The Portland daily press., 1882-12-20
Magazine Notices.

Harper's Magazine for January, from the.
frontispiece-which is mastery engraving
from Rembrandt's celebrated portrait of the
Burgomaster-to the last page of the Drawer,
Is remarkably beautiful and interesting num-
Der. The opening article is the first of the
long-expected series of papers by George FL.
Bonghton, entitled Artist Strclls in Holland
and illustrated from drawings by the authtor
and e. A. Abbey. The illustrations are what
might be expected from such masters and the
article is SO quaint and SO picturesque in itself
as to make one wish that all descriptive arti-
cles might be written by artists. J. G. Boards
illustrations for Mr.. Charles E. Holders enter.
tanning article, Living Lamps, are beautiful
and novel representations of phosphorescent
phenomena. Ernest Ingersoll, as writer, and
A. c. Redwood, as an artist, cooperate in a
most interesting representation of A Redwood
Logging Camp-full of pictures of the Coast
Range region of California. This is the first of
series of papers prepared by Mr. Ingersoll
and Mr. Redwood, and will soon be followed
by others describing Washington Territory
Colonel Higginson continues his American
History series, with chapter entitled The Old
English Seamen, showing what the Cabots
Hawkins, Drake, Cavendish, and Raleigh did
or the maritime supremacy of England in
America in the sixteenth century The arti-
c'e is beautifully illustrated. Conrad Wilson
contributes paper on the possibilities of the
American Dairy. In fiction and poetry the
Number is unusually strong. Austin Dobsc
contributes The Ladies of st. James's: a
proper new Ballad of the Country and
Town, illustrated by Abbey. j. T..
Trowbridqe contributes Widow Browns
Christmas New England story in verse
illustrated by Frost; and there are two Her
rick poems, illustrated by Abbey. Besides the
serial novels by Miss Woolson and William
Black, there are three short stories: The Ro-
sary of Hearts, by Mrs H. NJ. Plunkett, illustra-
ted by Dielman; Tit for Tat, by Charles Reade.
illustrated; and Dicks Christmas, by Edward
Everett Hale. There is also characteristic
sketch by Charles Phelps, entitled The New
Years Log Rolling. Mr. George William
Curtis, in the Editors Easy Chair, defends the
good old Saxon custom of dining our English
guests, discusses Mr.. Spencer's views concern
ing America, points out the plutocrstic ten
denotes Of our time, especially in politics, and
pays tribute to the memory of the late Fran
els q. Shaw. The other Editorial departments
are fuller than usual, and are well sustained.
Vick's Floral Guide.-This annual visitor is
always welcome. Printed on the best ofspaper,
aboundiDg in handsome illustrations, it GER
tainly may claim to rank as sample of the
highest typographical art. Its colored plates,
three in number, are perfect gems, and we are
at loss to discover how this enterprising firm
can afford to lavish SO much expense in beauti-
flying publication for which they only ask
ten cents, whilst to each of their last seasons
customers they actually giveit as a Christmas
present. As its name indicates, it is "Guide''
TO the proper treatment and culture Of all kinds
Il flowers and vegetables, each description be-
ing accompanied by an illustration of the par
ticular plant or vegetable referred to.