The Portland daily press., 1883-01-23
Magazine Notices.

The beginning OF new story Dy w. ~.
Howells, in the Midwinter February Gen.
fury, is literary event, whose Importance is
increased by the discussion, in the past four
months, of the characters, ethical purpose and
literary qualities of A Modern Instance. Mr..
Howells's audience has been held up to high
notch of curiosity to see the opening chapters
of A Woman's Reason. His readers will not
be disappointed. The scene is once mere Bos-
ton, but the eocial atmosphere and the purpose
have undergone complete change Only the
style remains the same; but here, too, the read
er will perceive freshness Of attitude and
new vivacity. The fourth part Of the Led
Horse Claim, by Mary Haiock Foote, height
ems the dramatic interest OF this fascinating
story, which will end in the March number.
Each part is embellished by picture from the
authors pencil, Mrs, Burnett's Through One
Administration is developing a new interest as
1t nears the conclusion. The short story of the
number is humorously fanciful tale BY Frank
r. Stockton, entitled The Spectral Mortgage
Leading public questions receive unuusal at
tention in this number Of the Century, fol
which reason it is appropriate that the fronts
piece should be portrait Of George William
Curtis Zone of Coles most successful engrav-
ings) an photographed sketch of the we'll
known essayist and publicist being contributed
by S. S. Conant OF Harper's Weekly. Miss
Emma Lazarus discusses The Jewish Problem
with vigor and resources of fact; e. " Small
ley, in graphic article, throws light on sever.
al important Features of the New Northwest
and Edward T. Peters explains the Evils of
I'm lin land al 10, nh he hoe
the prostration Of agricultural interests in the
Atlantic States A characteristic scene in the
White House Life of lincoln is described in
the Rev. G. Van Santvoord's recollectons of
A Reception by President Lincoln. Two OF
the illustrated articles are noticeable for the
number and excellence of the pictures, and
appeal directly to large number of readers
who, in one way or another, are interested in
the development of American art. These are
Mrs, Van Renssslaer's study of American
Etchers, and Miss Charlotte Adams's enter
tanning account CT the life of Artists Models in
New York. Other illustrated articles in the
same number are George W. Cables second
historical paper on The Creoles in the Amer
can Revolution, and Frank II. Cushing's Sec
ond chapter of My Adventures in Zuni. Fred
er;ck Locker, the author of London Lyrics, Is
the subject of an illustrated paper by J. Brrn-
der Matthews, which includes two portraits of
the poet Especially noteworthy is the variety
and excellence of the poetry in the February
Century, which is contributed by Edmund
Clarence Stedman. Edmund W. Gosse Rich
ard Henry Stoddard, Joaquin Miller John
Vance Cheney, James Herbert Morse and
Philip Bourke Marston; and in Bric-a-Brac
there is clever parody entitled The Song OF
Sir Palamede, on Swinburne's last poem, by
Helen Gray Cone the author of the metrical
satire on Walt Whitman and Oscar Wilde, in
the November Century, called Narcissus in
Camden. In Topics of the Time, the evil
ways of many of the money kings are discussed
under the title Thieves and Robbers: also, the
constituencies of English men to American criti-
cism; Law-making at Albany; and the move
ment to have works of art placed on the free
list of the customs tariff. Communications,
Literature, Home and Society, and the
Worlds Work, treat variety of topics, books,
and useful inventions.