Current Literature

Wlipn stately ehrysantJiemums are in their prime, Christmas i.houghts ai-fi in the air ; and the happy combina f: on o; both in Demore ziue lor Itecember makes it an ideal ! b mas mimber. Page alter page oí l.atídsome llhistrations depict various plrise; o! Christmas pleasureèi und a time'y article on "Tlio Inlant Cliilst iu Legend anU Art." emte'lished with Eomeroua :tiful reproduitious oí thc Madonnas by modern paint01 f. gives somo curious Icgends about tlic Clirist-clii'd. and Blmüar legenüs ábóül a virgin bom savlour that exlnt in al! the reUglon of. the E.isf. j ïici-c is a superbly illustrated paper on tho Atlanta Exposiüon ; stories by Gilbert Parker and Jo-emi Hatton arp among tlie flction ; there are tinas poems, and lots oï tions about Cliristmas giits and cnUitamments, and every one oí thc departments is rep'ete with timely and valnaWe informatlon. The ori ■ patóing oí "CJhrysanthemums"' which is alued at $1,000,. is io be íriven lo the person who, previous i o April 1. 1896, obtains tor Demorest's Magazine tlie greatest of subscribers. ïliis is an unprecedented o.fer, fuli partlculars oí vrhicli n in tlio December number. I is publi.shed for f?2 a year, bj nemoi-cst PublisUing Coinpn; y. 110 Fifth ave.. New York. The ChrLstmas spirit runs all through the December numbe ■ oí St. Nicliolas. "Efow a Street-Car Gaine in a Stocklng," is tola by Harriet It was nót a little toy aff.ir, but one that liad carried j gtr.s in a great city ior many years. Just how happy it made the recipiënt e-sery littíe boy can imagine. Sarah ójnc Jewett, in "Betty Leicester's Eiiplisn Christmas," gives iurtlior expeiiencea of a heroïne avIio !ias alveady made many friends. 'JJhere is almost a touch o' pathos "A Chri tlephant," by W. A. Wilboü, ioUy as the story is. A Uttle gii'. falls in love with her Christmas liee, -vvhich sh eimaginos is aüve aft er rea ding on eoí Ilans Apderson's tales, and her parents are at their wiis end to know how to dispose of it. James AVhitcomb Riley contributes a childpoem that is in liis most trve rein, "The Dream March of the clilldren," and Bertha E. Bush desscibet. in verse "The Christmas Korg of Caedmon.'1 But attractive as are these holiday features, they do not constitute the leading charm of the number. Tliis wiU be found In ''Letters to Young Frlends," by Iïobevt Louis Stevenson. Tlie magazine has leen fortúnate enough to secure a number of letters written by Stevenson to his little ward, Austin Strong anti to other children. 'Die lirst selections irom them appear in this i&sue, together with a new portrait of Stevenson and other pictures. Tho Christmas Century is notable lelt pictorially and for its literaure. I'erhaps tlie most striking and novel iüustrations are those by Tissot from nis well hiown series, "The l-i"e oï Chris!, " which have been.seen only in laris, but whieli may later be placed on exhibition In the United States. Thr article on thls extraordinary vork ib written by Mins Edith Coues. Aiiolher set of interest ing illustrations is by Loui Loeb, the American mlist, accompanying an article on "'Ilie Passioivl'iay at Yorder-Tliiei1see." Vlbert'B well-known picture, ■■'Jhe Grasshopper and Tlie Ant," is rtproduced in tlie series of pictures now running in "The Century" by tbis distinguished French artist. A Httle story by the artist accompanies tlie ï-eproduction of the painting. number gives the opening ohapters of a story calied "Torn Grogan," by F. líópkmson Bmith, wlth pictuies by Mr. Eeinhart. "Torn Grog'ai ' is a character wïtlch is Ükelj to take its place among the curieus and popular comtemporary ligures piesented to the public by Mr. Siniili. A real old-ïashioned Christmas sto y by Stocton is entitled "Captain Ki'.s Iiest ÍEar." Among the short stories, however, none wiU attracfc more attention than Rudyard K pling'a ' The Brushwood Boy," accompan'.ed by a di-eamland map. Th's is a reaüstic piece of iictlon with a dream accompaniment, one of Mr. Klpling's moat oriKina'. dnveutions. Tliere are oditoria essays on "Congress and ilití Currency System," "Fruits of Civic ?pirit,' ''A Citizen by Adoption," etc. Harriet Prescott Spofford publishes a pöem entitled "Hear, 0 Isreal !" anü there are shorter pieces of verse in "Lighter Vein."