Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-12-29
Current Literature.

THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY begins new volume
with the January number, which Is one OF marked
excellence. The first chapters Of Miss Phelps
serial story, Friends: A Duet" are full OF in
terest, and future installments will be mpatenty
looked for. Harriet w. Preston contributes a
brilliant sketch Of DE Maistre, under the title,
Symposium OF Sixty Years Ago. william NJ
Rossetti begins his series on The Wives Of Poets,
noticing the wives Of Euripides, Lucretius Dante,
Alferi. Ceryantes, Lope de Vega and Corneille
Getting Married in Germany is an amusing story.
The Portrait Of Lady, by Henry James, Jr., Is
continued. Two beautiful poems are presented,
tribute to Mrs. Child. by Whittier in his noblest
vein, and Ye Tombe OF We Poet Chaucer, by E. c.
Stedman. Other articles of interest make up an
excellent variety.
ST. NICHOLAS for the holidays Is, as usual,
famous number. The cover represents Santa
Claus refining In his deer who are plunging
through the deep snow. new feature is the
Treasure Box Department The plan is to repub-
fish every month standard stories or poems, not
always within reach Of little boys and girls The
two selected this month are Hawthornes David
Swan, and Thackeray's King Canute Mr.. Felix
L. Oswald begins his serial Of In Natures Won
| derand, an account of adventures in Southern
Mexico Myrto's Festival is an attempt to depict
Grecian life In che old Athenan days. Sidney
Laner contributes a sketch Of King Arthur and
his Knights of the Round Table The German
| fable Of Lady Bertha and Meister Tick.feck are
| related by Agnes Thompson and Julia Fay The
delightful story Of the Governors Ball seems to
| open an heirloom chest of brocaded treasures,
redoent of the lavender and rose-leaves. On the
I.1A, NJ
OF a Christmas Dinner with the Man in the Moon
The Games and Toys OF Corean Children are de-
scribed by Mr.. Grfis. This time Mr.. Stockton s
fairy tale is the Floating Prince. Two serial
stories. Phaeton Rogers and Mystery in a Man
| sion, appear in this number. The leading poem
is the Miller of Dee written in old script and
illustrated by Alfred Brennan. There are plenty
OF rhymes and jnges interspersed among the
| stories.
HARPER's MONTHLY for January, is, II possible
little ahead OF the December number. Con.
ways second paper the English Lakes is the
| opening article, taking us to the homes of Har
riet Martineau, Drs. Arnold and Ruskin and tc
IIawkeshead, where Wordsworth went to school
Another paper Of special interest is Underwood
biographical and critical article on Lowell, witt
two fine portraits of Lowell, and illustrations o
his home and favorte haunts. A highly inter
esting article is furnished by Mr.. Howard Pyle
entitled Old-tme Life in Quaker Town-beini
a sketch Of Wilmington, Delaware, as it was
century and more ago-with characteristic illus
trations from the authors drawings Ola some
what retrospective character also is Mr. Shell
don's arti lie on The Old New York Volunteer Fir
Departments contribution Of great value, a
gathering together and giving permanent shap
to much interesting material which would other
wise soon become irrecoverabe. Many will b
surprised by the information as to great violin
owned in this country, given in Barnet Phillips
interesting article, Some Great Violins, and a
will be delighted with Ole Bulls personal remir
iscences, therein recorded for the first time
There are two illustrated poems, From Exile b
Julia c. R. Dorr, with two pictures by +. d. Mi
lett and Patient Mercy Jones, by James T. Field:
with picture by Howard Pyle; and Mr.. Able
contributes a full-page illustration of Herrck'
poems, Christmas Eve, Ceremonie. Hardy
new novel, A Laodcean is begun in this nun
ber Miss Constance Fenmore Woolsons move
Anne is continued and from the opening of tn
first chapter it has been full Of interest.