The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-06
CURRENT LITERATURE.
The May Magazines.

| Atlantic are the opening number OF q
series of letters from Dante Gabriel
R0ssetti TO William Allingham, ably
edited by George Birkbeck Hill, with q
delightful photographed sketch of
Allnghsm; Kendric Charles Babcock's
discussion of "The Scandinavian Con-
tingent," being the third paper in the
series on race characteristics in Amer
lean life; and an anonymous paper of
Mr.. Olney's fitness for the presidency.
A USEFUL contribution to popular
understanding of what money really is
appears in Appleton'S Popular Science
Monthly, under the title "The Develop
ment OF the Monetary Problem" The
author, Mr.. Logan G. Mcpherson,
shows that exchanges made with the
aid of gold and silver are only refined
form of barter, and that among the
most advanced peoples, where conf
dence is best developed, paper repre-
sentatives of value are largely displac-
ing the precious metals.
THE first of the series of papers on
South Africa which Professor James
Bryce, M. p, is to contribute TO The
Century, appears in the current number.
He corrects the general impression that
the country has little natural beauty.
Portions of the highlands he compares
to Switzerland and the White Noun
tains, and he says that one can never
tire of the charm and variety of color
in the landscape. Professor Bryce says
that the Beers have retained to this
day passion for solitude that makes
them desire to live many miles from
any neighbor.
The North american ReuieD opens
with an able and suggestive sympo-
SUM on 1.-THE Engineer in Naval War
fare," the subject being treated by such
authorities as Commodore George w.
Melville, engineer-in-chief of the United
States Navy; w. S. Aldrich, professor
of mechanical engineering in the Uni
versity of West Virginia.; Ira N. Hol-
lis, professor of engineering in Har-
ward University; Gardiner g. Sims, of
the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers; and George Uhler, presi-
dent of the Marine Engineers Benef-
cial Association.
WITH some beautiful reproductions
of paintings by Jean Francois Millet,
in McClure's Magazine, Mr.. Will III.
Low provides an excellent study of
that painter, whom he visited several
times in his own studio at Barbizon,
and of whose manner of life and con-
versation he gives some very pleasant
personal recollections. In the same
number, DIR. w. w. Keen considers
the Rontgen discovery in photography
with reference to its use in medicine
and surgery. DIR. Keen is one of our
highest authorities In surgery; he has
himself been experimenting diligently
with the Rontgen X rays, and his paper
is of especial value. 1t is illustrated
from photographs taken by the new
process.
SCRIBNER's MAGAZINE opens with
the most intimate account of Robert
Louis Stevenson in his home life that
has ever been published. This is the
first of two papers by Mrs. Isobel Strong
(his step-daughter and amanuensis)
which are to be published under the
title of "Vailima Table-Talk." From
time to time while acting as Steven
sons secretary Mrs. Strong put down
bits of conversation, characteristic cpl
grams, jest, or serious talk-just as
they occurred. These papers are there
fore the authentic record of Stevenson's
everyday life by one who had his conf
dence. The papers are illustrated from
photographs in the family albums,
which give an equally veracious portrait
ure of the family life and travels.
AMONG the subjects treated in the
April Magazine number of The Outlook
we note as of special timelness the
centenary of the birth of w. H. Pres
colt, the American historian (May ~,
the Cincinnati Musical Festival, and
the hygienic aspects of bicycle dress for
women. Kenyon West treats the first
of these topics, Mr.. H. E. Krehbiel the
second, and DR.. r. l.. Dickinson the
third; Dean Farrar of England, Ian
Maclaren and Miss Grace King are
among the other contributors. The
number contains about eighty-five illus
trations; among them those belonging
to the article on Prescott are especially
noteworthy as being reproduced from
rare originals. CTerms SO year. The
Outlook Company, IS Aston Place, New
York;
A WALTZ arrangement of Paul Dress
er's song, "Just Tell Them that You
Saw Me-" has been made by Theo. F.
Morse, the well-known composer, and
appears in the current number of Every
Month. The song has reached wide
popularity throughout the East, where
it was first published in one of the
earlier numbers of the magazine.
Eduard Hoist, whose name is fam liar
to every pianist as composer of
vast number of beautiful instrumental
pieces, has recently, after ten years.
residence in the United States, left per-
manently and will reside for the future
in Denmark. A number of his best I'M
published manuscripts have been Sc
cured by Every Month, and will be pub
lished in that magazine from time to
time during the present year.
AN attractively seasonable flavor per-
vades THE Ladies' Home Journal, the
rich bounties of spring being presented
in poetry, in prose and in picture.
Among the more conspicuous features
in this direction, aside from the dainty
cover, which gives suggestion of hay