The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-06-29
Literary Notices,
Thoughtful essays and interesting de-
riptiye articles are very happily mingled

Ihoughtful essays ana interesting ue-
scriptive articles are very happily mingled
In the Popular Science Monthly for July.
Prof. w. G. Sumner of Yale, opens the
number with discussion of the question,
"What Is Civil Liberty In which he re-
views the earlier views OF civil liberty,
and points out the dangers which now
threaten II. A grimly fascinating subject
Is treated by Charles w. Pilgrim, NJ. D.,
Of the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, n.
y ;, who contributes "a Study of Suicide"
giving the usual motives and methods Of
self-murder, and discussing Its connection
with insanity. Accounts are given OF two
little known families of living things, with
pictures showing their curious and grace
full forms. One of these Is "Sea Butter.
flies" described by Carl Vogt; and the
other Is Fungi Forms" by
Prof. T. II. Mcbride. The debate over
agnosticism as continued In paper enti-
tied christianity and Agnosticism, by
Rev. DR.. Henry WAGE, who undertakes to
show that professor Huxley's latest argu
ments are evasive and fsllacieus, and also
courteously criticises Mrs. Ward, the au-
thor of "Robert Elsmere." IAN EXplana
nation to Prof. Huxley" by the Bishop of
Peterboroug, accompanies DR.. WAGES ar
ticle. Miss Adele M. Fields gives more OF
her fascinating observations of Chinese
customs, describing this time Farm Life
ia China" Other articles are, Artificial
Propagation of Sea Fishes, Railway Nal.
adjustments, Muscle and Mind, Some Sim
ilations of Medicine, &c.
Following upon the July chapters of
1.-THE Life of Lincoln which, as already
announced, describe the presidents renom-
inatlon and Greely's self-suggested peace
trip to Niagara-there will probably be
only six more installments of this remark
able history In The Century series. 1t is
said that these concluding chapters deal
with the more important and absorbing
personal and political topics, to which
Messrs. Nicholai and Hay bring vast
fund of special Information. Lincoln's
sagacity In dealing with men and measures
land occasionally his humor) come out In
strong relief In the chapters that give the
inside view of the attempt Of the radicals
to defeat the denomination of the Presi-
dent, of the disagreement resulting In
Cabinet changes, Of Chase's appointment
to the chief-justiceship and of the exec
utive dealings with the "copperhead" con-
spiritors at the north. No part of the work
will attract wider attention than the &C.
count of the measures adopted by the
religious denominations in support of the
administration, and of the sympathy and
wisdom with which the president met the
suggestions of the churches. OF the In
terest of the last three installments 1t Is
only necessary to say that they cover the
period from the second inaugural to the
death of Lincoln and the collapse of the
rebellion. Back numbers of The Century
from November, 1886, containing the in
stallments of the Lincoln history are now
all in print and can be supplied.
The July !Scribner is midsummer fic-
tion number, containing seven complete
short stories-How the Derby was Won,
The Rock of Beranger, the Governor, The
Copeland Collection, Story of Lost Car.
The Two Mollies, From Four to Six, all
beautifully illustrated, and an exciting
installment of the The Master of Ballan-
trae; also poems. The Electric Series
is on "The Telegraph" The illustrations
show views of the great Western Union
Operating room, the Commercial Gable
oluCCS, duo udby VI tuC "ohNCi'uA
tons of modern telegraphy. Mr. Buck
ingham explains with remarkable clearness
and interest the duplex and quadruplex
methods: the Wheatstone, chemical-autO-
matte. and stock telegraph instruments;
deep-sea telegraphy, and the methods of
finding breaks in cables; communications
between ships at sea without wire, and
telegraphing from moving trains by Undue
ton.
The Magazine Of american History opens
Its July numper-the beginning of Its
tSenty-second volume-with spirited
d" tory of the Washington Centennial T.
Illustrated in the most unique and pictur-
esque fashion from photographs by anna
tours and other artists, executed during the
progress of the celebration. 1t Is safe to
say that no great public event was ever be.
fore seized In all its interesting particulars
and placed before the popular eye with
such felicitous results. The excellent pa
per is written by the editor, who could not
be otherwise than entertaining, and the
truthful pictures Of the scenes are render
ed doubly attractive and valuable through
the admirable portraits of the distinguish
ed characters In our national life of to-day
in them. The view OF the as
sem blage on the steps of the Subtreasury
building, In Wall street, is the best portrait
work of the kind probably ever achieved,
and every reader will be able to recognize
in the picture the distinguished men pres
ent whose faces are best known This lit.
erary and artistic exploit furnishes won.
dsrful record for permanent preservation
as we'll as charming story, and will prove
a bonanza indeed TO the writers and histo-
rians Of the next Centennial Other pa
pers are" The Discovery of the Mlssiss-
ippi,' Washington and William the 81
lent--a Parallel" The Last Twelve Days
of Majo' Andre" Some Glimpses of
Holland" sketch OF Hon. Robert G..
Winthrop, and short paper on Col. Will
liam S. Smith, the son-in-law OF John Ad.
ans. There are other short articles, and
the Notes furnish fresh and curious data.
The editorial and all the departments
m a ptain .hpir high charactar