Literary Notes

In the Popular Science Monthly for February, Professor William James, of Harvard College, oocupies the ürst place wiih a most readable paper on "The Laws of Habit." The article gives a clear ex planation, on physiologioal grounds, of the wayin whichhabitscotnetomvolve all the lunctions of the organism, growing with ite growth, and hardeniug into permaueucy as it mature?, and commends ltselt to the attention of youth and of those who have the cre of the young. Of great interest, alsD, is the discussion on "Matei i alism and Morality," and "Science and Moráis," in papers by Mr. W. S. Lilly and Professor Huxley. Mr. Lilly, a Roman Catholic of devout orthodoxy, charges the soientific evolutionists with teaching a matenalism, and maintaios that lher principies do not afford a suffic ent foundation for moráis. Professor Huxley repiie3 to both counts of the indictment wh au of bis accustomed clearness and vigor. Concluding bis paper on "Science in Religious Education," Mr. Daniel Greenleaf Thompson defines whathe canceives tj be the scientific position regarding the teaching of religious truth ia schoDls and seini naries. The subject considered in the "Editor's Table" is that oL "Prophets of Bvil," by which are meant those persons who predict that the world w;ll go to ruin if Mr. Darwin's or Mr. Spencer's teaohing-i prevaiL The other departnaents of the number are quite up to their average in ful)nes8 and interest. New Yirk: D. Appleton & Company. Fifty cents a nam ber, $5 a year. The second (February) number cf Scrib ner'8 Magazine opens with an article of general and scholarly interest, entitled, "The Likenesi of Julius Cíeíar," by Mr. John C. Ropes, the wellknown writer of military history, which is superbly illusrated with eighteen portraits, reproduotions of photographs from sta'.ues. These photographs are from the absolutely unique and complete collection of the hkenesses of Usesar, owned by Mr. Ropes, and the completion of which he has made his especial atudy for maoy years. O. ie of these portraits, engraved by W. B. Clos som, forms a striking frontispiece for the number. Toe second instalment of Minister Washburn's "Reminiscences of tbe Siege and C.immune of Paris," is even more inlerosting than was the first, dealing as it does with the most exciting incidents of the siege. The illustrations to the article are abundant, spinted, and of high artistic value. 0q6 of the artista, Mr. Thulstrup, was in Paris during the siege, and his drawings are from sketches and studies made at the time. An articl which will arouse unusu&l interest and discugsiDn is that of Prof. J. R. Saley, of tne navy, who writes on "O ir Naval Policy" in an extremely forcible and interesting marnier. In reviewing our national resources it forms an admirable companion to Capt. Greene's article on "Our Defenseless Ooasts," in the January number, and ia"eq.ially certain to attract wide attention. James Parton is to have an article in the Forum for February,'on "Outgrown City Government," showing the inevitable mischief of political mnhorls in municipal affairs, and advocating the necessity of a strong centralized admlnigtration, with ampie powerg and a long term of office. One of the remarkable things in the February Harper's is the misterly handing of the subject of short stories by the 'reatest living Americal novelist. W. D. Èawells 611a his department, the "Bditor'a Study," with a consideration of fhe art of writlig ghort stones, the reasons of its marvelloa8 reoent development, and why Amcncans exoell in that branch of literature. The most conspicuou; examples of short story writers are mentioned, with a runaiii comment on their special m rit-;.