Literary Notes

A genulnely huinotous and melodious operetta, specially adnpted tu ChrUtmastree festivities, introducing Santa Claus and the whole audience at the close, is published lo the November Wide A wake, under the title Caught Napping. Sent pogtpald for 25 cents, by D. Lotlirop & Co., Boston. J. H. Dodge, of the United States Department ot Agriculture, contributes a striking paper to the December issue of Outing, entitled "Rural Itecreations," in whicli it is shown how tome ot the illa of farm life may be nu de more endurable, and fariner's families happier and liealthier. The Unlvorslty, who.se editor, Mr. Charles Douglaa of Milwaukee, is well knowu in educational clrcles, takes occasion in a recent issue to congratúlate the Boston Journal of Educuücm on Inning opened a Chicago office, and suggttsts that in a few years it nii;rht well complete tlie metaiuor])hosÍ8 by dropping iustou from its date line. The North American Ileview for December niay be called au liistorical number, both from its topics and its oontrlbutors. It opeus with au artlcle by Col. Fred Grant, entitled "Halleck's Injustice to Grant." Tuis article explains how Ilalleck so niisiepresented Gen. Grant, after the capture of Fort Donelson, that Gen. AlcClellan autborized his arrest! It ia au extraordiuary revelalion and is told alinost exclusively in extracts trom dispatches, niiiny of which were suppressed. (iov. Ireland, of Texas, describes the progress of thut state. "Motley and Monarch'' is ii prow poeon on Lincoln, by Col. Iugert-ull. It s ;i inarvelous bit of rhetoric. "Rome und thu Iuquisitioiis" is a learued Catholic defence ot the charge of cruelty against these ecclosiastical tribunals- outtiide of Spain. Gen. Fry, in his "Acquaintance with Grant," desoribes the cadet life of the future "General of the Arujy," and viiulicates Gen. FitzJohn porter. S. Dana Horton gives a rejoinder to the silver symposium of the November uiunber. Israel Green, the lieutenant wlio ëtruck John Browu in the face with hla saber after he was down, tells his version of the Barper's Ferry affiiir. Senator Bontwell and Gen. Kosecranscontiibute two artlcles - on Johnson's plot and on Grunt's mtstakes, whicli are too important to discuss in a paragraph. Mr. Rice, the editor, contributes the closing trtlcle on "A Dislrancliised People,1' which, he claims, the citlzcns of Delaware are. The Christnris St. Nicholas is all that the promise conveyed in its title iuiplies, and fairly bristles with boliday features, from the opening poein, "Tlie Little ChrtsttMétree," by 8uan Cooltdge, to the amusing plot U rei by A. E. Sterner and O. Herford on tlie last page. "8anta Claus on a Lark" is tlie iinincnsely suggestive title of a story by Washington ( ladden, which is Illattrated by Sol Eytinge; Frank It. Stockton oontrlbutes n wliini9ic:il humoroua tale, called "Christmai before Last," with tlve pictures by E. B. Bensell; therelis adecorated Chriatïnaa oaid by D. Clinton Peters; "Our Hollday Party," wliich tells of a party of tlie hoüdays, contains suggesiions for those looking for s novel form of vacation entertainment; "Through the Kegister," is the name of the "Middle-aged Little Folks''1 christmas story; and there are other bright and tiniely contributions by Mry ITulInclr Font. fJmr Dcnio Litcbfield, and Edith M. Thomas. Other features of the number are Mrs. Francés Hodgson Buruett'9 new aerial, "Little Lord Fauntleroy," and Edgar Fawcett's charmlng poem, "My Echo,'' charmingly illustratod by Sterner. 'J'hen there are the article on ' -Rugby, "¦- one on the "School-life," by Elizabeth Robins Pennell, tlie other telling of a "Vaeutiuu Visit," by Edwin D. Mead; both copiously illustrated by Joseph R. Pennell, and accounpanled by a f uil-gage engraYing of Thomas Phillip's celebrated portrait of Dr. Arnold. In fact, to enumérate all the '-features" would le to give the entire table of contents. The frontlsplece is froni a portreit bySirJoshua lieynolds.