The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-30
FEBRUARY MAGAZINES.

Readers with no literary pretensions who are
conscious of a dissatisfaction with magazine
poetry are apt to hesitate in the expression of
such views. feeling. mo6estly, that the fault may
lie in their own inferior powers of appreciation.
These persons may experience qualification in
knowing that competent critic as Richard
Henry Stoddard has put their own vague dis
taste into words Speaking of the poetical con-
tributions in the February Atlantic, Mr.. Stoddard
says:
1.-THE fault that we find with most of the maya
zine verse of the time. English we'll Ameri-
can. is that it is poetical without being poetry.
1t lacks defniteness it lacks sufficient motive,
and it lacks las a rulel human interest 1t is
seldom or never written from real feeling, from
strong personal emotion. What the readers of
our magazines want supposing they want
poetry at all. which we do not BELIEVES not
subjective verse, but objective poems. What a
eodsend to the best of them a lyric like The
Burial of Sir John Moore would be, or The
Battle of the Baltic or Lady Clara We're de
Vere.' What do they care about Carnations in
Winter, concerning which there four STAN
zas here by Bliss Carman; about The Gifts OF
the Fates.' concerning which Mr.. Paul Hermes
has written over two pages Of very blank verso;
about No Songs in Winter which Mr. Thomas
Bailey Aldrich has noted in thirteen lines; or
about 'Endymion,' in which MIR. James Russell
Lowell does not celebrate the Latinian shepherd,
might not unnaturally Imagine. but
writes mystical comment on Titian's Sacred
and Profane Love'l Metricsl writings like
these are not I'VE venture to think what tho
readers of magazines want, though they are Of
fered to them month after month. and year
after year. ad lbitum and ad nauseum.'
Whenever Lowell comes under the condem-
nation of SO unsparing judge. the genera
reader may at least have the courage of his con-
victions in regard to minor poets.
No such criticism holds good with the prose
contributions which, as usual, are of merit
that leaves no room for complaint Tho Sec
ond Son." Mr. Aldrichs and Mrs Oliphantss
rial, finally reaches end and leaves the curious
reader uncertain as ever where the work of one
pen began and the other ended. A serial of
deep interest is L. II. Houses Japanese story,
'Yone Santo." The dissection Of the missona-
ries who are there chiefly to look down upon
the heathen," is rather cruelty but very deftly
done One of the most interesting papers of
the number is a study of Madame Neckar, by
James Brech Perkins
The Marriage Celebration In Europe" by
Frank Gaylord Cook, Is an article which shows
the result of much study and research in it's
preparation
the biographical sketch of Felix Buhot. the
French artist. which opens the February mum
Der of Harper. is accompanied by wonderfully
faithful and effective reproductions of number
of his etchings The frontspiece. IAN English
Jetty." is in particular hne specimen of the
eneraver's art pleasant sketch. descriptive
of Quebec as it is to-day, is contributed by G.
II. Farnham, and profusely illustrated. f. L.
Hagadorn writes of 'Shp Railways-Ancient
and Modern" in article that shows the result
of careful study of the subject. ''Ramblines In
the West" is chapter of Gen Randolph Mar
cy's gossipy "reminiscences of army life. In $50
cialism IN London by j. III. Rosny a glimpse
Is had at the class of people which GO to make
up the communistic mobs that gather now and
then in that city. The notable feature of this
issue OF the magazine is Senator Edmnnds's
paper on The Tariff Not for Revenue Only
but for Profession and DEVELOPMENT" 1t is
reply to the free-trade article written by Henry
Watterson in the January number. and al
though that effort is unduly digniied by SO
serious q response. the paper is strong and
plain presentation of the benefits and neces-
sity OF protection that ADLER advocate of free
trade theories than Mr.. Watterson must be
called upon to refute the argument. Whatever
may be the opinion as TO the merits Of
Mr.. Howells fiction. there 10 no room Tor dispute
as the charm of his descriptive writing. "a
Little Swiss Solourn" mingles accounts of
everyday life with bits of historical lore in
way that is altogether entertaining. The fiction
of the number consists of William Blacks serial.
sIn far Lochabsrn and excellent short
story. Louisa Pallant," by Henry James. 9th
ar articles are. Ion the Outposts" sketch by
Edmund Kirke, of frontier life in Tennessee
and Kentucky during the revolution; The Amer