Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-17
Current Literature.

THE June Atlantic will he an unusually valuable
number. It is to have an unpublished poem on
Decoration Day, by Iyongfellow; n steel-engraved
portrait OF the poet; poem on Longfelow; by
oliver Wendell Holmes, and an estimate OF his
character and genius by o. d. rockingham Mr.,
IIardy's and Miss Phelps serials will be contin.
ued, IA will also the Southern Sketches; and
among other interesting papers will be one on
The New Eastern Question: containing per-
sonal "reminiscences Of General Skobelen.
CARDINAL NEwMANs portrait will be the from
tispiece OF the June Century. An authentic life
Of the cardinal, by Mr. Kegan Paul, the we'll
known London publisher, will accompany H. In
writing this life Mr. Kegan Paul has had the as
sistance Of some Of the cardinals most intimate
friends and associates, and his paper will prob
ably be the best account Of the cardinal that will
appear during his life. IL includes brief essay
by the cardinal himself, never before published,
on the Inspiration Of the Bible. Richard Grant
Whites paper on Opera in New York in this
number 1.-THE last Of the series) will bring the his
tory OF opera down TO the present time, and will
include portraits OF Patti, Gerster Nilsson, LuCca
Minnie Hauk, Miss Kellogg, Annie Louise Cary,
Grisi, Piccolomini, Mario Brignol and others
HARPERs MAGAZINE for May opens with de-
scription of Toledo, in Spain, by g. p. Lathrop.
Mary Alice Seymour writes with youthful enthu-
siasm OF Vienna musicians and singers, nearly a
score Of whom appear also in portrait. Samuel
W. Pennypacker gives sketch OF David Ritten-
house, OF whom Philadelphia has good reasons to
be proud to-day. F. Johnson, Jr., describes the
upper peninsula Of Michigan and the article is
amply illustrated Edmund G. Stedman's article
on Gorse, Dobson, Lang, Swinburne and other
poets of modern London IL well worth reading,
and the portraits Of these modern IIoraces are
equally acceptable. William H. Gibson on the
Squirrels Highway shows his well-attested skill
and delicacy, especially In his exqusitely dainty
drawings. Mr.. Abbey illustrates another poem
Of Herrick's but gives the text in common type.
Possibly the quaint old letters formerly used by
Mr. Abbey might still serve, II they were slightly
smplifed for easy reading. Anne, perhaps the
most popular novel OF the season, il completed,
and Mr. William Black begins new serial, called
Shandon Bells" The number has the usual
variety of poems, chats, book notices. harmless
jokes anecdotes, and everything that makes a
good, popular and pleasant magazine with lavish
illustrations.
The ATLANTIC MONTHLY Tor MAY contains Mr.
| Longfellow's last poem Mad River" The idea
consists in conversation with the river, the trav-
| eler hoping 10 learn from the river true wisdom
| OF course the delightful ballad will be set tc
| music, and must become favorite in the collec
tons. In this number Mr.. Thomas Hardy begins
| an English country story with architecture in Il
and an abundance OF English sayings on color
| form and art. Mr.. John Fiske describes those
| Europeans who lived 1S9 745 years ago, but ceased
to be authropod apes, but had not not yet Learned
| to subscribe TO the London Times. Mrs II II
| Jackson sketches a pioneer woman OF COLORADO
| who has been in California aud among the out
posts OF Civilization. Mr.. + Mason gives tn
| history OF old Fort Chartres in Illinois, -once
strong link in the chain that was TO connect Can
ada to Louisiana, and fetter continent Tn
story of DIR. Gay, the doctress who treated the rc
Boston man, is going on finely and renders inter
| estng complications Mr.. T. w. Hilgard discusse
| the functions OF the agricultural bureau with ex
ceent sense and a call for appropriations Thu
" Studies in the South short, sketchy para
graphs, full OF sense and sensible observations
Mr.. j. L. Laughin describes the collapse Of tn
Union Generate; and beside the other contribu
| tons, the number contains a review of Renan'
Marcus Aurelius. The whole number Is excel
lent, neither heavy, nor trivial, and yet 1t ha,
the local flavor that constitutes its strength ant
its honor