The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-05-11
LITERARY NOTE.

are exceptionally rich in timely and
superbly illustrated articles. The
first opens with fine engraved por-
trait of Michael Munkacsy, perhaps
the greatest of living painters, and
besides a number of drawings illus
trative of his works, presents a mag
nifcent full-page engraving from one
of his noblest paintings-"Milton
Debating Paradise Lost to his Daugh-
ters." This picture is owned by the
Lenox Library in New York, and the
engraving was made from the orig
inal expressly for The Continent.
There is also an engraving of the
figure of "Christ before Plate"
The context is by Anna Bowman
Blake, an author who has enjoyed
especial facilities for learning from
the artist himself, the leading Incl
dents of his professional career.
The Continent is presenting some
admirable magazine illustration, of
which this issue contains large
number of exceedingly creditable
examples. In the second number
named is a sketch of the late Alex
ander H. Stephens, the typical South
ern Statesman who has done such
eminent service for his state and for
the Nation at large. The Continent
is first of the magazines to publish a
carefully prepared paper on the life
and services of this remarkable and
gifted man. The author, the Rev.
Henry Whitney Cleveland. was Sc
lected by Mr.. Stephens as his literary
executor, and the present article was
prepared with the full approval of the
deceased statesman, who we'll knew
where it would be eventually pub
lished, and who wrote an autograph
for fac-simile reproduction in The
Continent. The closing chapters OF
Judge Tourgee's "Hot Plowshares
increases in interest as the climax APP
proaches, and the author Of ga
FOOLS Errand" has never done him
self greater credit as historical
novelist than in this volume of the
series. The illustrations, by A. B.
Frost, are exceedingly good.
The Biographer, an Illustrated
Magazine, for May, 1883, volume
one, No. one, published by Robert
w. Shoppell, at % Park Row, New
York City, at $3.50 year, graces
our table.
This venture is a new and novel
idea in magazine literature, and if
the number before us is sample of
those which are to follow, it is deserv-
ing of the widest possible circulation
among all classes of American read
ers. The May number on its sixty
four pages contains brief biographi-
cal sketches of IS of the leading men
and women of to-day, or of those
who have but recently been active
workers in the fields OF art sci
ence, literature, politics, and the
pulpit. Of most of these, authentic
portraits are given which are study
worthy of the contemplation of
everyone interested in the character
istics OF the worlds great leaders.
Among these we note President Ar
thur, Gladstone, Bismark, Alexander
III, Adelina Patti, Wendell Phillips,
David Davis, Louise Michel, Henry
Ward Beecher, Emily Faithful, Sena-
tor Edmunds, Postmaster General
Gresham, Robert Toombs, Christina
Nilsson, Vennor, the weather pro-
phet,and others that we cannot
name in this notice, of equal promi-
hence. The sketches are all admira-
bly, written, the typographical execu-
ton is very good, and years num-
bers bound would make volume of
unrivaled interest, easy of reference,
equally valuable for the library, the
school and the home, while the low
price places it within the reach of
any one who may desire to profit by
its teaching.
In view of the multitude of ere
views" and magazines now published
| 80 - I.a ea1ank Hat a