The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-02-11
Literary News and Notes.

blllty OF war with European powers, and
will outline scheme of defence by sea.
In the same number, DR.. Henry Smith
Williams, in series of articles on the
contributions of the nineteenth century to
science, will describe 1.-THE Astronomical
Progress of the Century" Other i'm
portant articles are the second paper on
1.-THE Awakening of Nation, descrip-
ton of the Mexico of to-day, by Charles
F. Lummis, and "The Last of Great
Black Nation" an account of English rule
in Basutoland, by Poultney Bigelow The
leading fiction of the number will be the
sixth part of George du Maurier's, 'sThe
Martian," and ''Separ's Vigilante,' by
Owen Wister, which deals with the char
acters and scenes already dear to Mr..
Wister's readers.
The somewhat startling proposition was
made III the January Arena of having a
estate physician and GA Court of Med
icine and Surgery in hospitals, clinics,
etc. The idea appears to have originated
in Minnesota, where especially it is pro-
posed to bring the matter before the leg
islature this winter. The subject is agi-
tated further in the February Arena in
symposium written by three prominent
physicians and two lawyers, followed by
correspondence from two medical college
professors and we'll known physician in
Minnesota. The discussion is pro and con,
and while the criticism and notifications
urged are so cogent that it may perhaps
truthfully be said that so far the weight of
authority seems on the whole to be adj
verse to the project, still 50 many valu-
able suggestions have been struck out that
in any case much and permanent good is
likely to result from the discussion. The
medical men and lawyers in almost every
State have taken the subject to their news
papers and journals, and the end is not
yet.
Among the books which Messrs Har-
per d Brothers announce for publication
in February or March, is DR.. Fridtiof
Nansen's Farthest North, work which,
in addition to its popular interest, may
be presumed to have scientific value be-
You'd that to be found in other records of
Arctic exploration. The expedition was
not mere feat In physical geography,
in biology, in meteorology, the results
obtained will mark a new departure in the
various sciences concerned. The contin-
uous observations made during three
years on the meteorology of the Attic re-
gions, when combined with other obser-
vations, will be of the highest practical i'm
portance in relation to the climatology of
Europe and North America. In $40 A
north this intrepid explorer, finding his
vessel, the Fran, solidly frozen in the ice,
started with one companion, Johansen,
for the unknown regions of the North
Pole. They left their vessel, equipped
with three sledges, two kayaks, and TWEEN
ty eight dogs, with provisions for the
dogs for thirty days, and for themselves
for one hundred days. When this stock
was exhausted, they lived on seal, walrus
and bear meat, when they could get it,
The account of the months these two
hardy men spent in the polar regions.
even in such fragmentany statements as
have hitherto been made public, is most
thrilling. When dog died or fell by the
way, he was served as food by the surviv-
OrS Nor were the chances of death by
starvation the only dangers they had to
face. Yet the experiences of peril were
mere incidents, breaking the monotony of
NanSenS scientific observations, during
those many months of hardships and pri-
vations, the results of which are of meal
culable value to the scientific world |
Many of his observations We're taken in
latitude So IA north
The February issue of st. Nicholas is
the Midwinter Holiday number. Frances
Courtenay Baylor, whose story, "Juan and
Juanita, was one of st. Nicholas pro
nounced successes, begins new serial for
girls, Miss Nina Barrow" George Ken /
nan, in "a Siberian Scare" tells one Of
bis experiences in the wilds of that coun-
try. That he was visited by veritable /
ghost the superstitious peasants firmly
believed, although Mr.. KEENAN, penetrat- |
ed to the bottom of the mystery. Julia
Taft Bayne furnishes paper about evil /
lie and Tad Lincoln" who were play
mates of her brother. She tells Of their !
pranks in the White House, and describes /
what was probably the first and only min
strel show given in that building. The |
program of the entertainment, rudely \
traced in Thad's youthful hand, is repro /
duced Mrs. Bayne also tells of Mrs.
Lincoln Zouaves," made up wholly Of /
officers. As companion article to this is |!
paper on 1.-The Birthplace of President |
Lincoln" by George H. Yenowine. This
has illustrations of the scenes connected |
with the boyhood of the Emancipation. |
Mr. Yenowiue tells story of the rescue |
from death by drowning of Lincoln by
one OF his schoolmates, that Mr.. Yeno- |
wine took down from the lips of the sur
viving actor in the incident. Charles .
ThaXter Hill, III IAN Alarm of Fire by
Telegraph describes the wonderful fire. /
alarm system of New York, and draws
many stirring pictures. A sketch of child
life in the Chinese quarter of San Fran
cisco by Theodore Wores, the artist, is
entitled "Ah Gau's New Years Celebra-
ton" THE Tale of the Discontinued
Weathercock'' is the final story in 1.-The
City of Stories," by Frank NJ. Bicknell
The serials, master Skylark,'' ''June's
Garden" ''The Last Three Soldiers,''
and 1.-THE True Story of Marco Polo,'
have interesting instruments. There are
many sketches, poems and jingles in the
number, all fully illustrated.
'The Century for February contains
three serials, viz, the conclusion of Mr.
Marion Crawfords novelette,, "a Rose of
Yesterday the fourth part of DR.. Weir
MitchelFs ''Hugh Wynne,' and the con
tinuation of Gen. Horace Porter's recol-
lections of Grant in the field. The short
stories are "a Man and Some Others"
tale of the Western plains, by Stephen
Crane, and "Miss Selina's Settlement" a
story of New York society, by Mrs. Bur-
ton Harrison. In addition to these there
is touching narrative by W. J. Stillman
of the life and death of two pet squirrels
Mrs. Schuyler Van Rensselaer,, who knows