The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-05-27
WITH THE MAGAZINES

The first of the early summer issues to appear, the June Metropolitan is a veritable garden of delight among mag azines. It is rich pictorially, strong tex tually, and appeals to every taste Be- side a cover in four colors there is a superb frontis- piece in full color, repro duced from pastel painting made for The Metropolitan Magazins. This from tispiece is the first of a series of six beautiful subjects illustrating "Old Fash toned Girls in Old Fashioned Gardens The series. executed by George Gibbs in that most delightful of all artistic medi- ums-pastel-are reproduced with a fidel- ity to the originals that even in this day of clever reproductive processes must be acknowledged as both extraordinary and charming.
 The chief paper of importance in the June number is a contribution by the one man in the world who knows all about Alaska. It is surprising how little really is known of our big bit of north- ern territory which comes within an ace of linking the United States with Asia. The man who has written about Alaska for The Metropolitan is Dr. Sheldon Jack son, the general agent of our government
 
 great territory purchased from Russia in 1867. Dr. Jackson is an official of the Department of the Interior and when it is stated that he has spent some twenty eight years in Alaska ca residence inter rupted only by brief periodical visits to Washington the authoritative value of his contribution will not be questioned Dr. Jackson vouchsafes some eXtraordi- nary facts about Alaska and it's almost unknown peoples; he is especially con- cerned with the Eskimos. a race which presents one of the most difficult prob lems of modern scientific education. The article is illustrated with unique photo graphs (many of them made by Dr. Jack son) of the Alaskan tribes.
 Another article of importance in the June Metropolitan is by Charles F. Hold er, who descrihes some Deep Sea Giants" he has seen. TEis paper has all the fas- cination of an adventure story and all the facts of the trained scientific essay ist. The pictures are by Charles Living ton Bull.
 The fiction of the June number is un- usually attractive. Several short stories by virile new writers go far toward prov ing that the story writers with great names have no monopoly of their craft. Among the better known authors are: T. Jenkins Hains, Edwin L. Sabin, James Huneker, John D. Barry, David Gray,
 
 rison. There are the usual number of poems in the June number The special piece of verse in the issue is from the pen of Harry Graham and Is a humor- ous metrcal study of Sherlock Holmes. !" The great detective story which is run ming serially In the Metropolitan maga- zine-the story called "Outside the Law and compared with the Sherlock Holmes stories for strength and char acter-has already awakened great in- terest It will prove the novel of the year in point of popularity when it ap- pears between boards next fall.
 In her novel, "The Mystics," Katherine Cecil 1hurston has assuredly struck a new chord in fiction. One can see from the trend of events in the chapters al- ready published that here indeed Is something new under the sum-" Life and humaa ambition have furnished themes as ngular as those which enter into the making of "The Mystics." but fctionists have hitherto held aloof from subjects as daring as that which fur nishes the central idea of Mrs. Thurs ton's novel. To those who know Mir c ils' work, its character and beauty, 1t Is needless to say more than that he is pctorially realizing to the full the au- thor's scenes and figures.
 A clever essay "On Being a Dramatic Critic" by John D. Barry. and the usual monthly review of the stage. Ay James Huneker give the drama it's due and fur nish a background for some very beau tiful portraits of theotrical celebrities The newest plays are critically comment ed upon and the most telling scenes in the foremost productions charmingly pie tured No other magazine gives as much