Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-28

for the variety of it's topics and the yer satility of its general makeup. The leading article on "Pastime Photogra- phy' shows what pleasing Work can pc done by skillful use of the camera ana living models. It is fully illustrated with quaint and pretty pictures.
 Following this is Modern Art In Pi- anc Building" illustrated with pictures of the most beautiful instruments of re- cent make These pictures will surprise many people. Dresden Opera" receives treatment, with illustrations, and will in- terest not only musical people, but gen. eral readers as we'll
 Among the specials" of timely inter est is Handsome Newspaper Women" with portraits, in which Miss Helen Winslow, of the Boston Transcript, de- scribes the life and work of several prominent beautiful women of the press.
 The Fashion and Woman's Depart ments are full of practical things; and the now finished Modes and Manners of Seventy Years" by Grace E. Drew, gives that completeness to the three issues (January, February and March) which renders them worthy to be kept apart for future use, as among the contribu- tions to general literature which can never be duplicated.
 The contest in the condition of the country between the time of Lincoln's first inauguration and that of President
  trayed in an article by Stephen Fiske for the March Ladies' Home Journal. In telling of When Lincoln Was First Inaugurated" MT. Fiske graphically de- scribes MT Lincolns journey from Springfield, H., to Washington, and the incidents of the inauguration and the attendant festivities. There were grave fears that Lincoln would be assassinat- ed as he rode in the inaugural procession to the capitol, and every possible pre- 4A1r f@x, Izs fnf Mr Fiske will recall the safeguards placed around the president. Special officers and detectives in citizens clothes were stationed in numbers among the crowds that lined the sidewalks, and sharp shooters occupied positions of vantage on housetopS, etc, along the route of pa- rade The military escort of the presl- dent-elect was heavily armed, ready to promptly meet any hostile demonstra- tions, and the crowds were kept a dia- tance from the presidents carriage-so far that they could not distinguish MT. Lincoln from MT. Buchanan. who rode beside him. The police were instructed to arrest all persons making opprobious threats against MT Lincoln, or uttering disloyal sentiments. The tension was great and the whole country was in state of suppressed excitement.
 In the Critic for February 20, The Loungsr gives a new view of the publish ing business Tn a couple or paragraphs on "The Book of Wealth''-a "subscrip- ton book" of which the ordinary edition is to be sold at $1, ,00O and the limited edi- ton at $2,500. This book will chronicle the accomplishments of wealth from the earliest days to the present day, in all countries. The Lounger gives us inci- dentally description of the canvassers who sell these books. Theirs is not the drudSery commonly associated with that profession:-"There are not more than half dozen men in the whole United States who can sell these expensive books, and they sell nothing else. Their season is short, but their harvest Is large. They live in the most expensive hotels, and, instead of trudging wearily from door to door, drive about in their brough- ans accompanied by a man servant who carries the book. The latter is not brought into the house until the possible purchaser expresses a wish to see 1t. One of the most successful of these agents told me recently that his season in New York did not begin till the Horse Show, and that it was over by the 1st of June" Who would not be a book canvasser un- der such conditions? The Lounger adds that this particular book has been sub- scribed for by moro than half the crowned heads of Europe.
 MAUDE ROUNTREE.