Omaha daily bee., 1892-04-04

appearance for the first time this month In
their Introductory the editors say that tney
owe no apology for its birth and they do not
mean to make any for It, They also state
that they will not disgrace literature by pub
fishing the products of people VINO merely
sign their names to articles written by others,
but 1t is their purpose TO present their read
ers with the best BRAIN work to be had Ihey
further announce that they will not encroach
upon tho domain OF the ewspapers by pub
fishing mere news nor do they intend TO enter
tho precincts sacred to books. In word 1T
is their intention to make the Literary North
west magazine in the proper sense OF the
term. There are some excellent contribu-
tlons in the initial number and III the quality
OF the contents Is kept as high as that OF tho
first issue this periodical should be literally
supported
That "Helen's Babies" by John Habber-
ton is great favorlte with the reading pub-
lie is plainly shown in the fact that the 230th
edition has just been published by 7. Il. Pot
erson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. 1t is
not difficult to comprehend the reason this
unique volume has attained such popularity.
1t treats of a subject with which we are all
OF us more or less familiar and 1T contains
more genuine fun in its pages than, perhaps,
any other work of similar kind that has
issued from the press within the past decade.
AS picture OF child-life it is unequaled and
in lnfantile matters "Helens Babies" once
read will not easily be forgotten.
Tho Ladies' Home journal for April is par
tlcularly rich in good reading and more then
ever does it meet the demand for Journal of
its character. Mrs. Gladstone, wife of the
"Grand Old Man." begins the first of a series
of articles, "Tints From q Mothers Life"
in this number, which comes to gladden. the
hearts of thousands in its Easter cover of
pink. Eugene Field contributes an exquisite
poem, The Singing in Gods Acre. which
is made the frontispiece of the number, beau
tifully illustrated by w. Hamilton Gibson.
Aud then to give additional interest TO the
poem, Mr.. John Ballantyue writes of Mrs.
Eugene Field In the series of "Unknown
Wives of Well Known Men," There are
other and Just as intereg ting articles scat
tered throughout the number, making it one
of the very best issues since the paper began
to be household necessity.
Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly for April
is, as usual, very attractive, the frontspiece,
| entitled Beauties being quite work of art.
An intensely interesting article on Critics of
the Dead" is furnished by Marc +. NalletJe
aud "The Foil of Philosophers" by Oliver
Harper, Will be found well worth reading.
Another paper of more than passing interest
is 'Some Representative American Drama
tlsts," by Arthur Hornblow. The illustra-
tions which accompany Phebo Natts capital
contribution on Some North German
Towns" are above the average. Chelsea
and Its Literary Associations" by Neil Mac
donald, is brimful of fascinating remnis-
| cences of English writers, and "Chil and
| Modern Naval Warfare" Is u very timel
| article, which will doubtless be widely rea
| at this time.
'Of the making of books there is no end"
| Solomon is reported to have remarked sew
| eral centuries ago, but If he had lived in
| these fin de steele days he would probably
| have used some stronger expression III regard
to the extensive output of periodical litera-
| tnr IN Nov 4 Mara mi, ic = that ~, ~,
| of yet another nspirant for literary renown
| 1t Is published at Atchison, Kan. and is
| very creditable little production. The initial
| number opens with an excellent article by Il.
! M. Manley on THE Tribulations of Mr.. Sun
flower" and is followed by a sensible paper
by A. j. Harwi on "Win Manufacturing Pay
in the West2" Among the other contributors 5
are DR.. w. w. Campbell, John M Cain,
law department conducted by H. M. jackson,
and it Is very ably edited by w. II. Wynn,
assisted by four associate editors.
The Manual of American Water Works for
| 1891, edited by Nj. n. Baker, Ph. b., has just
| been issued by the Engineering News Pub
! lIshing company, Tribune building, New
York. This manual was intended, and has
| proven 10 be, for those interested in water
| works just what Poors manual of Rail
roads, is to railway men; In addition it con-
| tains much valuable matter for engineers
| and water works officials.
| The growth OF water works in this Coun-
| try has been wonderful. In 1900 tnero were
| but sixteen works in the United States. In
! 1891 there were 2,037. Quite as wonderful
have been the changes i'll relative ownership,
| fifteen of the sixteen works in 1900 having
been owned by private companies against
one owned by the city in which it was
located, while il 1891 there were /, l50 private,
against S1S public works. This issue of the
| Manual contains interesting descriptions OF
| 2,l32 water works, ,037 of which are i'll the
United States and ninety-iive in Canada.
'',The Little Minister" by j. w. Barrie is
a powerful novel and the plot Is we'll con
ceived and ingeniously worked out. j. haru
| ly can be ranked as high "a Window in
Thrums' as a literary production. 1t ought
to be very popular with the Scotch and
those familiar with the Doric dialect as it is
full of it, which is rather drawback as re-
CARDS those who only understand the En-
| glish language. However it is a charming
| work and well worth reading. Publls he'd by
United States Book company, $50 Worth
street, New York.
| QUESTIONS AND iSSVERS.
| pAUJINE oh Mn nrn9 n n the Editor pf