The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-12-04
CURRENT LITERATURE.
The December Magazines.

HE COhU M - ne ledulug article IN
this number is probably the clearest
analysis of the present financial situa-
ton in the United States that has
vet appeared. The writer is M.
Paul Leroy Beaulieu, the distinguished
French economist, who lays down the
Conditions for American Commercial
and Financial Supremacy" W. d.
Howelle contributes a striking paper on
The Nature of Liberty, " contending
that liberty and poverty are incompati-
BILE. The author of Confessions of a
Literary Hack replies to his critics in
this number.
SCRIBNER's MAGAZINE.-Th Christ
mas number always has some artistic
novelty, and this year it is series of
twelve full-page illustrations by Oliver
Herford for fantastic story, entitled
The kaleidoscope of Time" by
Brander Matthews. The illustrations
are printed in delicate tint which is
interviewer with the clear black text
and flows out into the margins of the
page. The whole effect is something
entirely new in magazine illustration.
Mr.. Matthews story is equally original
in conception, and is a fitting COM
panion to his " Primer of Imaginary
Geography" published last year.
HARPER's MAGAZINE presents holt
day appearance in its cover of white,
gray and gold, and the illusion is not
dispelled by an examination of the
contents, beginning with frontispiece
in color. This frontispiece is one of
twelve illustrations of a series of four
sketches by Howard Pyle, with which
the number opens. Rarely has Har-
per's been embellished with more beau
titul pictures than these, and they are
worthily succeeded by the work of
Frederic Remington, Albert E. Sterner,
w. 7. Smedley, j. R. Weguelin, F. V.
Du Mond, R. Cation Woodvile, and the
other illustrators of the number.
GoDEY's, the oldest of the magazines,
follows the good old custom of proffer-
ing Christmas cOnfections in their
proper season. This number is nota-
bic, therefore, with Yue-tide fiction
and verse, besides such seasonable
articles as Holiday Decorations"
Christmas, Past and Present." and
Christmas Day in japanese Go
Down this latter richly illustrated
by G. d. Weldon. A new school of
portraiture on wood, and the Master
pieces of French Sculpture" are two
lavishly illustrated articles. The lib
eral space given to the Fashion De-
partment is always notable in this
highly entertaining magazine.
THE CENTURY editors have had the
chance to select twelve of the most
striking of Tissot's famous pictures il
Illustrating the life of Christ, and they
appear in the Christmas number.
When the originals of these pictures
were shown in Paris, they were given
a special suite of rooms at the Salon,
and people were often seen to 60 away
weeping from the exhibitions; and
women sometimes made the tour of the
room on their knees. Bernhard Sta
venhagen, Kapellmeister at Weimsr,
contributes short article on Humper-
dinck's "Hansel und Gretel." 1t is
illustrated with portrait and repro
duction of piece of the original manu-
script of Humperdinck's new fairy
opera, not yet produced.
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. among
the contents of this magazine is
another of John Fiske's historical
studies. 1t has for title " The Starry
ing Time in Old Virginia." and is an
important historical contribution as well
as delightful reading. This issue also
contains three short stories: " Witch
craft" by l.. Dougall; 1.-The End of
the Terror" by Robert Wilson; and
" Dorothy" by Harriet Lewis Bradley.
There are further chapters in Gilbert
Parker's powerful serial, " The Seats of
the Mighty" and two poems of excep-
tional quality, "The Song of Shep-
herd-Boy at Bethlehem" By Josephine
Preston Peabody, and t." The Ham
adryad," by Edward A. Ellington Val
entine. Book reviews and the usual
departments complete the issue.
LADIES HOME JoURNAL.-The cur
rent number by far surpasses, both in
literary and artistic excellence, any
previous issue of this popular magazine.
Conspicuous among the contributors
are ex-President Harrison, who gives
the Introductory paper of the series be
is preparing upon "This Country of
Ours -; Mrs. Mary Anderson de Ma
varro, who most Interestingly tells of
" My First Appearance on the Stage y;
and Mary E. Wilkins, who gives the
first of " Neighborhood Types " papers.
The artists represented in the Christmas
Journal are among the most notable
illustrators, and include A. B. Frost,
Kate Greenaway, w. l.. Taylor, G. ID.
Gibson, Alice Barber Stephens, W. Il.
Smedley, f. Grivaz, E. NJ. Hallowell,
Abby E. Underwood, Miss E. S. Green
and w - Rice