Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-15
CURRENT LITERATURE.

The official gazette of all the patriotic hereditary societies, the American His torical Register, has for December its usual attractive contents. It tells with score of pictures, of Lafayette Day" in Philadelphia, when the nations guest visited that city in October, 1924. These monthly articles in the Historical Regis ter relating to Lafayette's visit in 1924 are contributed by members of the pa- trfotic societies, and is a feature of this magazines enterprise entirely it's own. Hon. W. H. Bailey of Houston Tex, con tinues his historical paper on the "Regu- lators of North Carolina" a description of the regulation emeute generally ig- nored by American historians Colonial Patriotism in Song" the title of another article is valuable paper by MT. On- derdonl1 of Chicago on popular versifica- tion before the revolution. The colonial family described this month is Thompson of Connecticut, by Mrs. Marcus Rich ardson of New Orleans As the patriotic societies are particularly busy at this season proceeding" and celebrating, the Proceedings and Celebrations Depart ment" of the Historical Register is un- usually crowded with items of news about the societies. The Historical Reg ister Publishing company. Philadelphia. Terms $3 per year. For sale by all news dealers.
 The December number of the Progress of the World magazine contains an un- usual number of illustra tions including large half-tone portraits of all the newly elected state governors and other im- portant persons chosen for office in last months election.
 The departments of "Science" and Finance" are easily the most interest ing, the former presenting an entertain ing description of the discovery and pos abilities of the new method of produc- ing acetylene gas, an illustrated up-to- date account of the underground elec- trio conduit for street railways and pa- per by Professor Delabarre of Brown university, the eminent student of pyschics and psychical phenomena, in which the writer explains the scientific basis of the alleged occult world and dis pels many popular illusions on that sub ject. A strong article on Insurance as an EconomidtFactor," by w s. Barnaby, chief statistician of the Spectator com pany, tells in authentic figures the part that insurance plays in the financial world of today. and fairly takes our breath away by the magnitude shown in the aggregate wealth and operations of the companies.
 In the January Century Professor Sloane will give an account of Napoleon's headquarter arrangements and his per-
 
 It was a marvellous system of military effectiveness, with nothing sacrificed to imperial etiquette.
 The Century is publishing each month a reproduction of the famous pictures of J. G. Vibert, the great French genre painter. These are accompanied by brief articles by the artist himself, telling the story of the picture. The one that will appear in the January number is Pa tience," a cardinal deeply immersed in a game of solitaire, while a maid waits to present his bowl of tisane.
 Marion Crawford in the course of pa per on the Sacred City, entitled "A Ka- leidoscope of Rome," in the January Century, pays his respects to the analyz- ing realists. Tt is wonderful to note," he says, ''how many people are ready and anxious to butcher their own souls, quarter them and dispose of them piece meal to the public, even as cats meat"
 ''In the Midst of Paris,' by Alphonse Daudet, is the title of a new book to be published this month by Platt, Bruce & Go. of New York, and intended especially for the holiday season. Written in the trenchant style of this famous author and bound in a most sunnptuous manner, it is probably the most charming gift book of the season.