New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-01
MAGAZINE NOTES.
SOME FEATURES IN THE JULY NUM-
BERS.

BEERS.
The July "Century"-a story-tellers' number
OF exceeding interest-contains a graceful paper
in which justice is at last meted out TO Will
iamina Stuart. the beautiful girl who was the
object OF Sir Walter Scotts first and last ro-
mantle love The world has long been given to
understand that she dealt capriciously and
falsely with the adoring Scott. and 1t Is only at
this late day that a family connection. armed
with the irrefutable testimony Of family papers,
arises to vndcate a woman az noble in char
acter she lovely In person. Miss Stuarts
mother and Mrs Scott had been early friends,
and the girl and the youth inheriting this
friendship were much together: but II was only
the latter who loved. He was treated with
varying kindness. but the lady of his heart had
nothing more than kindness for him. One man
only she cared for in her too short life-and that
was the man she married. The union Of Will
iamina and Sir William Forbes was one Of un-
broken felicity, and her letters to him, quoted
in this article, are touching in their tenderness
and humbleness. The loss of her sent Forbes
into grief-stricken seclusOn from which he
rarely emerged-onCe, be 1t remembered, he
came forth to try to tighten the burden Of finan-
cia disaster for his friend Scott. The novelist
wrote with deep gratitude Of Forbes's efforts TO
help him. but he did not know, our chroncler
tells US. till after the man who had won Will
iamina was laid beside her in the grave. that
he had paid one of ScOtt's most pressing debts
for large amount out of his own private means,
and carefully concealed the generous action
from him" Scott, in his letters and journal,
made more than reference to this early pas
sion, but nowhere did he mention 1t in way to
justify the cruel Interpretation put upon Miss
Stuart's lack of response to his suit.
OF elk OF
by John Sheriff admirably reproduced in
THE Century" and note with pleasure
"R. s." poem to the great novelist
Rhymers and writer's OF our day.
Too much OF melancholy!
Give us the old heroic lay:
A Whit Of wholesome folly;
The escapade, the dance
A touch Of wild romance
Wake from this self-conscious fit;
Give us again Sir Walters wit;
His love OF earth. OF sky. Of life;
His ringing page. with humor rife
His never-weary pen,-
His love OF men
Papers on George Eliot on Bret Harte. on
Robinson CrusOe" and Victor Hugo as
draughtsman and decorator have the interest
that belongs the realm Of story telling; and in
Mr. w Payne's sketch "A Day in Wheat" we
find notable bit Of realistic fcton-a sketch
OF Chicago business life as vivid as that life IT.
sell MT. BrOOKS IN MS 6rtlcle on BRET Harte
quotes remark which should be commended
10 the vast tribe Of modern analysts Of other
mems work. Reading Of these reviews"
he says which was unusually analytic and dis
eliminating. Harte said with quiet chuckle:
These fellows see in my stories heap of things
that never put thereto the best Of my knowl-
edge and belief.
In the mass Of good things offered by "Har-
per's Magazine" two or three stand out with
special clearness There is Mr.. MacIlwaine's
spirited and beautifully illustrated paper the
Australian horseman; there is Mr.. Janvier's
picturesque story of Dutch marriage-that Is a
wierd scene wherein the dead wife is washed from
her grave by the flood, and strikes In the uproar
Of the storm the sinking boat holding her man"
and his new BRIDE there Is Mr.. Zangwills story
at once pathetic and humorous. OF Jewish life
in England, and there is Mr. W. L. Boards
clever sketch OF the West "A Brother TO Saint
james"
What Is the highest mark that any man who
rides may reach? Mr. MacIlwaine describes II
thus:
When cattle-rush comes In the blacklist OF
the night. among Understanding low-limbed
trees with the nature and levels OF the country
unknown and invisible. 10 stem II calls for the
finest and fercest quality Of the horseman As
he lodges swerves and clings in the saddle to
avoid mutilation from the rushing trees. he
must TO 1t also that the horse shall win to
the lead OF that laundering multitude beside
him. If hands and spur may compass II. And
when he does. the maddest Of the danger is still
to come. The riders hands must do double
duty now az he let's loose the whip and guides
the horse well. The rout must be turned and
directed against itself The horse is dragged
inward the whip Kisses and falls; the man,
silent until now, opens throat and lungs in the
stockmans battle-cry. If the leading cattlo
swerve and swing away carrying confusion
among the rest, and Drea king the directness Of
the rush. IL is the finest moment OF the droyer's
life. AS the beasts that come laundering blind
iy feel the scorching of the thong head
and flank. and hear the note OF mans supremacy