Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-13
CURRENT LITERA TUR ".

Of the ice driftings in which even children
are sometimes caught in the land Of the
L.squimnux. Little Dame Fortune" is u
pretty story with II touch of stray satire.
Mrs Gregory tells of August coasting in the
substituting short parched
grass and creased runners for the usual
OF ice and snow.
Mr.. Baker gives u fine idea OF the eShilar-
ating hardships of ranch life. OF Beetho-
vens disorder there is a sad picture. Books,
music, letters, fragments of meals made the
chaos of his floor, over which he unspar-
ingly splashcd his frequent baths, and
which no house cleaning ever righted.
Palmer Cox mercifully takes the Brownies,
dude, Scotchman, policeman and all to the
seaside which they enjoyed with riotous
glee. From the doings of the Agissiz
Association, bright hints arc cleaned
One Of tho most practical articles in lIAR-
pER's MoNrnry for August is u very dis
terminating discussion of the differences
between English and American railways
1t is very we'll illustrated, and expresses
quite accurately the difficulty Of reconcil-
ing the typical EngliShmnn to many of the
features 81 American railway travel. Par
ticulary interesting is the examination of
tho railway speed of express trains in the
two countries: and it is shown that the
advantage is very greatly with the English,
owing largely to the fact that their railway
companies are relieved from any concern
about crossing the rnads and passing
through towns. The isolation Of the track
there is doubtless, as perfect as it can be
made.
A very readable article gives one clear
impression, accompanied by excellent cuts
of some Of the leaders of the Socialist party
in the German Reichstag.
"Thr SirdarS Chess Board, u Romance Of
the Afghan Hill Country, gives one quite II
e
| travel in that littleht of Central Asia which
/ is now the bone Of contention between
| England and Russia.
! The first article in the number is ~ Trip
| on the Ottawa" which gives very good
idea of the pleasure which may he derived
by at least half II tlo2nn trips in Canada amy
| Of which posses Sos the merit of II decided
change from the circumstances which sur
| round summer travel in our own country
This article opens with the remark from
one Of the gentlemen Of the party II
wonder who the writer was that said there
| were two ways of travelling on Il river Y
What I'm absurd statement" guickl,
answered a soft contratO voice, "As If there
were not u dozen ways Of achieving thai
object y ''As lIsunl," merrily responds thu
first speaker, "You jump TO n conclusion
before hearing the whole statement. One
way sto journey up, and the other is to gt
down"
| lulH IL in llllSlTiillOI III Will Is so com
mon rs to seem almost trite, the tendenc,
of a woman to let her natural quickness o
wit run away with her, and interrupt u MAJ
before he has gotten half through his son
tanee.
For those who enjoy iced tea, and wha
corresponds in literature TO that mild bu
| agreeable beverage, another instalmnnt a
MIR. Howclls' Inlidn Summer will he foun,
timely for warm weather.
The number contains some very goo,
poetry, including "Wordsworths Intro
dnrtion to His Miscellaneous Sonncts.
with charming illustration.
The editorial work in the number Is don
In the usual thorough manner.
Tho August CENTURY brings tho end q
"Silas Lapham" in something more than
tinge of sadness. 1t is n pity that no legit
mate way opened to save the colonel
; property the outward sign Of lifetime q
line energy and shrewd effort. Meantim
the strong, il shadowy, outline of tn
clergyman, gives keen zest forthe promise
: story in which he is to be principal figure
} In this habit of continued characters, IL
deed, Howells is fast rivaling Thackera
and Trollope.
Y The war papers, particularly those OF til
/ Virginia Girl" and the Private aboun
7 in grapic detail more thrilling than ilctior
} for example that of the protruding han
!, | reaching up from its over-hasty grave, tn
collision of the ignite. dtrains and the tw
S opposed brothers in the Monitor and Mel
: rfmac fight. Fitz John Porter gives stront
manly, dissuasive picture of the horrors
war at the close of his article. With eac
succeeding paper upon the well fougl
ground near Richmond the problel
becomes more vexed. Why the Confederat
e capital was not taken sooner, why in til
flush of victory our troops were subject
to apparent retreat, who bears the blame
t delay, or what would have been the upsht
g had the powers at Washington bee
!. otherwise minded, are questions stron
bodied enough, apparently to worry a
t future historians. Among the illustration
Malone showsa really Mephistophelian fac
The paper on hotel keeping gives fir
D sight. For the perfect organization, smoot
! running, comfort and safety Of mammot
establishment brains Of the most genuiI
sort are Indispensable. Here and thei