The Sunday herald., 1886-12-26
LITERARY NOTES.

The December vide ltpdte spreads a royal
Christmas feast for its friends. One Of the most
beautiful modern paintings of"Thc Madonna and
the child" that famous one by Gabriel Max, has
been reproduced for the frontsniece A poem ana
story by favoritc poet and favorltc siory-tcllcr
open the magazine; "ln the Orphan House," hy
susan Coolidge, aud "A Pretty ScarcCrow,n hy
Elizabeth stuart rhelps-the poem illustrated by
Dleman and the story Ivy liassam. There are other
delightful Christmas stories, including "Teffy AMI
Buster, hy Mrs Jcsse Benton Fremont, tnrce-part
story otthc authors tamuusspnn oi shetland Ponies,
very well known IN New York city In the early days
otheC Civtl War. tscrialsopon:" "Montezuma's
Gold Mines" by Fred A. ober, author OF IA silver
City;""ttOmuus and Remusn comedy serial by
Charles Remington Talbot; "nowling Wolf and his
Trek Pony by Mrs. LtzzicW Champney, aud IA
Young Prince of Commerce. by Selden X. Hopkins.
Aud then there s long interesting article about the
poet Longiellows Boyhood, by Rev. Samuel Long;
Where they came from by Louise lniogen Quincy,
and another, the first OF twenty-four, about "Fa.
nous Pelsr-this one describes the tavoriie ant
mals OF sir Walter scott, christopher North, ilogg
the poet, the master OF "Rab, tells too the touch
ing story of "Greytrlars' Bobby A new depart
ment, "rhe Contributors and the Children" gives
ENJOYABLE little Twomnute Talks by Mrs. James
Eel9s 4 ysanv SIsan cCodgs Margaret sidney Mrs
Then there are Illustrated ballads by Austin Dobson
and Mrs. Harriet Prescott Spoford. various poems,
and an entertaining article about Miss Juliet Corson
and her cookery work. natural history chapter by
c, +. Holder about" "wonderful Fliers, and needle
besides Mr. oscar Fay kdams's new search.Qnes,
ton work IN Greek History. ID. Lothrop h Co.,
Boston, publishers.
Those who have read with interest the lively ar
tices republishcd in these columns from the pen of
Mr.. Frank Wilkeson will greet with pleasure the
complete series In volume entitled "Recollectlons
OF a Private Soldier in the Army of the Potomac"
(New York: Il. +. Putnam's Sons.) The author is
the son of Mr. sam. wilkeson well known as the
trusted friend OF Horace Greeley. lie ran away
from home In 1858, ut the age OF sixteen, and enlisted,
amid motley crowd OF bounty.jumpers and substt.
tutes, who succeeded the first splendid run OF volun
| teers, in New York light battery, In which he
served from the Wilderness to the Petersburg cam
nagn, when % mis- friends @ secured him con commission
of the war, incidentally aiding In the repuse Of Early
before Washington. His varied experience he has
| set forth In a vivid way, and with a caustic pen.
His conclusions are rather sweeping. lie wants to
| abolish West Point, instead of reforming II, and
beginning of great war, instead OF the volunteer
system, which he says exhausis the brave and
patriotic, and breeds hoaniy-iumpers. Whether his
| impressed with his account OF the men who did the
actual lighting. The phrase "horrors of war, ac-
quires new meaning from his faithful and realistic
treatment, and he tells many important facts which
| historians omit through ignorance or worse. Thus
| he does full Justice to the remarkable incident at
| cold Harbor. where whole army unanimously
stood Still! when ordered to charge and their verdict
on the uieessness ,e OF further slaughter was re,
brevity. Received from A. s. Witherbee Co.
| The sales OF the century Magazine have gone
up over 3O,VUO copies IN siS weeks, since beginning
| the Life OF Lincoln. second edition of December
| was issued on the 18th. A veteran New York
publisher predicts that the permanent edition of
The magazine will go beyond 800 before the
pleton of the Lincoln history. The January INSTALL
ment which Ia said by he editors to he OF most sur
passing interest," occupies thirty pages OF the maga
2ine, and treats ot Mr.. LincOln's settlement in
Springfield, his practice of law nihat city, the Har
rison campaign, LincOln's marriage, his friendship
with the Speeds OF Kentucky, the Shields duel, and
the campaign of 1874. The illustrations numer
Gus, including portraits OF Joshua Speed and wife,
| of Mrs. Lucy q. Speed, Milton Hay, President Har-
partner OF Mr. Lincoln.) and Mr. Lincoln himself,
from the photograph presented by him to Mrs. Lucy
u. Speed IN 1861. Pictures are given of the house
where Lincoln was married, also the house where
he lived after his marriage, etc, etc.
Gen. II. 4. Rodenbough has compiled very inter-
estng volume entitled "Unce Sans Medal OF
| Honor: Some of the Noble Deeds for which the
Medal has been Awarded, Described by Those who
| Have Won It--ls6l-lS6G" New York: q. p. Put
nam's Sons) Many fthe volunteers of our Civil War
must have felt regret that we have not something
like the Victoria Cross, or the Cross OF the Legion
OF Honor. How inucn these rewards OF vaOr have
done for the English and French armies can never
service every possible incentive ought to he offered
TO incite both officers and men TO their utmost en-
deavor The Medal of Honor Is in our service the
counterpart OF these famous decorations. An ac-
count Of the deeds hy which these meSlas nave been
gained of course embraces the most striking acts OF
gallantry which came to the knowledge of the au-
thorties. In rescuing these incidents from beneath
the dust of the oiicial records Gen. Rodenbough
has produced most interesting and useful volume.
For sale by 4. $. Witherbee n Co.