The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-01-06
CURRENT LITERATURE.
The January Magazines.

IN the JANUARY numDer vi HUTpeT
paper entitled "Sciepce at the gin
ming of the Century" by DR.. Henry
Smith Williams, will be an important
contribution to the history of nine
teenth century civilization, and wi be
followed by other papers showing the
progress of scientific discovery during
the last hundred years. These papers
will be fully illustrated.
JOHN B. MCMAsTER's article on "a
Century of Social Betterment," in the
January Atlantic, gives many interest
ing facts. We learn that the great
grandfathers OF many of us were men
who never in the whole course of their
lives used match or postage stamp,
or heard steam whistle, or saw pane
of glass six feet square. Business was
done under great diff ;ulties, and to
carry bushel of salt two hundred
miles by land cost so so.
CAPTAIN ALFRED T. MAHAN, who
recently resigned from the United
St ties Navy, in order to devote bis en-
tire atte ton to literary pursuits, has
written an article on Nelson in the
Battle Ct the Nile" for the January
number of The Century. Captain
Mahan has for years been studying the
career of Nelson in preparation of
life of the great commando , and the
present paper is one of series Of four
he is contributing to The Ce1, tuYy on
Nelson's most famous engagements.
THE January issue of Scribner's is
fine foretaste of its attractive program
for 1897. Mr.. Davis serial, 80 diers
IF ~ NIL nj
than any of his previous work. The
hero makes his bow in New York
drawing-room, but the action is almost
imme diately transferred to Ii tie,
revolutionary republic on The northeast
asst of South America, which the
author names blanche. The stirring
deeds that are to be enacted there give
Mr.. Davis hero, young American
engineer, great chance to distinguish
himself, both in love and war.
SOME change of appearance will be
noticed in the January Arena. The
relative place and size of type of the
authors names and of the titles of ar;i-
cles in the table OF contents on the
front cover are exchanged, the effect
being to make the subject prominent
rather than the ,Uriter as before, while
instead of the attention being called to
the most prominent articles by their
titles being printed a second time in
red ink on the margins of the cover,
the red ink is used in the table of con-
tents itself and no titles are printed
more than once. 1t is hoped the
changes will be thought TO be for the
better.
NOTABLE, even among 30 many eX-
&C llent features as are presented i'll the
New Years Ladies Home journal, are
articles on the Prince of Wales visit to
America, Prince Bismark, South Pole
explorations, Jerome X. Jerome's new
short story, and delightful musical
composition. Stephen Fiske graphic.
ally recalls the incidents of "When the
Prince of Wales was in America" the
balls, receptions, fetes and popular ova-
tons, and the great interest with
which all the young Princes move
ments were followed, especially by the
young women. 1t is evident from the
Ne " Years Journal that this popular
home magazine will be better in every
! department; more useful, helpful and
interesting during 1897 than ever be-
fore. BY the Curtis Publishing Com.
papy, Philadelphia. One dollar per
year; ten cents per copy.
EVERY number of Current History is
a reference library in Itself, presenting a
complete review of contemporary his
tory. To keep the run of importan
occurrences as they take place from
day to day, is a task for which most
readers cannot find the time. 1t is
here accom- lished for them far bet
ter than if they diligently read de-
zen daily papers. And even for those
who have both time and leisure TO scan
carefully the current news, Current
History preserves in conve nient and
readily accessible shape permanent
record of the worlds progress, which
will prove its value most at those timss
which come to every one, The sub
jects of Literature, Education, Music
Drama, Religion, etc. receive due al
tention; and the Neurology gives bio
graphical sketches of Mis-. ii. b. Stowe
ex-Gov. w. E. Russell of Massachu
sets, etc. There are tifty-six portraits
buffalo, N. Y: Garretson, Cox & Co.
publishers; Alfred S. Johnson, editor
$1.50 year; single number forty cents
sample ten cents, specimen pages anC
circulars free)
IN McClure's Magazine for January