The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-11-30
MAGAZINE NOTICES

A personal interest attaches to several of the
pictures and articles in the December Century.
The froutispiece is striking portrait of the late
Helen Jackson (''H. H.'), with which is given an
appreciatiye account of her life and writings by
New England writer, followed by seven new po-
ems her last work in verse. George Parsons
Lathrop draws entertaining word-portraits of the
GARDENERS of GARDENERS Island, under the title,
An American Lordships and the sketches, by
Harry Fem, give charming glimpses of their isl
and estate. Mark Twain contributes a chapter of
autobiography entitled The Private history of a
Campaign that Failed, which is humorously Illus
trated by Kemble. Captain Ericsson furnishes
the serious war paper of the number, which is
both important as contribution to history and
interesting to the generarea since it describes
the principles of construction of the original Mon
itor and the performances of "The Monitors as
a class all from the point of view of the inventor
The Shah and his palaces are described incident
ally in an attractive Illustrated paper on The City
of Teheran, br the Hon. S. G. w. Benjamin, late
United States Minister to Persia. James's The
Bostonans, and Mrs. Foote'S John Bodewin's
Testimony are continued This number also con-
tains two short stories, one by H. FL. Boyesen, en-
titled A Child of the Age, and the other Mrs Ber-
tvs Tea, by Thomas A. Janvier Ivory Biack),
author of Rose Nader An art interest is lent to
the number by Henry Eckfords essay ON The
Llama of Keats and the Illustrations by VIII III.
Low with wood-cuts Of some of Mr.. Lows draw
ings; and by suggestive essay on The Lesson of
Greek Art, from Dr. Charles Waldstein, the young
New-Yorker who lectures on Greek Art in the
English Cambridge University. Popular essays
are contributed by the Rev. A. f. Schauffier, on
Faith-Cures; on John Burroughs, on Bird Enc
mics; and by Professor Waller of the Columbia
Drink.
The Christmas st Nicholas is all that the double
promise conveyed in its title implies, and fairly
bristles with holiday features. from the opening
poem, The Little Christmas Tree by Susan Cool
idge, to the amusing pictures by A. E. Sterner
and o. Herford on the last page. Santa Clause on
Lark is the immensely suggestive tile of story
by Washington GLADDEN., which is illustrated by
Sol Eytinge; Frank r. Stockton contributes a
whimsically humorous tale, called Christmas be
fore Last, with five appropriate pictures by E. B.
Bensell; there is a decorative Christmas card by
d. Clinton Peters; Our Holiday Party contains
clever suggestions for those looking for novel
form of vacation entertainment; Through the Reg
lister is the name of the Middle-aged and Little
Folks Christmas story; and there are other
bright and timely contributions by Mary Hallock
Foote, Grace DEMO Litchfeld, and Edith NJ
Thomas. Other features of the number are Mrs.
Frances Hodgson Burnette's new serial, Little
Lord Fauntleroy, and Edgar Fawcett's charming
poem, My Echo, illustrated by Sterner. Then
there are the articles on Rugby-one on the
Schoollife, by Elizabeth Robins Pennell, the other
telling of aVacaton Visit, by Edwin D. Mead;
both copiously illustrated by Joseph r. Pennell,
and accompanied by full-page engraving Of
Thomas Phillips celebrated portrait of DIR. Arm
old. The New Bits of Talk for Young Folks, by
Helen Jackson are continued.