The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-31

How the New Year 10 Begun by the
Choice Periodicals..

Harpsr's Magazine begins the year Will
an Issue thss 10 notable for the variety ant
timelinsss OF its contents. Mr. Bigslow'
paper In the series under the title O
"White Mans Africa" deals informing u
with the progress OF the Portuguese II
the South country. Professor Franci
N. Thorpe furnishes comprehensive or
ticls on the "Csntury's Struggle for the
Franchise In Americs," and DIR. Henry y
Williams takes us back to glance al
"sciencs at the Beginning of the Cen.
tury." An entertaining study OF "FoR
Possibilities" by Alexander MaAnie, and
another OF" English Society, "by Smalley,
another OF the literary Lar ndmarks of Rome
by Laurence Hutton, and yet nother OF
"John Murrell and his Clam are iuter-
larded with capital stories by Miss Will
kins, Bran der Matthews, Il. A. Alexander,
Q comedy by MIR. Howells ant a trio OF
poems. "Ths Marian" Is in its fourth
installment. AS usual illustrations srs
numerous and attractive and the issue
throughout is admirable.
What may perhaps rather indefinitely
be expressed az novelties In contents
particularly distinguish the January Gem
tury. The initial article tells OF Len bacn
the painter Of Bismarck, about the last
person of note, perhaps, that the average
reader WOULD think to feel curious for
information OF. Then there is an
article on ''Speech and Speech Reading
for the Deaf" subject that could not
ordinarily be counted on TO attract the
many; "Public Spirit in Modern Athens"
which is ancient Athens and not Boston
-and "The Ladies Of Llangollen" are two
more titles that suggest no hungry feel
ing on the part of the reader. And yet
oil OF these ss novel as tne suggestion Of
Summer at Christmas Tide" under
which title Julian Hawthorne tell of the
season on the Islsnd OF Jamaica are like
vistss of new and unexpected world,
the fact that they superfcially appear not
to have been particularly asked for
sctuslly contributing to the interest that
they command. The average reader is
bound to be impressed by such ventures
In selection OF magazine articles with the
truth that there are many thing In the
world that are worth knowing about, the
very names Of which may be bsoIutely ur-
known to him. With DR.. Mitchell's and
+. Marion Crawford's continued stories
and General Portsr's wonderful life mem
oranda of Campaigning with Grant,"
contribution by Captain Mahsn telling
the story over again OF tho battle of the
Nile with the grasp of authority IN naval
technique aId an attractive literary style,
two exceptionally fine short stories, |
poetry and handsome pictures, the issue
10 thoroughly desirable number.
Scribner's Magazine, unlike most OF !
the periodicals., begins its new volume |
with the new year and the event is OBJ |
served by the Inauguration OF new fea- |
tures and new and most pleasing dress |
OF type. The series OF articles under the |
general head OF "the Conduct of Great
Businesses 10 America" 10 begun with a
story ana q study of the department ,
stores OF which there are q thousand of |
importance in this country, whose affairs
are OF no little interest to the hundreds
Of thousands of people who paironIze
them. Richard Harding Davis begins a
serisl with pictures by Glib.
son and the story opens in way to in
dicate that 1t will confirm the popularity
of this highly popular author OF Ameri-
'an tales. John X. Spears, with another
'ailor story,i IL also a welcome contributors
% the pages. There is an impressive ar
icle on the Armenian slaughter in Con.
following the capture Of the
'ank some months ago as related in the
newspapers, good short stories and little
'apsrs relating to Ihsckery and Victor
hugo. The frontispiece is the first OF a
cries OF scenes from the great novels. It
$ picture of the domestic circle, or q
,art of IT., of Mr.. Micawber.
Mr.. Hamlin Garlsnd's imme nsely inter-
sting and informing papers on Grant in
dc lures Magazine give the cadet Grant
I West Point In the January issue. This
nd Kipling's splendid serial "Csptains
Courageous" are naturally the nucleus Of
he number. but they are not by any
Story of Bowery Regiment" in war
lne, for instance, is q most lively and
Etertainine sketch that has q real life
olor to 1t. There is an article on tho
,akiog and laying of an Atlantic cable
hat is informing,a couple of capital short
tories and in this issue 10 begun tho
Life Portraits of Great Americans"
'ith Benjamin franklin as the first SUBJ
Ict accompanied by a sketch of him that
very American boy ought to read as well
J zee the portraits and inform himself
bout them.
The January Cosmopolitan opeas with ,
mighty entertaining article on Seer
ian Students ana their Absurd Duels",
Flows with another on Dixie land types
nd among an unusual list Of other con- !
ibutions contains one on stage costumes a
= stage Manager Max Freeman, the
Story OF the Farmers College" by Murat G
slstsad. "wish for Political Powers !