The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-12-01
Literary News and Notes.

A. j. Mock leads off the December
American Magazine with an article in
which he describes the tax laws in New
York under which only, the small mer-
chant and householder have to pay while
the rich men like August Belmont, 7. j.
Ryan, VIM. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., Payne
Whitney, and Robert Goelet get off with
out contributing cent. The personal
property tax laws of most States are
equally as faulty as those of New York.
Miss Ida M. Tarbell writes on ''The Mys-
teries and Cruelties of the Tariff" and
DIR. William Osler on the successful
progress of the fight to save human
beings from pain and suffering. The fic-
ton is contributed by Marion Hill,
Charles A. Fisher, Fred R. Bechdolt, Oc-
tavia Roberts, Ernest Poole and Frances
Hodgson Burnett.
The Christmas number of the Strand
Magazine contains nine fictional contri-
buttons by such writers as W. W. ia
cobs, e. Phillips Oppenheim, F. Anstey,
=. M. Jameson, Horace Annesley Vachell
and others. The story by Jacobs" THE
Old Man of the Sea"--is an excellent ex-
ample of this famous humorist's work.
An article entitled, "How Far Have You
travelled" gives some startling statis-
tics regarding the distances covered dur
ing lifetime of ordinary routine. A
long and exhaustive study of the life and
work of Mr.. David Belasco is contribu-
ted by Wendell Phillips Dodge while
Charles Hawtrey, the we'll known Eng
lish actor, who has frequently appeared
in New York, contributes his "Reminis-
cences." A. Drysdale Davis writes on
Fashions That Have Failed" and the
well-known vaudeville actor, Mr.. R. A.
Roberts, describes 1.-The Art of Quick
Change" The color section is devoted
to 1.-The Heroines of Famous Novels"
Christmas giving among Americas
wealthy class is told about in the
New Idea Woman's Magazine for De-
cember in a most delightful way. Anne
O'Hagan shows SIN Costly Christmas
Land, how the millionaires plan their
Christmas gifts and what enormous sums
are paid for them. Another article of
general interest is 1.-The Madonna of
the Children" which is the story of
woman in Iowa who devotes all her time
to caring for homeless and orphaned
children. The fiction for the month in
cludes ''The Wishing Ring" by Fred
J Jackson; "That Cavanaugh- Campbell
Affair" by Frederick White, and
Jane" by Claudia Crarston. Fred
J ackson's serial story, ''The Carved
Door" is continued. Christmas receives
special attention. There are MANY clever
suggestions for games and entertain
ments for the table and the children's
playroom. Holiday fashions for wives
and daughters are portrayed at length
and in color. This number as a whole is
good.
Most of the important magazines pet
out especially fine Christmas numbers,
Re eoet is mo- nov eTfsp p brct to the
is ''There Was Once Queen bv Edith
Robinson, author of ga Mock Caliph and
His Wife 1t is brisk and actionfull
story, with its scenes laid in a small
German principaity, the hero being in
the diplomatic service there. He falls in
love shortly after his arrival, and is
thereby led into some strange adven-
lures. There is decided mystery in the
plot, and it is doubtful if the reader will
be able to solve it prematurely: but there
IS no doubt whatever that the story will
be thoroughly enjoyed. AS to the short
stories, it is safe to say that more in.
teresting collection has seldom. if ever
been cotton together in one magazine.
There are delightful poems bv "John
Carter" Florence Earle Coates, John
Kendrick Bangs, Aloysius Coll, Theodos;a
Garrison, and others. ''Walnuts and
Wine," the sixteen-page department of
humor, will afford the reader many
good laugh.
The cover for the December National
with vivid coloring against
background of white, an Indian in his
canoe, sounding forth the moose-call on
the silent river. Following the opening
pages, which CLEAN with holly and mis-
tletoe, is the Editors Greeting. "a
Merry Christmas to You" is one Of those
gentle, kindly, freside reveries in which
Editor Joe Chapple, Of "Happy Habit"
fame, is at his best. affairs at Wash
ington' covers the work being done by
the Census Bureau, the discussion Of
penny postage, the visit of the President
to Panama, anecdotes of the late Sena-
tor Dolliver, stories of the Boy Scouts.
and other interesting phases of Washing
ton life. An impressive conception of
the Capital City in pen and ink drawings
and accompanying sketch is given by the
young artist, Arthur Hutchins, on the
occasion of his first visit to the "City
Beautiful. A special feature in the
December National is the opening of
new musical department, national in
scope, to be edited by that discrimina-
ting and capable musical critic, Mr.. Ar
thur B. Wilson.
Everybody's Magazine has started,
With the aid of ex-senator Frank J. Can
ION, of Utah, to demonstrate that the
Mormons need reforming, both as to
heir matrimonial and business methods.
The blame for the situation is laid on the
Mormon Prophet, Joseph F. Smith, and
he outlook for his peace of mind during
he next few months is not encouraging.
A topic which is interesting all men in
all countries at the present moment is