Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-08
OURnBNr LtrEnATURE.

In spirit and sentiment the July Ladies'
Home journal is interestingly in accord
with that of our national birth month. An
article on THE Greatest Nation on Earth"
by William George Jordan, pictures IN a
most vivid way the vastness Of the United
states, and by simple comparisons and
telling illustrations contrasts every phase of
our greatness with that of other nations.
Allied i'll patriotic sentiment is Clifford
HowaId's article, when Dolly Madison
Saved the Declaration of Independence"
This tells the story Of the heroism of Presi.
precious document in America from falling
into the hands of the British when Wash
lngton was in flames. "fhe Womens
Patriotic Societies. gives the aims and
purposes of these organizations and the
requisites for membership. Fifty Years
of Postage Stamps" brings 10 mind that
Just a half century ago our government
made and sold its tirst stamps for letter
postage.
Along more practical lines are Mrs.
Rorers lesson on making salads aud salad
dressing, and the care OF the house in hot
weather; Ruth Ashmore's What Empty
Stocking Clubs Can Do," giving n novel
laea Tor new clubs. and showing how the
Children OF the poor can be aided and their
Christmas made bright. The first article iii
q new series, The Ladies Home Journals
Moderate Cost Houses By its own archi-
tect, gives most minute detail and practical
suggestion for a model suburban house.
Articles on needle work for summer hours
give many valuable suggestions. An artistic
feature OF striking interest is Alice Barber
Stephens drawing of the American summer
girl, the opening illustration of the number.
Published by The Curtis Publishing Co.,
Philadelphia.
While three short stories of unusual
nf IN Ittix A =
lantic, still this issue contains aside from
excellent fiction articles of permanent in
terest and value. Prof. Woodrow Wilson
of Princeton University contributes an
article upon The Making of the Nation"
and asks the peerplexing question "What
Is 4mericansm?, 2, Another political paper
of importance is by L. L. Godkin, editor of
the Nation, on "The Decline of Legisla-
lures" He traces the development of legis-
latures. and shows how in all parts of the
world there has been a startling decline IN
the dignity of legislative bodies.
Following other studies of Rural New
England, Alvan Il. Sanborn, who has made
speciality of this subject, writes interest
ingly of social conditions in decaying New
England town. A distinctly literary flavor
| is added to the issue by the printing of
hitherto unpublished letters of John Stel-
ling and Emerson. Edward Waldo Emer-
son edits them and adds an interesting
sketch of the cheerful and heroic Sterling
Kate Holladay Claghorn writes on Burke
and this review, coming on the one-hun-
dredth anniversary of the great statesman's
death, is particularly timely. She discusses
his work and character and its relations to
American history, Prof. w. ]. Ashley OF
Harvard University makes the recently
published life of Jowett the text for an
article of unusual interest on Jowett and
the university IDEAL" incidentally Prof.
Ashley gives comparative study Of Eng
lish aud American university work and
ideals.
Alice Choate Perkins contributes a sonnet
of unusual quality called "A Day in June. .
and Olive Thorne Miller prints another Of
her charming studies of birds and outdoor
life entitled 1.-The Stony Pathway to the
Woods" The reviews of this number are on
Strauss and James Lane Allen.