The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-12-09
Literary News and Notes.

For December The Wide World Maya
zine offers thrill upon thrill, as we'll as
travel-lore and description, with advent
ure stories that grip. The number is
one of the best yet, and contains among
Smiths ''Retribution;" Donald Mackie's
''The Lost Luck"'; 1.-THE Wonder Lake
# Trinidad" by Victor PittKethley, who
writes an absorbingly interesting article
bout asphalt "My Experiences in
Uganda" by Mrs. Hubert G. Knight,
and numerous other articles and stories.
The December Strand Magazine con-
tains wide selection of excellent fiction,
including ''The Rivals" by Austin
Philips; ''The Pavilion" by E. Nesbit;
''The Missionary and His Mission" by
James Barr; 1.-The Man at Lakatu," by
A. P. Garland; "Was She Right" by
Rosamond Napier; IA Very Modern In
stance" by Mrs Belloc Lowndes; and a
very interesting story for children from
the Japanese. illustrated by w. Heath
Robinson. This number of The Strand
is also replete with articles of special and
timely interest, by 81 Oh well-known au-
thors as Sir Whitworth Wallis and Walter
Emanuel, whose chat on "Among My
Drawings" is catchingly illustrated.
Some Memories-Th atrical and Other
wise," by Laurette Taylor. and the
regular theatrical section of "Masks and
Faces" by Wendell Phillips Dodge, help
to increase the attractiveness of the
Magazine along other lines. This num-
Der also includes the ever popular pages
of "Perplexities" and "Curiositles.
3Notes on Ine intelligence of Woman"
is the challenging title of the opening
article of the December Atlantic. 1t
| comes from the pen of W. L. George, the
English feminist, who goes at his subject
in a truly scientific fashion, and illustra-
tes with series of entertaining anec-
dotes and characters ic fragments Of con-
versation his unusal point of view, which
is bound to be the subject of lively dis
cussion across many dinner table this
winter. Two other papers in the maya
zine also attract special attention; John
Koren's Drink Reform in Europe" and
Henry Sydnor Harrison's poor Amer
ica." Mr. Koren, who is recognized
authority on the liquor problem both at
home ard abroad, reviews the temper
ance legislation which the belligerent ma
tons of Europe have passed since the
war began, and finds it to have done lit
tie good she especially shows the deplor-
able results of the vodka ban in Russia,
of which 80 many enthusiastic and mis-
leading reports have reached this coun-
try. The best liquor legislation in Europe
he finds in Sweden. Mr.. Harrison, the
popular novelist. comes to the rescue of
the American Reading Public, which is
SO often accused of lack of critical taste
he claims that the average American
likes good literature, and that the ablest
| fiction Of our day usually stands among
the six best-selers." His argument is
fearless and spirited, and Its content will
refresh many people who are weary of
the conventional complaint that literary
merit and popularity are mutually exclu-
sive. The Atlantic contains also a
well-balanced collection of war-articles:
"America's Duty plea for protest
about the invasion of Belgium, by Baron
Estournelles de Constant, the veteran
French diplomatist; The Fight for the
potanian campaign,-with several first
R. Freeman; "a Scandinavian View of
the War;" by George Brandes; What
is Worth Fighting for?" by Ralph Barton
Perry; and Some False Consultations of
War;" by William Austin Smith. Essays
of distinction and charm are contributed
by Robert Haven Schauffier. Charles F..
Talman, Francis G. Peabody, and H. H.
Powers. The stories are by Meredith
Nicho son and H. G. Dwight, the poems
by John Masefield and Sarah N Cleghorn.
Jean K. Mackenzie's graphic letters
from her mission post in Africa continue;
and an unusual number of pages is de-
voted the Contributors Clue, the can
dor and humor of which are an endlessly
varying but always dependable feature
of the Atlantic.