The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-02-04
The February Magazines,

The February Magazines.
The Magazine Of american History is Il
Washington number, timely memorial OF
the great Father" whom Americans should
more often think of than they do in these
times. There is readable sketch by the
editor, % unpublished letters by Washing
ton, copied from originals In the British
Museum, a paper on Washington as an
angler by George II. Moore, which he ded
icated TO President Cleveland, whose char
istic response is also included Major
General Schuyler Hamilton contributes ar
able paper on "The Stars in our Flag In
which he refutes the idle story that these
stars were adopted from the coat of arms OF
Washington. Mr.. f. w, B. Canning con
tributes "A Memorial Of the Revolution.
| There are numerous short contributions OF
curious and interesting WashingtOnia. The
frontispiece represents Washington in
full velvet costume, a copy Of Stuart's
great painting, and there is a copy of Jas
Peale's in the number The editor in the
opening article gives some welcome infor-
nation about the various Washington por-
| traits, and also sCme vivid pictures OF
Washington's social life in New York as
our first President
The american Mag0zGne contains its gen
eral excellence in matter and letter press
and is for February as at all times q very
readable periodical. The opening article
is by the naturalist, G. F. Holder, "The
travel; another OF the same order being
lOXley's finland Ocean Of the North" the
notes of an exploring trip TO Hudson Bay
Other interesting articles are on Early
American Railways, The University Thea.
tire, Boston Artists and their Studios, Early
Development of Great Composers, The
Army Mule, stories, poems &c.
The Forum is particularly valuable for
February, containing rs II does Hon. W, ID
Kelly's "How Projection Protects" and
Senator Cullom's, "The Government and
the Telegraph" and Murat Halstead's
"The Torrid Zane of our Politics." all sub
jec's of the highest interest and concern at
this time. They alone make the issue a
| valuable one, and one that nine tenths of
the thinking men of the country will (or
should) read. This editor does not agree in
any point with Kelley or Halstead, believ-
ing their premises are wrong and their con.
illusions false. Nevertheless, that demo.
Gratis may see in advance the points OF the
republican attack on the democratic party
Other timely topics are What Shall the
Public Schools Teach? The Sky by Prof.
Iyndall, My Religious Experience,-an
explanation Of the unusual change of faith
by man in middle life from Professionalism
to the Roman Catholic Faith; The Causes
of Irish Discomfort, Impediments TO Our
Domestic Commerce, &c. One cannot but
express his perpetual admiration of this
excellent journal, as no important public
uucSkioll tcidp'o Comment VI NiottoSlDb,
from all sides, in its pages.
The February number of The Populdr
Science M0nthly is at "high-water mark" in
respect to the interest and solid merit of Its
articles. The list is opened with ope Of
ex. President Whites New Chapters In
the Warefare of Science" which exhibits
some Of the most curiously absurd views
that have been set forth by theologians re
specting geological phenomena; Lieuten-
ant Charles G. Rogers, of the United States
Navy, presents an account, with colored
map, of the progress that has been made
In the work of the Panama Canal, which
have been prepared after observations
made by himself on the spot In THE
Economic Outlook-Present and Prospec-
tive''-the eighth of his Economic Dis
turbance Series David A. Wells finds
that, in spite of the friction which the
rapid progress of civilization and growth Of
commercial enterprise necessarily involve,
the comforts and vel. being of man have
vastly increased, are increasing, and are
likely TO continue to increase. Other articles
are: The Moon and the Weather, Animal
Agency in Soil making, The Time 1t takes
to Think, What American biologists Have
Done for Evolution, Emotions vs. Health
In Women, Astronomy with an Opera