The Portland daily press., 1879-09-27
Magazine Notices.

The October number of Scribner is notably
lively and rich. 1t opens with an exceedingly
valuable and interesting paper by Mr.. Ernest
Ingersoll, entitled the Camp of the Carbonates;
Ups and Downs in Leadville, effectively Illus
trated by Mrs. Mary Halleck Foote and Mr.. j.
Harrison Mills. 1t is practical account of
Leadville, its advantages and drawbacks, its
incidents and its scenery, and is exactly the
sort of reading that is thoroughly entertaining
and useful. 'Leadvile and its people are as
good presentment of the Argonauts of '49 as
we in our day shall be likely to see. Life
there must be like daily installment of one of
Mr.. Bret Harte's stories; and the city, not two
years old, is the most precocious of Uncle
Sans children. Although Mr.. Ingersoll sets
forth the dramatic element of Leadville society
most appreciatively, the greater part of his
description is, very suitably, devoted to the
nature of the mineral products the chances of
success and the business Of the town; and the
entire article has so strong, reliable and attrac-
tive quality that it will not fail to be enjoyed
as one of the best papers of the magazine,
which is full of good things. Fortuny's semi
decorative sketch of the Piping Shepherd is
transferred to the pages Of Scribner, we'll en-
graved by Mr.. t. Cole. Mr.. Charles de Kay
translates his impression of the picture into
poem, with such unbelievable rhymes as idol
and bride, azure and Asia; a use of long words
that gives comic quality to the poem; and
forced and affected tone that poorly represents
the fine grace of Fortuny's Shepherd. Field
Sports in Minnesota, by Mr. Charles a. Zim-
norman, tells of crane, duck and goose shoot
ing on the lake passes, and is fully illustrated.
Edison's system of Fast Telegraphy is a de-
scripton by Mr.. Edwin NJ. Fox, of the auto
matte telegraph which was in operation be-
tween New York and Washington for year,
until the delays of the law paralyzed its inces-
SAINT motion. 1t is, however, hoped that the
Automatic line will be soon again at work.
The portrait of Mr. Edison, by Mr.. Francis
Lathrop, is striking face; and, so say the
friends of Mr.. Edison, good likeness. Mr.
Herbert Smiths fifth paper of the BRAZIL
series treats of Rio Janeiro; and, while it is an
article of much general interest, will commend
itself particularly to merchants having busi-
ness relations with Rio Janeiro, and contains
many practical suggestions as to trade and
manufactures in Brazil. Miss Kate Fields
sketch of Mr.. Arthur Sullivan, from the boy
hood days of his musical enthusiasm to his
present high place among the best English
composers-is brightly and attractively written
and full of anecdote. The portrait of Mr..
Sullivan shows mobile, eager face, full OF
warmth and alertness. In paper by Mr..
John Arbuckle, journalism as exemplified by
the late Mr. Bagehot, editors, and readers not
technically acquainted with journalistic wsrk,
z e. e., +Io,,,, TIa
writer's views are plainly and fairly set forth,
and whether we agree or not with him, he has
an earnest regard for the newspaper profess
sion. His remark upon Mr.. Bagehot's 'singu-
lary exact apprehension of sentiments shared
by masses of men, prove him to know the
primal fact of iournalism-that the best paper
is that which most perfectly gives voice to the
opinions of the greatest number OF right
minded men. But he errs in repeating Mr.
Bagehot's saying that the reason why the
American press is usually unable to attack the
Government with effect is that the term Of
office is set at four years, whereas in England
the ministry may be turned out at any time.
The truth is the American press can and does
affect every measure before the government
and people, not by sending this or that man
home to his constituents, but by its constant
and daily presentation of the views and wishes
of the country. Innumerable in its units, the
press as whole fairly speaks for the nation.
OF course newspapers make attacks of a purely
partisan kind, more or less effective as they are
less or more Pickwickian-but when the entire
press joins against measure, that measure
has little chance for existence. The reason
why the press does not control affairs is simply
that it does. The writer notes Mr.. Bagehot's
sensible and business like way of looking at
matters, not as literary lecturer, but as
man among men; and declares very rightly
that this is true journalism. But he pushes
this theory too far when he says that literature
and journalism are not only very distinct they
are very far apart, and that fine writing is out