Morning journal and courier., 1880-12-20
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

The January -4tzaaatic begins new volume with a number of great and varied excellence. The first chapters of Miss Phelps serial story, 1 Friends Duct" are so interesting that l her friends will be impatient for the next in, stallment Mir. Aldrich contributes a most entertaining paper on ''Smith.'' Henry James, "Portait of Lady" needs no commendation. John Fiske has an I article on Sociology and Hero-Wor- ship, (which takes exception very strongly
 and convincingly to the article by William Jaems, recently published in the Atlantic Miss Harriet w. Preston contributes 8 de- ightful literary historical essay on "A Sym posium of Sixty Years Ago" William M. Rossetti begins his series of articles on ''fhe Wives of Poets," with ssglmpses of the wives of Euripides, Lucretlus, Dante, Alherl' Cerpantes, Lope de Vega and Cornellle. Richard Grant Whites paper on ''Sarah Bernhardt'' will attract much attention just now. Mr. Whittier's tender poem in mem- ory of Lydia Maria Child is one of the noblest and most charming poems NIT. Whittier has
 ever written. Mir. Stedman has fine poem on
 ssYe Tombe of ye Poet Chaucer." Other poems. essays, stories, and an unusually varied
 ''Contrihutor's Club" complete superb number of this magazine.
 Appleto7ss Journal for January begins new
 volume and the number is an excellent one.
 Its contents consist of review, with many
 extracts, of Trevelyan's 'Early History of
 Charles James Fox," the beginning of a new story by Erckmann- Chatrian, ''The Veterans of Yesterday" ''Social Life Among the Greeks;" ''The Influence of Art in Daily Life," the fifth paper, subject, "Dress, by Mr. Atkinson; Political Somnambulism, /" by Professor J. R. Seelys reviews of ''Hol- land and it's People," of ''Endymion' and other recent books There is a paper on
 ''The School of Philosophy at Concord, the usual editorial departments, and chapter called ''Notes for Readers"
 The political papers in the January num- Der of the North American ReUieao are three in number Senator Edmunds writes of Controlling Forces in American Politics ;" Mir. W.D. .LeSeur of Partisan Government" and Senator Wallace of ''The Mission of the Democratic Party" There is a paper of pith and interest on ''Popular Art Educa- ton, ,n by Prof John F. Weir, and a shrewd discussion of '"The Limitations of Sex," by Nina Morals Prof John Fiske writes of ''The Philosophy of Persecution" and Pres ident Bascon discusses Atheism in Colleges. :" Part five is given of M. Charnay's reports of Central American explorations, and the book reviews are from Professor F. A. March, who treats Recent Pathological Works"
 Lsppincott's Magazine begins new series and new career with the January number. Instead of seeking to compete with the two chief illustrated magazines of the country and of the world in lavish expenditure upon artistic Illustrations, it will henceforth en- deavor to supply the need of @ somewhat lighter popular magazine at a smaller price. It will not lower it's literary standard, but will seek to give a specially entertaining character to it's contents, *sto furnish enter tainment and healthy stimulant to those of both sexes who find their best mental re- freshment in light and attractive reading" Special prominence is to be given to topics of actual life, it's interests and it's social aspects. Illustrations will be used as before. A new cover better in design than the old one, has been provided. Prominent among the arti- cles in the January number are 'GigTs, Cosmopolitan Art School, by Margaret Bertha Wright; 'tAn Old and New England Seaport D by Charles Burr Todd, both illus trated ssOutdoor Life on the Rhine," by Margaret Pyne; sfThe Called Meeting" by Jennie Woodville s'Race in Brazil" by Frank De Yeaux Carpenter, and bright short story by Louise Stockton, called ''Ihe Occultation of Honey Moon."
 Ha7per's MdgGzSne for January leads off with the second installnient of MT. Moncure Conway's series of papers on English Lakes and their Genii," which gives some more interesting anecdotes of Wordsworth and other Lake poets. ''Old Time Life in Quaker Town is the title of an article by Howard Pyle, in which the manners and GUS toms of historic Wilmington are graph ically described. G. w.. Sheldon gives a very entertaining account of the "Old New York Volunteer Fire De- partment," and James s. Whitman takes his readers with him seDown the Thames in Birch Bark Canoe" Barnet Philips gives variety of curious information about ''Some Great yiolins, T and E. H. Underwood briefly but ably sketches the career and reviews the writings of James Russell Lowell. Titus Munsen Coan propounds the question "Does Life Insurance Insure ?'' which he san- swers with 6 modified negative. Miss Wool son Is story 'tAnne' is continued, and 8 new novel is begun by Thomas Handy, entitled "A Laodicean. , The poetry in the number is by John C. R. Derr, John Boyle O'Reilly and James T. Fields.