Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-22
Recent Literature.

HARPER's for October is filled with good things
1t opens with short descriptive article on the
Japanese volcano, Fujiyama, followed by very
interesting article by Lucretia Hale on Art Needle
work. with beautiful illustrations. Amelia Barr
tells in an interesting manner the story OF Flora
Macdonald the heroic savior OF the Young Pre-
tender after the battle Of Culloden, when he was
In hiding for many months with a reward Of thou
sands OF pounds upon his head but not one OF
the faithful peasantry divulged the secret. Henry
S. Goodale contributes a poem, Does Farming
Pay? in the style OF the famous Bigow papers.
Twenty -one pages are devoted to profusely IL
Illustrated paper on Chicago which gives q vivid
picture Of the history and prosperity Of that metro
polls. William Black and Henry James, Jr., con-
tinue their serials, and among Others are poem
by J. T. Field and articles by NJ. d. Conway,
George p. Lathrop and Henry o. Dwight The
editorial departments are full of pleasant reading
There are fiftysix illustrations.
APPLETON opens with the beginning of serial
entitled All Alone; p. IL Morgan concludes his
essay upon The International Tribunals of Egypt
and there Is a readable article on Curiosities Of
Wills. In it the author quotes large number OF
eccentric wills. This item appeared in that of
Philip, Earl OF Pembroke: Item: 81 give moth
ing to my Lord sage, and do make him this
legacy willingly, because know that he will
faithfully distribute it unto thu poor" The Brad
laugh controversy is discussed by Cardinal Man
ming and Leslie Stephen, and James Jackson Jarves
is the author of Modern Italian Painting and Paint
ers DIR. b. W. Richardson furnishes the fourth Of
his series on Health at Home, which every one
should read and follow. Scribners is up to its
standard and that is saying good deal. George
w. Cable, the new star in the school Of fiction,
increases the interest of his serial, The Grand
ssmes Eugene Schuyler brings his history Of
Peter the Great down to the conquest of the
Crimea, and there are descriptive articles on
Shantytown and the Mammoth Cave, with life
OF Jean Francois Millet. Washington GLADDEN.
answers, in his characteristic way, the question,
To Bolt or Not to Bolt The editorial part of
the magazine is worth a careful perusal.
THE SALTWATER TRAGEDY By Thomas Bailey
Aldrch, Boston, Houghton, Mfin & Co, Those
who have read Prudence Palfrey," Marjorie
Daw," or 1.-THE Queen OF sheba," will eagerly
hail this latest contribution from this charming
writer. We know OF no author, American or for
eign, who possesses in so marked degree the
faculty Of never being dull or commonplace
Without possessing the sprightly fancy Of the
~ n
"The saltwater Tragedy" will take literary rank
with the first novels OF the day. To our mind
Mr.. Aldrich is more charming writer than How
ellis, Possessing that fine sense of humor, and
the chatty, conversational STYLE which are so con-
spicuous in Howells, he also has sometimes an
easier and more graceful syle. In his works
nothing Is ever labored OF forced. Nothing is
put in simply to fill up. There is one peculiar
feature about this new novel, After the opening
chapter the reader is carried away back, and
then gradually brought up to date through good
share OF the remaining chapters, until he finds
himself just where he was at the outset, contem-
plating the horrible murder of old Thaekford.
But the transition is very easily made. and Is
done with true artistic skill. We should be sorry
to deprive our readers of the pleasure Of first
reading Of the book and therefore forbear to give
q resume Of the story.
The FATE OF REPUBLICS Boston Estes &
Lsuriat This is resume of the history of the
republics which have come into existence at di-
ferent times In the worlds history. In one sense
1t Ia very unsatisfactory work. While the author
has grouped together series OF interesting facts,
he seems to have failed entirely to grasp his sub
ject 1t Is matter OF great doubt whether so e1-
tensive subject as the History aud fates OF Re-
pubcs can be treated with the attention which 1t
| demands within the limits Of an octave volume.
| After brief consideration OF the old lsraeitisb
| republics the author goes on to treat OF the Gre
| clan system OF republics to which he devotes if
| teen pages Then come successfully, Carthage,
Rome, and Extinct Republics, the Lombard Com
munes, Genoa. Venice Amalf, Iceland, aud the
whole list of European republics. Existing re-
publics, exclusive OF the United States, treated
by themselves. They include European, African
and American republics, and are considered at
greater length aud with more interest than any
thing else in the book. The portion Of the work
devoted IN the United States is replete with anus
| ing ideas, For instance, we quote: a" 1t would
| be a national safeguard, whether wise or nnwise
we do not say, II, after a citizen has accumulated
a given amount, say one, five, OF ten millions Ia
limit OF some amount) then that all further in-
crease should be taken by the government to IL
quidate public debts, To he expended upon pub
| lie improvements This Is certainly a novel
idea, and perhaps It's adoption might have very
beneficial effect; but we must say that, In our
opinion, the chances Of Its adoption are decidedly
slender hut Notwithstanding Its incomplete
ness, the Fate OF Republics" Is work which
will be widely read 1t contains large amount
OF information concerning the class Of countries
known as American republics and we doubt II
there is subject Of equal magnitude about which
no much ignorance and indifference exists ~
! al.out the.e game American republicsL