New-York tribune., 1886-04-07
SOME APRIL MAGAZINES.

tue Dest o n WHICH one vi
Alabama's sailors dcscribea her work q British Con-
fcderate pirate For pirate abe WAS II this seemingly
Impartial and picturesque narrative be crediteda
pirate in the scoundrssm Of her crew. IN utter lack OF
discipline in deliberate robbery OF pines aud in most
Of her methods OF attack Witness the cowardly fashion
in which the Hateras disposed of-a fashion which
recalls thousand stories OF the Spanish Msin so hacK
neyed wast artful dodgiug. There ia not the slight
flavor Of chivary about this story oil the
Alabama; it 10 one far from creditabe to the "neu
trai" Nation which allowed her to sail under c or TO
the brave aud mistaken Americans w1o vere worthy OF
better representative than the bearer OF real nvis
ible black nag. The account OF the abamas cruise
aud combats given By her executive officer Kel. has
many amusing touches OF the old Southland" style.
ludcrous part Of 1t Is the inflated speech In whch
Scmmes called upon his patriotic crew TO meet tue
Krarsargc-he being composed not of Confederate
heroes but OF European (mosty Britis sailors OF ue-
ciedy rurtsnly sort 1t may be questioned whether
one gentleman floating in the at the
end OF the engagement did really utter this rather
pompous remark TO another in a similar case: "Mr.
Kcll take my life preserver sir; you are almost ex-
hausted -; but a good deal must be granted to the
freaks memory and the necessities Of narrative The
frontispece of the MAGAZINE IL interesting ana un-
familiar portrait OF Lougfellow. The accompanying
article by Mrs. Fields has q good deal of femihhe
"gush" but presents. on the whole. lovabe pctnre OF
the poet. The article the laaor question is made
quate be compared 10 suggestiveuess TO MI
Carnege's pap-r in The Foruni-a paper from which
THE TkIBUNE has already made copious extracts.
OF the remaining articles IN The Forum, Colonel HiE-
gsons account OF his education will be most attractive
people of literary tastes lis description OF the crude
hide bound and unsystematc Harvard methods OF his
youth is full OF interest for teacher OF to-day. We
all suffered he says from the fact that we were not
encouraged even permitted to do thorough WORK III
anything"
We lived intellectually from hand to month month.
from book to mouth. which is worse II was lament
able 10 see man like President James Walker. who
might have grasped our young minds ana trained them
oeHpore the hard problems OF ethics and so
Obliged to sit pencil hand while we recited the words
of the book he meanwhile giving half the power oi MS
fine intellect to deciding whether little pcrformance
should he valued at seven" parks or al "eight we
had extended examinations obglng us 10 review our
whole know ledge given subject; we wrote no theses
such give student the opportunity If only FOR
his life, what real research means Our
study ofIn and Greek might or might not Dr accurate
S% ,O wss wa r. broush to bear on
US the accomplished FELTON, attempted few lectures on
the mere labor o. canc up for recitation large
and awarding t. the little need Of marks WAS quite
enough for min. AT graduation I could read smpe
Greek Latin easily enough and this was something
but OF the world of ancient art or manners We all knew
little. mad useful lesson on this subject not long
after my graduation from lively young giri; whose
training though brief-r had been comprehensive
We looking at small casts OF Greek frlezes.
and was kind enough as became young Harvard
alumDus to explain them TO her. called her attention
to graceful hcures Of the riders in the bas-re
lief and said strange IT was that the Greeks who
define human beings WE'LL should have made their
kor.es 90 clumsy-wh such thick necks. said. " But.
said she did not the Thessasn horses have those hck
necks Alas did know that tue Greek horses
came from Thesssly
The cleverest thing in LippncOn-'e,ting aside Mr..
Eorriss serials Miss Baylors lively sketch of "Aunt
sukey" old colored woman. In his frank contriou
ton TO the Experience Meeting" Mr.. Julian Haw
thorne remarks tue true rewards of literature for
men Of limited calibre the valuable friendships and
the associations which 1t brings about; aud he
sdds: "Tbe present generation lin America. at least
does strike containing much literary genius.
The number OF undersized persons is large and active
we hardly Lew n pOssiDity of heroic
ure l cannot sufficiently admire the pains We
at to make our work-embodyiug the
aim 1t does-immacuate in form. Form
without idea is nothing, and we have ideas. If one
idea 1t would create It's own form,
as easily as doesa flower or plsnet think we take
ourselves seriously postenty will not be nearly
grave over u.s.
The English illustrated Magasine is a moiel OF It's
kind this lnonth. fresh, rehned aud tasteful new
serial by W. L. Norris begins in charming fashion
which recall. his most skilful story "Matrimouy and
another serial opens with almost as much promise
delicious group Of illustrations accompanies the "spec
tators record of Sir Rogers Sunday experiences and
there fascinating little sketch of Dorothy Osborne
witty beautiful girl who became the wife Of Sir
William Temple.
The Worth mcrcon Reriews full Of interesting articles
Madam Adam heads the list with an account OF Gam
betta's electoral Next a letter from General
Grant President Lincoln, written In July 1868 rec
ommending the promotion Of sherman and Mcpherson.
Abraham Payne and W. T. Shofiold discuss consutu-
tional reform Rho Island. Anna Ella Carroll tells
curious story about the Plan Of the Tennessee Cam
pagn" Governor Martin adduces mass OF facts and
figures showing the Progress OF Kansas" Mrs Pavy
employs late husbands journal an instrument OF
Ofeu.Ive warfare upon Greedy. Henry George has
onesioed article American Land
lordism." Annta Lal Roy. native OF India, follows
with bitter wild and extravagant philippe entitled
"Engsh Rule in India" Senator ingalls, discusses "F Ma
tonal Aid 10 Common Schools, opposing the Blair bill
OIL constitutional and other grounds but suggesting.
perhaps u compromise, the introduction OF National
normal schools facsimile is given Of Stewards diplo
matte dispatch the English attitude at the outbreak
OF the War OF the Rebellion. The interest OF this publ
cation consists evidence it furnishes of the mod
ifcatons made by Lincoln in the document, and the
strong good manifested IN his changes
Mr. IL. c. Lodges agreeable II not brilliant paper on
Gouverneur Morris properly the leader in the list OF
Atlantic articles. Mr.. Lodges opinions concerning Nor
fis are lust and discriminating enough lie might have
treated his subject with and sparkle but for
a decorous little biographical study 1t does very well In
deed and the extracts from Moriss diary will amuse
those who have read tina. clever record for them
selves Miss Jewetts character sketch has more humor
than she has accustomed expect from her and
Is indeed best thing she dOue In this direction
Mr. Hawthorne contributes paper on Problems OF the
Scarlet Letter.. paper admirable In thought and style
The Maga.ine Of American History has sttractiv
collection articles little heavier than usual but none
the for that The first paperon the old Copper
Niue prison at simsbury. Connectic ut-wil interest
those are the perusa Of political and
Eihilistc records
Mr. Hale's article vacation Schools in Boston "
will fasten attention OF 81 Nicholas sture readers
for there the Usual bright stories and
suyarcoated bits Of information Mrs Burnetts story
Is sentimental but pretty
Wide Amake is usual. thing OF infinite riches In a
great deal OF 1t is full Of good stories, both
serious and gay