and the best day S work of each great writer De
given to the daily newspaper. 1t is true, as
Mr. Arbuckle says that the journalist must
not aim merely to please his object is to effect
things. But strong idea, brilliantly present
ed has both force and swiftness of wing toward
mems minds. Again, the writer, who seems
theoretical rather than practical journalist III
his line of thought, considers that the anony-
nous editorial has not the worth of an article
written over its authors signature. There are
comparatively few writers whose name would
have more influence than the impersonality of
a newspaper; and every man is at liberty to
write open letters with his signature affixed
when he pleases. A well-edted newspaper
should run so even in the quality and style OF
its leading articles that it is not possible to tell
which one, or how many, of the 1ce went to
work upon its paragraphs. Still, the pros and
cons are put very well by Mr.. Arbuckle, and
every journalist will be interested to read what
he says. Mr.. Henry James Confidence con-
tnues. 1t is little curious that those OF his
heroines who are meant to be high-toned are
the least effective and least refined women that
he draws His coquettes have the reserves of
artfulness-the instincts of the, theatre; his
any kind A second paper upon English Spell
ing Reform ceases not to batter at the strong
hold of the vocabulary. Widowed is a delicate
and smoothly written sonnet by A. 3. Boyle.
John Vance Cheney has some graceful verses,
The Sleep Of Years. Mrs. Burnett's remarka-
BILE story, Haworth's, reaches its conclusion;
and is to be replaced in the November Scribner
by one of Mr.. George Cables delicious Creole
stories, this one serial. Her Conquest is
neatly complimentary poem, very prettily said.
Annunciata is striking story by Mr.. Boyesep.
Dick, is a temperance story, well told in dia-
lect by Mr.. VIM. Hawley Smith. A Sailor in
Cottonfeld is graphic and entertaining. A
stanza upon the New Year is illustrated by a
very bad ''impressional" sketch by Miss Oakley.
Mr.. Wm. Briggs has a poem, The Unknown
Ship. DIR. Holland dscourses, in his Topics of
the Time, upon Popular WISDOM and speaks
exceedingly well about it, with sound sense
and strong words. Also he writes upon the art
of Good Talking, and proves himself to under
Stand it well. Lastly he sits down, sadly but
firmly, upon the delusions of Mr.. Henry Kid
die. In Home and Society, parlor theatricals,
laundry-recipes, and fall work in the garden,
make up very useful department. The Cul-
ture and Progress Department appears cul-
chahed and behind the age in a review of Mr..
Albert Stickney's New Republic; and sets
forth the pessimistic opinions which passive
political grumblers are apt to hold. Their fa-
vorite Misunderstanding several untruths and
a false conclusion-runs thus: Politics are all
corrupt, because all politicians are bad and sell
fish. Politics might be purified if good men
would enter political life. But the Truly Good
will not wash politics because politics are not
clean. And then, folding their kid-gloved
hands, these men complain that the work of
national affairs which they have utterly
shirked, is not done to their liking. Other re-
views are, like good reviews in general, enter
tanning reading, and the Worlds Work is
live department Bric-a-Brac is inviting as
usual; sob Case" writes very neat little IA
BILE in verse. Summing up all the evidence,
one finds some exceedingly good work in the
October Scribner, and some not so good-but
all suggestive and agreeable reading.
The October Atlantic Monthly contains
some very good articles, most of them from
writers whose names have not been especially
associated with it before. Among the heavier
articles may be noted a thoughtful paper enti-
tied Sincere Demagogy; another, signed w. g.
NJ, of which the title, Foreign Trade no Cure
for Hard Times, describes its line of argument,
which, not always thoroughly sound, is sugges-
tive and vigorous. A paper upon Mr. Henry
Adams volumes of the life and writings of AL
bert Gallatin, has historic political interest.
Mr.. Willard Brown writes of the extent and
aims of Socialism in Germany. Prof. j. c.
Shairp's essay on Burns and Scotch Song be-
fore Him, is of much literary interest, written
in the authors usual manner of clear and judi
cious criticism. Mr.. Richard Grant White de-
scribes Day at Windsor very charmingly. A
brilliant paper on the Venus di Milo will at
tract students of art, and of comparative myth
ology, and the general reader will find enjoy
ment in the recital of the discovery of the mar
vellous statue. Mr.. VIM. Apthorp writes of
Giacomo Meyerbeer, whom he cleverly COM
pares to the fashionable 'inopreSsioniSte" school
of French painters. Mr.. Apthorps view of Mey-
erbeer is keen and sound as it is fair, and the
article has very little of technicality about it
to alarm and puzzle the music-loving reader
without special musical training. Meyerbeer
was par excellence the musical soldier Of for
tune he was ready to compose score after
the manner of this man or that, so long as gold
or applause would reward his temporary zeal.
1t was precisely in character for him to score
Luther's solemn chorale 'Ein feste Burg
against drinking-chorus by way of counter
point. In fact Meyerbeer's artistic creed re-
minds one of the impartial sentiment of the
man who being Unexpectedly called on for
toast at public banquet, with whose personnel
he was not thoroughly acquainted and
said, "Vice and Virtue: May they equally pre-
vail don't want to offend anybody" And
SO sat down. Now that Meyerbeer has planted
himself for always it is not difficult, though
wholesome and interesting task for musi-
cal critic to point out the good and evil, the
rewards and penalties which Music has for the
Dugald Dalgettys of her following. Meyer
beers life was superb theatrical triumph
Neither is it true that he lacked all purely
musical inspiration. In certain episodes of his
operas he rises to fine and adequate musical
expression; the exquisite "Mancenillier"
entr'dcte and soprano scene of the 4fricdine is a
notable instance of Meyerbeer's rich and poetic
work at his best. But as Mr.. Apthorp observes,
vulgarity was quality of which it was hard
for Giacomo Meyerbeer to rid himself Apart
from some similarity of hbretto, it seems un-
necessary that Signor Verdi's Aida be COM
pared to NJ. Meyerbeer's A.fricdine. The lat
ter is an effective opera in its composers best
vein; but Aidd is written upon an historic mu-
sical basis-with some reference, indeed, to
certain truths as set forth in Wagner's least
aggressive scores-but in all essentials an
original and masterly work, and distinct and
important contribution to the art of music. In
the department of fiction the Atlantic offers
chapters XVII to XXXI of Irene the Mission
ary; and dismal, though quite powerful story,
The Home of McVicker. Life at Little Court,
is charming description of the graceful eti-
quette and homelike pleasure of the court OF
Courcanale, in Holland written by Sidney
Hyde, For poetry it gives Mr.. Aldrich's On
Lynn Terrace, poem of genuine beauty and
feeling; prettily worded song by Celeste M.
A. Winslow, All Dawn, Delay, fine poem on
Sleep by Katharine Lee Bates, both imagina-
tive and musical in quality; and Mr.. Thomas