The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-08-02
THE MAGAZINES
SCRIBNER S.

The August number of Scribner's
Magazine is a fiction number, contain
ing contributions from RObertI Louis
Stevenson, Henry James, Sarah Orne
Jewett, Octave Thanet, f. j. Stimscn,
and Maria Blunt-a very notable array
of story writers. There are, in addition
two richly illustrated articles of unusual
Importance.
The Railway Series-which has been
received with the warmest approval of
the general public as well as of railroad
men of all grades-is continued in this
issue with an acute and luminous &C
count of the evolution and present
wonderful perfection of American Loco.
motives and Cars. The author, NJ. n
Forney, Secretary of the Master Car
Builders Association, is one of the most
widely known railroad men in the
United States. He has written from a
very full knowledge, and has used
crisp and lucid style which makes an
intricate subject perfectly clear. The
opening pages of the article are brief
historical narrative, embracing the
stages 10 the development Of the modern
Decapod from the primitive locomotive
built by Peter Cooper. How steam is
tive are then explained. The question
of the number, SIZE and position of the
driving wheels with reference to the
speed and pulling capacity of the loco
motive is carefully discussed; the half
hundred attachments in the locomotive
cab by which the engineer works the
machine are indicated; and the care
which must be taken to keep it i'll per
~ Il. A l.. ..E.
of the development of the pace cor car
from the old stage coach concludes the
article.
Among the forty illustrations are
number of antique types of locomotives;
selection from the best modern pat
terms; and views of round-house and
large locomotive works which are both
accurate and picturesque. Blum, Wood
ward and Burns are among the artists
who made the drawings.
There are a score or illustrations,
showing some of the most romantic
scenery in this country, in Prof. N. s.
Shaler's paper describing Rivers and
Valleys. The practical problems con
nected with valleys like those of the
Mississippi and Ohio are reviewed, max
ing this among the most entertaining of
Professor Shaler's papers on the surface
of the earth.
The Fate of the Georgiana by Maria
Blunt is love story of the Rhode Island
boast with a beautiful heroine who
figures in the graceful illustrations made
by W. L. Taylor and q. II. Woodbury..
The story turns on an exciting episode
which is described with fine feeling.
Robert Louis Stevenson tells in light
and humorous way the story of an anus
ing adventure with a French provincial
magstate-a sketch in a new vein that
adds still further to the variety of his
papers in the Magazine.
In Otto the Knight, Octave Thanet
(the author of The Day of the Cyclone),
gives dramatic account of the events
which followed a dynamite outrage
growing out of labor dispute in
Arkansas.
A sympathetic sketch of New Eng
land rural character, full of delcacy
and beauty. is entitled Fair Day, by
Sarah Orne Jewett.
The scene of the serial, First Harvests,
by F. j. Stimson, changes to the coal re-
gions of Pennsylvania and the third part
of Henry James's novelette,, A London
Life, brings the characters into very
complex situation. The story will be |
concluded IN September.
There are poems by Helen Gray Cone, |
A. Lampman and Thomas P. Conant. |
HARPER's.
The contents of the August Number |
are unsurpassed by those of any previous
issue. In solid aud light reading; in
poetry and prose; in letter press and il
ha haaf 10 1,rnuf1aA nnn g
e. A. Abbey's charming illustrations
full of delicacy, feeling
and life.
The initial article is a continuation Of
Lafcadio Hearn's description of his
Trip to the West Indies
Much of it is devoted to depicting the
Lerrors and the appalling beauty of
tropical forests, but instruction is also
impaired in the paragraphs relating to
The natives. The visit to Martinique
will revive memories Of the beautiful
Empress Josephine, Ten splendid illus
.rations add TO the effect of the article.
There is a just amount of fiction in
he Number-viz. the continuation OF
Mr.. Blacks In Far Lochaber; of Annie
I{ilburn, Mr., w. d. HowelIs's charming
serial; an ardent love story called Pride
and Pride, by Mrs. Jane G. Austin, and
he final instalment Of II. Rider Hag-
CARDS Maiwa's Revenge. This last is
and fully llustrated-some
d the drawings taking up full page.
The articles on Holstein Eriesian Cat
lie S. Hoxie. describes the rapidly with
which the COW Of Dutch extraction has
won the heart Of the American dairy
farmer, and gives the reasons therefor.
The Holstein's popularity seems well
earned, for the record shows that for
producing milk she cannot be beaten by
any COW in The world. Three illustra-
lions give an excellent idea Of the ap
of these cattle.
The Montagnais, by q. Ii. Farnbam,