The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-30
Ole gntsLIiasatsr.
LITERARY AFFAIRS.
CurrOnt Issues Of the AIagaIinss-sOme.
thing About hooks,

tuAuE A19ut AooAAs
The December HarpF has rarely been
excelled. Pictorially it equals any of its
predecessors; in its literary value it sur.
passes the most OF the previous issues. The
paper by Mr.. John Fiskp, "How America
Came to be Discovered" is choice pro-
duction. The topic is important, and it is
treated with the ability 1t deserves. 1.-THE
Grave OF William Penn" by Mr.. Alfred T.
Story, has an especial interest now, and is
well done, accompanied by illustrations
that are Of abiding value. Journalistic
London" by Hatton; 1.-THE Bernadottes,"
by Mrs, Gustafson, and Economy in
Dress" by Mrs. Dewing, are most excel
lent papers. The poems IRE by Mr.. Al
drich, William Allen Butler, s, S, Conant
and II, r. Hudson,
Most tlttingly the December number Of
The Century contains leading articles that
refer to President Garfield and Dr. Hol-
land, DR.. Bliss contributes paper on the
Presidents long illess, and Mr., f, V.
Snalley, an intimate friend Of Mr.. Gar
field, contributes paper on his "charac-
teristiCs, f" which is interesting, Col. Rock
well courteously enables the publishers to
produce fac Smliies OF the Presidents name
US written by him on the 10th Of August
and the words "Strangulatus pro Republic
ca" which he wrote with pencil on the
18th OF July. Edward Eggleston sketch
es DR.. Hollands career. Two articles are
by DR., Holland, one Of which, drawn in
part from the lie OF President Garfield, WIS
not completed, but is published as DR.,
Holland left 1t. "a Colonial Monastery"
by Mr., Oswald Seidensticker, Is new field
which the author traverses with valuable
results, Portraits appear Of DR.. Holland,
President Garfield and Mr., Browning,
That Ofthe President is masterpiece,
In the Atlantic Mr., Edward Farrer has
undertaken the task OF proving that in.
stead Of beinga corrupted dialect OF the
French, the language spoken IN Lower
Canada is pure French, in fact, classic
the French OF the golden age OF French
literature. Mr., Dugdale has q paper on
"The Origin OF Crime in Society" in
which he maintains that our present pris-
on methods are essentially inCOngruous
with the causes OF crime, and the prison
would cease to be in use wer0 not the fear
of criminals greater than our confidence in
human nature. caste in American So
ciety," treats OF caste that springs from hui
man nature rather than from American
society, but Is very suggestive. The maga'
zine maintains its reputation.
LttelPs Living Age has been published
for nearly forty years with uninterrupted
success, 1t is q weekly magazine, and
gives over three and quarter thousand
wcllhlled pages Of reading matter yearly,
forming four large volumes. Its frequent
issue and ample space enable It to present,
with freshness and completeness attempt.
ed by no other publications the ablest es.
says and reviews, the choicest serial and
short stories, the most interesting sketches
Of travel and discovery, the best poetry,
and the most valuable biographical, histo-
rical, scientific and political information
from the entire body Of foreign current
literature, and from the pens OF the ablest
writers Of the day, AS periodicals become
more numerous, this one becomes
the more valuable. 1t fills the
place OF many Quarteries, monthlies
and weeklies; and its readers Can through
It's pages easily and economically keep
pace with the work OF the foremost writers
in all departments Of literature, science,
politics and art. Its Importance to Ameri.
Can readers Is evident. The subscription
price (Ss 90 per year, is cheap for the
amount OF reading furnished, while the
publishers make u still cheaper offer, Wis
10 send The Liring Ap and any one Of the
American 81 90 monthlies or wecklics a
year, both postpaid, for $40 so; thus furn-
ishing to the subscriber ut small cost the
cream Of both home aud foreign literature.
The publishers also offer TO send to all new
subscribers for the year 1889, remittlng be.
fore January LIST, the weekly numbers OF
1881 issued after the receipt OF their sub
scrption, gratis, Littell Il Co., Boston, are
the publishers.
Volumes XXI and XXIT, Of Scrib,cr's
Magazine include the monthly issues OF
that admirable periodical from November,
1880, to October, 1881. In these two
handsome volumes may be said to be
comprehended IN epitomU of the best
thought OF tho time. They are u little IL
brary in themselves. Some OF the best Sc
rial novels, the best short stories and
sketches, and the most delightful bits OF
verse that have appeared In this country
during tho year, are in these attractive
covers. A list OF contributors would sim.
ply be n list Of the best names familiar to
students OF the literature Of the day. How
great n service to the cause Of American
development in art and literature, wise
and patient fostering OF hidden and un.
known power, has been rendered by the
editorial control OF this magazine, It Is i'm.
possible to estimate; but 1t Is u very great
service. Looking through the two vol.
tunes TINT arc now given to the public in
substantial form, one sees the names Of ar.
lists and authors who have first reached
the world OF readers through the pages OF
Scribncr't.
In art, especially, the conductors OF the
magazine have created complete revolu-
ton. Much has been written, and much
more mightfairly be said, about the change
and improvement wrought in American
nrt, rs illustrated in wood engraving and
printing, since the establishment Of Serb
ner's Magazine. Whatever may be said 10
the credit OF American magazines and
illustrated papers, 1t should never be for
gotten that the fresh impetus given TO this
department OF art Is wholly due 10 tue
labors OF the conductors Of iScriJnr. What
magazine in tho world, before Scribner'S
appeared, would have thought 1t worth
willie TO publish sets Of It's best engravings,
in separate sheets, as works Of art, TO be
enshrlned In portfolios and studied as
masterpieces2