Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-27
CURRENT LITERATURE.

Chrysanthemums and snow typiiy the
winter season aud The American
Queen for January is resplendent In
such an exterior. Between this ex-
quisite picture and its back cover are
pages devoted to fiction, fashion, fancy
work and woman's interests generally.
Its fiction is from the pens of Annie
Swan, Mrs. +. 4. Cook and Hannah
b. Mackenzie. Its fashions are the
LATEST copies of Paris, London and New
York styles, sketched by Mrs. Jei sic
Shepherd. Its fancy work is up to he
usual mark Of exoellencs anil contains
many dainty pieues of lace and EN-
broidery of which patterns are supplied
at nominal sum. Only careful perusal
can do Justice to its remaining matter
in which very many subjects CT interest
to women are treated in a compreheu-
sive manner by persons well justified
to write on their particular subjects.
The American Queen. 81 East Seven
teenth street, New York.
The chief feature of the holiday
number OF The Smart Set is the nov
elette that won this $1,000 prize in the
magazines recent story competition
There has not been literary contest in
recent years that has attracted 80 much
attention as The Smart Sets $1,000
offer for stories, and the outcome has
been awaited with imIatience by tue
reading public. Manuscripts by the
thousands were submitted from all
PARTS Of the world, many Of them by
famous writer's. Though large number
of readers have been busy in these
contributions since the contest closed,
October lst, the committee of award
is even yet not ready to announce all
the prize winners. Their nanes, how
ever, will be published in the Feb
ruary number, which will be issued
January 18th. The story winning the
first prize and now published, is en-
titled 1.-The Congressman Wife," and
is by John d. Barry. 1t is realistic
and fascinating story of political and
social life in New York and Washing
ton, and narrates the career cf a
and his beautiful wife, who beco ne in
volved in political scandals ard them
selves estranged. The "other side'' OF
modern statesmanship is revealed with
startling fidelity to truth. From first 10
last the story is one of great rover, and
is certain to be the literary sensation of
the new year. The number in addition
contains an attractive array OF graceful
and witty short stories and poems by
such writer's as Julien Gordon mrs
Van. Rensselaer, Cruger, Elizabeth
Duer, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Barry
Pain, Gwendolen Overton, Henry Gal
lup Paine and Paul Laurence Dunbar.
There is an article on "ifhe Dickens
Christmas, by Stephen Fiske, who
was personal friend of the great
novelist, that reveals for the first time
the origin of the holiday tales that
have brought SO much delight at this
season to youth and age throughout
| the world.
No positive proof exists that Shakes
peare ever laid eyes upon any other
country than his own, but the posi-.
bility-not to say probability-that he
did so is pointed out in an article by
Jacob A. Riis, called Hamlet 81 Castle, u
which will appear in the january
Century. One of the Illustrations uf this
article on the stronghold of Kronborl
is fac smile of page from the towr
1 records Of lEIsinore. chIonioling visit
from certain English actors who Then
| (1685l or later were the poet's col
leagues. The record was photographed
for the Century Magazine by specIa
| narmiasion of the Danish government