The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-04-02
Literary News and Notes.

Inere is considerable local interest," IN
the publication of historian George F.
Willey's latest work, "Willey's Book of
Nuttield,'' notice of which appears in
another column of this issue.
Frank r. Stockton's new story, Mrs.
Cliffs Yacht,' which begins in the April
Cosmopolitan, promises TO be one of the
most interesting ever written by that fas-
cinating story teller. Readers of 1.-The
Adventures of Captain Horn will find in
Mrs. Cliffs acht'' something that they
have been waiting for.
The Story Of New Sweden is the title of
neat pamphlet from the press of Loring
Short d Harmon, Portland 1t contains
a report OF the quarter centennial of the
founding of the Swedish colony in the
woods of Maine, June %, 1895, with num-
erous illustrations The frontispiece is a
portrait of Hon. William Widgery Thorn
as, Jr., the founder of New Sweden.
The enormous circulation of such
magazine as The Ladies' Home Journal
can, in a sense, be understood when it is
said that during the last six months OF
1895 there were printed, sold and circulat
| ed over four million copies-(in exact
figures 4 ,05S, SOD. Figures such as these
give one some idea of the influence
which may be exerted by even single
one OF the modern magazines.
The General of the Army, the General
commanding the U. S. Corps of Engin-
GERS, Vice Pres. Webb OF the New York
Central, and John Jacob Aston, compose
The Cosmopolitan Magazines Board of
Judges to decide the merits of the Horse
less Carriage which will be entered in the
May trials, foI which The Cosmopolitan
offers So, 600 i'll prizes This committee
is undoubtedly the most distinguished
that ever consented to act upon the occa-
sion of the trial of new and useful inven-
ton. The interest which these gentle
men have shown in accepting places upon
the committee is indicative of the i'm
portance of the subject, and that the con-
test itself will be watched with marked
interest on both sides of the Atlantic.
Louisa NJ. Alcott reveals herself in
a most interesting way in number of
letters written to five little girls) which
appear in the April Home journal.
These letters were written during the
busiest period of Miss Alcotts life and
present pen picture of the author drawn
by her own master hand. In these she talks
with singular frankness of herself, her
work, her aims, her home, her spiritual
belief, and of the influence that directed
her to literature. She never saw any of
her five correspondents, but their youth
full frankness, intense interest in all her
writings, and their love for the author
and for the characters Of her creations,
lmpelled her to turn aside from her work
and cares to find diversion in chats with
such eagerly enthusiastic friends. Miss
Alcotts first letter is dated 1872, and the
others written intervals 70
within short time of her death.
The death of Thomas Hughes will give
a feeling of sorrow to thousands now in
middle life who read his tom Brown at
Rugby when they were in their teens,
and who thought that they had never
read a ything so good in all their lives.
1t was not the only book that Nh. Hughes
wrote, but it was the best one. His
''Tom Brown at Oxford repeated the
success of the earlier work, out it did not
have quite the same zest and power,
though both works did much to make
Americans familiar with the great schools
and universities of England. Mr.. Hughes
was also the centre of group of men in
England, most of whom published their
books through Macmillan q Co., who
have had great deal to do in the making
of modern England. He was the friend
and companion of Maurice, Tennyson,
Kingsley, the Macmillan brothers and of
the men i'll church and State who have
stood up for the intelligent discussion of
social questions. Without being great
man OF the leader of a party, Thomas
Hughes was one Of the few men who.
by his versatility and interest in public
questions made a great impression upon
his time, and is entitled to grateful re-
membrance.
''Our Indians is the title of a strong
article 10y Hon. Hoke Smith, Secretary of
the Interior, published in The Youth
Companion Of March 26. Perhaps there
is no national theme which arouses more
quickly the sympathes of all fair minded
Americans. The Indian who once had
complete liberty to hunt and occupy this
fair land has found the United States
Government a master whom he cannot
understand Secretary Smith gives much
valuable information about the present
condition and prospects of the Indians,
their increasing numbers, their education,
and indicates the position of the present
national administration toward them. He
closes the article by saying; ''While l
have not criticised the action of our fore
| fathers and of our fathers in the treat
ment of the Indians, | urge without hest
tation that among this people can be
found field for missionary work as
worthy of Christian zeal as in those coun-
tries far away from our own This arti-
Gle is one of a Series by American States
men, appearing in The Companion, in
Guiding articles by Hon. Thomas B. Reed,
Hon. H. A. Herbert, Secl etary of the
Navy, and Hon. }. Sterling Morton, Sec
tary of Agriculture.