The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-03-04
CURRENT LITERATURE.
The March Magazines.

The March Magazines.
In the Atlantic, "The Irish il
Anne lean Life" by II. G. Merwin, is
the frat paper in the promised series
on Race Charac eristice in American
Life" Readers of the Atlantic will re
call Mr.. Merwin's papers on Tammany
Hall, which created so much interest AZ
the time of their publication. Mr..
Mrwin has made careful study of the
Irish American, aud his paper will be
sure to cause discussion.
THE material doctrine which I'll sci
eutilic men have been assumed to pro
fess has been attacked in the house OF
Is friends. Dr.. Wilhelm Oswald Of
Leip ic, the author of several standard
chemical works, has delivered an address
on what he Gala g. The Failure of Scipn-
tific Materialism," affirming that a Il e.
DRY ba ed on energy should replace the
one resting upon matter aud force. A
translation appears in AppIeton's Pop
uJor Science Monthly.
MANY persons are still living who re-
member the widely scattered lilho
graphs representing the Arkansaw
Settler, whose lack of hospitality TO
travt Ter is transformed by his VISITORS
ability TO play the famous baCkwoods
tune. The crudely-drawn Autographs
confront the reader of the Century, in
which Professor II. G. Mercer of the
University of Pennsylvania gives an
account of his researches Goa the
Track of The Arkansas Traveller"
| Professor Mercer makes a practical
contribution TO the history of American
music in his lively account of the tuue,
OF which the music and some Of the va
ratons are given.
AS President Andrews great history
serial in Scribner's Magazine draws to
conclusion the very entertaining quail
ity of it, which has been generally &C.
claimed, is intensified. The March in
stalment contains pictorial record
also that is unique in magazine illus
tration. giving thirty-fve pictures in
one article, = including original and
very artistic views of the Worlds Fair,
reproduced in pen drawings of unusual
beauty. The Homestead riots and the
Tennessee convict troubles are also
fully illustrated from instantaneous
photographs. The text gives, among
other striking passages, an interesting
summary Of the marvellous advance
made by electricity in recent years.
MCCLURE's MAGAZINE contains in
teresting passages from speech made
by Abraham Lincoln in the Illinois
legislature in January, 1837-undoubt-
ediy the earliest speech of Lincoln's of
which any record remains, and one
hitherto unnoticed by any of his biog
raphers 1t is in his most attractive
vein-that minglng of genial candor
with perfectly clinching argument for
which he aiterward became so noted
Along with these passages is presented
some entirely new anecdotes and rem
iniscences of Lincoln's service in the
legislature and of his humble beginning
as lawyer at Springfield. And there is
a full quota of Lincoln pictures; among
them four portraits of Lincoln, two of
which have never before been pub
lshed, and view of his first law office.
THE OUTDOORS " Magazine Num-
bers" continue to improve in quality.
The February issue is strong in illus
tration, and has variety and timeliness
in its articles Among the special fea-
lures are 1.-THE Higher Life of Chicago"
by Melville E. Stone twenty-five illus
trations); "The Salvation Army y
made timely by the recent removal of
Mr.. and Mrs. Bsllington Booth from
the American leadership (seven illus
tratious); Recollections of NY Boy
hood" by John Burroughs, with
seven charming pictures in half-tone);
kate Carnegie" Clan Maclaren's new
novel, third installmenD; From Al
ianta to the Sea" with seven illustra-
tions); and How Christ Would Deal
with the Labor War;" by Lyman Alb
bolt. There are sixty-eight pages and
nearly fifty illustrations. Terms, SO a
year. The Outlook Company, ID Aston
Place, New York.
GENERAL A. w. GREELY of arctic
fame begins, in the Ladies' Home Jour
nal, his articles on George Washington,
which are expected TO create consider.
able discussion. General Greedy has
read over 2 900 of @ashington's private
biased way of the personal side of
Washington. His first article deals
with the loves and courtships of
Washington and his final marriage to
the widow GUSTS. General Gree
ly's articles are not likely to confirm
the estimate of those who regard Wash.
ineton in an ideal way. But they are
truthful and admirably portray the man
as he was,-in reality. Ex-President
Harrison's article in this number tells
what it means t. be president of the
tied States. He outlines the presi-
dents power, his duties and how he
discharges them; the trials and annoy
ances to which he is put, and show
what the central idea of the president
is and how he tries to carry it out.
General Harrison also explains what
relation each cabinet officer holds to the
president, and te lis of his own relations