The Sunday herald., 1886-12-05
LITERARY NOTES.

Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont is often said to be tho
"best talkcr," the most delightful rdconteur in
American society. IL certainly has proved fOrtu-
nate thing for the Vide .i,rdke magazine that its
editors secured her as contributor and ally. When
they began the publication of her "SOuvenirs OF My
Time" TWO years ago some doubts were expressed,
in view of the highly finished style of the articles
and their political, historic, and social subjec-mat
ter, to whether no they were not rather above
the chdrens heads.n Some little time ago the mag
aziue managers resolved to test the tastes and get
at the opinions of subscribers as to the various fea
lures OF Wide A,rdke. Accordingly, on the Occa-
sion OF adopting their new cover in green, god and
rose-color-a radical departure from magazine COW
type TO their readers Did they like the new cover,
or did they not7 And what features Of the maga-
zine did they like, and what did they disapprove7
Then they learned what was thought of Mrs. Frc
mont Children clamOred, and parents begged for
more articles from Mrs. Fremont. II certainly was
very gratifying to know the magazine had not mis-
Madame Recamier, or of Napoleons old marshas,
or of the young Queen Victoria at the opera, or
night in wild California Inn, Of school-days in
early French st. Louis, or chdvisits to President
Jackson at theWhiie House, or the wedding reception
Of a Danish prince. or the bridal pageant Of 1.-THE the
dent Van Buren In Nirginia-all has been enjoyed,
and endless series OF the same Kind asked for.
eoce s or r' to" Se' r H and n
structive family reading for old and young" was
the verdict Of hundreds OF letters Mrs. Fremont is
his Memoirs but she has written four papers for
Wide A'rake for 1887; three of them are "IaTy and
Buster" stOricssOrleH OF her Shetland ponies and
al "miSed up" with our Civil War. The fourth is
"My Day In Copenhagen with Hans Andersen"
The Magazine or american History closes Its
sixteenth volume with an exceptionally readable
number. The frOniisplecc this month IL an admra-
bile portrait of Mai. Gen. Halleck, from the paint
ing In possession of Gen. George W. Cullum; 1t ac-
companies a paper OF much interest, entitled
Observation-Disclosures: IIalleck and Grant" by Gen.
James B. Fry. The number has holiday flavor,
two of Its papers relating to the Thanksgiving
festival-"Onc New England Thanksgiving" by the
editor, agreeably illustrated with old-fashloned
thanksgiving scenes, and "a thanksgiving Le-
gend," from the pen Of Gilbert Nash, the poet The
Shakespeare Society. of New York, and "ohIo as
GsSe es diaae j. I'll aes
p. r. de Gournay, Will also be read with genuine
appreciation. "rhe swamp Angel" the name given
to the gun which IN 1863 was used In firing on
Charleston, Is tho title to notable paper by
William S. Stryker, AdIntant General Of New
Jersey illustrated with portraits of the officers on
cludes his interesting series "From Cedar Mountain
to Chanty:" John Culinary Shea, LII. D., con-
Quesne," and lIOratiO King writes OF "I.ncOln and
Mcclellan" The departments are crowded with
authentic history the life, animation, Interest, and
intensity It has 30 long needed. Published mt 90
Lafayette Place, New York City.
The colorcd study In the Art An,dteuu for De-
cembcr IL n marvellous fac-simile OF an exquisite
agure In water colors, SIN Dreamland," by Made
leinc Lemare, tho famous Partisan flower painter.
1t represents beautiful girl who has fallen asleep
In quaint old armchair; the big old.fashioned
book In her lap is evidently responsible for her
slumbers. pleasant notice OF Nine. Lemaire II
accompanied by several fine Illustrations of her
skill In nower and figure drawing. There ia hO
| day profusion OF decorative designs. The articles
on n0wer painting are concluded, and new series
on fruit painting Ia begun. An excellent descrip.
tion of "wet" watercolor painting s given by II. w
Ranger, an expert In that form OF art; there are
valuable hints for the simple decoration of unadornet
apartments, useful articles on college fraternity
| lodge and l.enox county house, on American sil
verware, and on church yesimenis, and the us'ia
| and well-nlled minor departments. II any reader
| does not yet know the Art amateur, this Christ
mas number Ia capital one To begin its acgnain
| tancc with. Montague Marks, publisher, 90 UnioI
square, New York.
The many readers OF Mrs. Alex. Mcveigh Mcrl
| charming stories, SHADY Gays Prldc," "Iaure
vane," Lancastcrs Choice." and others, Will b,
pleased TO learn that she has completed move
which far surpasses anything she has ever written
The story IL highly cmotional full Of dramatic Incl
| dents, and pathetic almost to fault. Mrs. Mille
has crowded the pages OF this her latest production
with some OF her most stirring pen-plctures, such nj
| she alone eau draw. The whole book is full OF rea
/ men anu women, actlng ntly their part IN life'
| shifting drama. Az Mrs. Miller receives $4,000
year direct from her stories and a royalty on he
hooks besides. she Is one Of the best paid literar
| women in the world "Ninas Periln IL published b.
| q. w. Dillingham;, New York, successor 10 a. W
Carleton Co, and for sale In Washington by A. =
| Wiiherbee \ Co.
The Christmas number OF The Book Buyer (Ney
| YORK: Charles Scribncrs Sons) Is extremely hand
some and Interesting. II coniains reviews of IN
most notable books for the holdays-books whcl
every year grow more sumpluOus- u prOfusOi
OF Illustrations enables the reader To see what III,
| artists have been doing for the booksellers. IN
BOoh BhDpr IL one OF the pleasaniest OF visitors Il
he library table.
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