The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-01-25
Literary News and Notes.

The January number Of the Atlantic
Monthly emphasizes the conspicuous fact
that the magazine is old in years only
and that its interests are habltuatly the
prime interests of its contemporaries;
The first four articles in this issue all
strike notes distinctively modern and dis
tlnctively important. These papers are
Modern Government and Christianity, "
by Winston Churchill; ''The Contempt
rary Novel," by H. G. Wells; The 70,
litical Evolution of College President,
by Solomon Buckley Griffin, editor OF
The Springfield Republican; and "lnsan-
lty and Non Restraint, paper on the
new theory which is revolutionizing the
care of the insane in this country, by
Charles Whitney Page. Add to these
Senator Jonathan Bourne's paper on the
Initiative, Referendum and Recall,
which comes at the close of the number,
and it is easy to see that the Atlantic IS
pot relying upon its history for Its ad-
vancement.
When the limelight of popular interest
is focused upon Washington, the National
Magazine is even more welcome visitor
than usual, for there is sort OF face to
face glimpse of affairs at the national
capital in Joe Chapple's chat. 1t may
be the titillating thrill Of vision OF in
ternational warfare incident to the alb
rogation of an ancient treaty with an old
ally, the latest bit of society gossip, or
brand new "cloak-room joke" but it
always makes one feel as if he had been
right there 'among the folks" at Wash
ington. Illustrated by photographs Of
historic Fort Stevens, the story of
Early's brief beleaguerment OF Wash
ington and President Lincoln's baptism
of fire" during the Civil War is interest
ingly told; being historically important
and the only instance where President
of the United States was present and
under fire during an engagement While
in the executive office.
The intensive methods which have be-
come a feature of every modern industry
react upon the mind and stimulate to
prodigious effort the ranks of human
kind, from the most humbly talented to
those endowed with the most extraordi-
nary genius. A remarkable proliticacy
in invention and scientific investigation
is the immediate and tangible result, the
tendency ever being to render existence
less laborious but more complex. The
diverse phenomena of the creative mind
supplies Popular Mechanics Magazine
with abundant interesting material each
month, so that its 1874 pages of reading
matter TEEN with marvels which few
centuries ago would have been classed
with witchcraft and the miraculous. In
the February number OF the Magazine
appear 262 articles, every one written
so you can understand it," and 291 un-
usual illustrations.
The February Wide World Magazine
is, as usual full of interesting stories
gathered together from all quarters of
the globe. 1t is a constant surprise how
the editor Of this unique publication is
able to collect such wealth of material
from "real life" month after month and
still uphold the old adage that Truth is
Stranger Than Fiction" The present
issue contains some startling stories of
adventure; two-''The Ordeal, of Mrs.
Page" and Chung Up in a Cave" being
particularly thrilling. Lars Lind con-
tributes a topical and well illustrated
article entitled among the Bedouins of
Eastern Palestine" and Whitfield Fegen
describes the curious Swinging Festi-
val of SIAM" Marguerite Roby con-
tinues her account of "a White Woman
in the Congo" and J. H. Bill con-
mences his descriptive papers entitled:
"Across Persia and Europe on Pony
Back" Many other articles and stories
all dealing with real life-are to be
found in the February issue Of this re-
markable magazine.
The February Strand contains many
articles Of interest, foremost among
them being one by Dr. William Brown,
entitled: us Love Disease?" Accord
ing to DIR. Brown it is and should be
treated as such. Another article of
especial interest is: who are the Ten
Greatest Men now Alive?" The ques-
ton was put to large number of cele-
brities and Americans may be interested
to learn that in every list sent in the
name of Thomas Edison appears. And
only second in popularity comes that of
Theodore Roosevelt. "Lip-Reading' is
fully explained by C. Sibley Haycock,
and an added interest is given to the
article by the many photographs which
accompany the text. How the King
Works." which is written by member
of the royal household, proves that
George is no shirker and labors as hard
as any of US. The fiction consists OF a
dozen short stories by such popular writ
ers as Morley Roberts, Richard Marsh,
Mrs. Philip Champion de Crespigny,
Austin Philips, etc. For the youngsters
there is series of fairy stories trans
lated from the Russian and specially
selected by the Gar for his own children.