The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-27
Magazine and Other Notes.


Fl. f. Krehbiel, the musical critic of the
New York, Tribune" has written for the
January "Scribner" an article on "Bay-
reuth Revisited" which expresses the dis
content of the best American musical au-
thnritips who visited the festival last sum-
mer. Mr.. krehblel says on this point:
A decadence IN the festival may be charged
aud Its nature inquired into without going so far
as to charge that the mission of Bayreuth has
family of Wagner. The festivals have
indeed changed in purpose since 1876,
but the change was suggested by Wagner. They
have degenerated artstcally. but this deca-
dence, inevitable as soon as the death OF Wagner
been FASTENED by the assumption of supreme
authority on the part of his widow.
An important literature feature of
"Harper's Magazine" for 1892 will be the
publication for the first time of six papers
by Mr.. James Russell Lowell on the .'Old
English Dramatists." In this, his last liter
airy work. Mr.. Lowell returned to the love
of his youth, mis- earliest studies having
been in that field; and we shall have in
these papers the result of his ripest thought
on a subject which profoundly interested
the three greatest critics of our century
Lamb. Hazlitt and Colerldge. These studies
are not only ex IMPLIES of the best criticism,
but are, as Professor Charles Eliot Norton
deSignatcs them, genuine pieces of good
literature" They abound also in passages
of intimate personal interest, refeXes of
Mr.. Lowell'S moods and of the impressions
occasioned by incidents of his later years
The Overland Monthly for January is
presented in cream and gold cover, very
pretty combination The leading article in
this issue is an illustrated one entitled The
Mission Bells" from the pen of Charles
Howard Shinn, and is most interesting
treatment of this subject Kate Douglass
Wiggin charmingly tells of "a Day in
Town" and Down a Mountain
Flume" Is described by John Brayshaw
Kaye, while photographs of the moon, made
with the great Lick telescope, and explana-
tory text is a contribution from Professor
E. S. Holden. This number is one of the
most entertaining ever issued from the office
of The Overland"
The January number of Frank Leslie's
Popular Monthly" is the holiday issue of
this always welcome magazine. 1t appears
in an Illuminated cover, and as usual is
filed with highly interesting sketches. a
number of them illustrated, and there is no
lack of stories. One article that is of uni
versal interest is the one on 1.-The Darda-
nelles aud the European Equilibrium" by
John Laird Wilson. 1t treats in q very
comprehensive manner OF the straits which
is the marine gateway to Constantlnople,
and which to-day is the most auxiously
guarded waterway in the world.
Two literary features are presented IN the
January issue Of ''St. Nicholas" in the
shape of serials. One of these, when l
Was Your Age" is by Laura b. Richards,
daughter of Ms. Julia Ward Howe, who
in this story gives a record of her own home
life and that of her sisters. 1t is written
in style that brings to mind Miss Louisa
NJ. Alcort's Little Women" The other is
1.-Two Boys and a Girl" by Lieutenant
Robert Howe Fletcher. There are num-
Der Of articles on variety of topics and
not one is uninteresting reading.
The Commonwealth" heretofore pub
| Iished in Denver, Colo, has changed its
| place of publication and henceforth will be
| issued from Chicago. The December num-
| Der is the first issued from the new place OF
| publication, and it presents an addition in
| the shape of number of finely executed
| pictures. The initial article is one on the
| Worlds Fair, from the pen of Hon. Thomas
| b. Bryan, and this is followed by dozen
more of a very interesting nature and in
| keeping with the idea Of the publishers
namely, placing Western writers in advance.
| The January wide Awake" comes with
store of good things for young and old
| that are as entertaining as they are varied.
| 1t brings to its readers stories by Molly Ell
lott Seaws!l. G. Adams, Captain G. A. Cur