The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-20
AMONG TIE M1GAZINES.

The APPEAL is happy to number the At
tdntic Monthly among the regular visitors to
its literary circle. II occupies a unique po-
sition among the magazines published in the
English language and has held its sway with
scholarly and thinking people without the
Fictitious aid OF the engraver's art, TO which
its great rivals deseryedly owe much Of their
popularity. In the number for January,
which fully sustains the high rank which the
atlantic has won, we notice with pleasure
short story "Mr. Tommy Dove" by Mrs.
Margaret Deland in which the author dis
plays the same tenderness OF feeling and del
icacy of touch, wherein pathos and humor lie
gracefully side by side, which make her
novel, 'John Ward Preacher" at once so
strong and so charming a story. Mrs. De-
lands great power rs story writer lies
in her perfect naturalness and simplicity,
which, like the flowers in her cold Gar
den" breathing poetic aroma, are
yet unconscious Of their perfume
and beauty. The article, "Studies Of Fac
tory Life: The American And The Mill" by
Lille Chace Wyman, suggests a dull and
colorless phase OF life which, however, the
writer must have made the subject Of con
siderable thought and inquiry 10 be able to
present such information and facts In so
interesting shape. Mrs. Wymau explains
how the American has gradually drfted
out Of and away from mill work. which the
Irish finding the mill door "wide open"
walked in and took tenacious hold Of She
gives more than one reason for this and de-
MES that the Irish were Tin the true sense Of
the word imported by the manufacturers.
They were not sent for aud they were not
taken as has been sometimes carelessly
alleged for the sake Of lowering wages.
They came OF their own accord and the
general tendency of wages has been upward
during the last eighty years" In Mr.. John
Fishes historic sketch Of "Washingtons
Great Campaign OF i77G" the events
Of that exciting period were never
more strikingly told, nor have the
military valor and achievements Of our
great and glorious Washington ever been more
brilliantly narrated. The student Of Ameri-
can history will find his knowledge Of this
episode In the Revolutionary war entertain
ingly refreshed aud strengthened. The
vivid pen portrait OF another General the
great German military leader, which Philip
DymOnd presents In his contribution, Some
Character sites OF Won Moltkc." Is life.
like aud perfect sketch Of H. kind. Like a
bold drawing, only three or four strong lines
seemed 10 have been necessary to make n
faithful likeness Every liber is laid bare,
every hcart-throb Is heard. every feature
and shade Of expression clearly stamped and
eliminated. In drawing comparisons be-
tween some OF the worlds greatest military
chieltains, Mr. Dymond says that our own
Stonewall jackson and Mural were cxclu-
sivcly battlefield officers, " but won Moltkc
Is all the commandrr-inchicf; the battle.
field Is not his arena the laldcr Of hi- des-
tiny dill not rest there; ths front Of the con.
diet has not usually known him" The
atlantic contains nothing more fascinating
or brilliant among ~ contributions. Mr.
Frank Gay lorl Cook ON "a Difficult Problem
IN Politics EXPIRE S. some strong and timely
ideas on the llws Of marriage aud divorce,
subject now as,tatins the public mind. and
from the present condition Of confusion aud
conflict between the different States In this
rcgari proves 'thc necessity Tor a PROMPT
aud thorough reform Of modern State lcgis.
laiion" Mr. Cook advocates the plan sug.
gcstcd by President wooi.cy. Of Yale Uni
vcrsity. IN lSsl. that uniformity" between
the legislatures Of the different States would
be the best mean, Of bringing about the ~.
formation needed Thomas Bailey Aldrich
was never more touchingly dramatic than In
the poem "Alec Ycaion's Snn, Gloucester,
August i52)," written with a planiivc
grace peculiar to this writer. whose pen has
the power 10 draw tears and invoke SMILES at
one and the same time.