Literary Notes

Rose Kingsley has atimely article ín the October Wide Awake, about Ihe Boy who Invented the Telegraph, the French youth, Claude Cbappe. Alfred Parsons has embellished Wordsworth's sonnet, "Hail, Twihght with two illustrations, which will accompany it in Harper's Magazine for October. Graham R. Tomsom and Celia Thaxter both contribute long poems to the October Wide Awake, with fu page pictures by St. Clair Simmons and Edmund H. Garrett. Edward Bellamy has written for the October number of Harper's Magazine a sketch entitled "With the Eyes Shut which projects the mind as far, íf not farther, into the future than his Looking Backward." Lvicy Larcom will contribute to Harper's Magazine for October, a poem entitled "Discovery," which Ís appropriate, if not by inspiration due, to the present turning of the world's mind to the hero of 1492. Prof. Charles Eliot Norton, of Harvard University, has prepared a paper upon "The Building of the Church of St. Denis" which will be published.with illustrations, in the October number . of Harper's Magazine. The eighteen Prize Nonsense Animáis in the October Wide Awake are undoubtedly the very funniest magazine features of tbe year. The prize winners' drawings are given in fac simile, and the descriptive text as written by the children themselves. Laura D. Nichols, who is well known to young retders by her 'Overhead," "Underfoot," and other books on natural science, has a new story now ready called "Lotus Bay," which is full of interest and informationabout the wondert of sea and shore. Mrs. Nellie Blessing Eyster, of California, a lady well known as an able lecturer on temperance and kindred topics, has written an interesting story of old colonial days, founded on historical facts, under the title of " A Colonial Boy," which D. Lothrop Company will publish this month. "The Noble Patrón," a poem by Austin Dobson, which he will contribute to Harper's Magazine for October, has proved an excellent provocation to Edwin A. Abbey. The artist has interpreted the poem in nine drawings, all of whichwill accompany it in the magazine, and one of which will serve as a frontispiece. "Three Little Maids," a unique and bewitching story, by Mary B. Deane, an English writer, whose work is strongly commended by Charlotte M. Yonge, is announced for publication in this country and in England. The illustrations are by F. O. Small, whose paintings attracted so much attention recently in Paris. Dr. W. W. Keen, the distinguished Philadelphia surgeon, will contribute to Harper's Magazine for October a paper upon "Recent Progresa inJSurgery," in which he points out the astonishing advance in this department of medicine. He maintains that "America can rightfully boast of playing the chief role in the change that has taken place." Rev. H. H. Clark, U. S. N., who wrote 11 Boy Life in the United States Navy," which set every boy of nautical prooensitie8 wild, has just returned from a prolonged trip to South America and Southern Europe. Some later experiences are portrayed in " Naval Cadet Bently," a sequel to "Boy Life," which T). Lothrop Company have just publielied. Life on on a U. S. Training ship is graphically told by Mary Bradford Crowninshield in her last book, "Plucky Smallx," just out. Mrs. Crowninshield is the wife of Commander Crowninshield of the United States Navy, and the author of those two popuiar books, "All Amongthe Light-houses," and "The Light-house Children Abroad." She is a great favorite in New York musical and social circles. "Pknsioxs por All" is the tit'.e under which General M. M. Trumbull will give asevere lashing to the treasury raiders in the October " Popular Science Monthly." The writer was a general in the civil war, and is anxious for the honor, as welljas the due rewards, of the former soldiers, and he expresses the fervent wish that the "pension temptation" may not "change the character or diminish the fame of the Grand Army." Among aiuiouneements of The Century for last year was one of a series of "letters home" from Japan by the American artist, Mr. John La Farge. The letters haye been revised and expanded into a series covering the landscape, art, architecture, Ufe and religión of Japan, for which Mr. La Farge has made a great number of illustratïons, and these papers are to be the feature of The Century during the coming year. Mr. La Farge's. brief paper on Japanese art, published in Mr. Pumpelly's "Across America and Asia," was one of the earliest thoroughly appreciative essays on the subject of Japan. Se ven writers - clergymen, college professorsand public men,8omeofthem specialiste of acknowledged standing - have associated themselves to discuss special questions of social interest and import, and to prepare papers to be given to the public from titne to time in the pages of The Century. The writers include the Kev. Professor Shields of Princeton, Bishop Porter of New York, the Rev. Dr. T. T. Munger of New Haven, the Hon. Setn Low of Brooklyn, and Professor Ely of the John Hopkins University. For each paper the author will be responsible, but he will have the benefit of the criticism of the other members of the group before giving it final form. The opening paper will be printed in the November Century. Scribner's Magazine for October contains an exciting exploration article, in which Joseph Thomson describes his remarkableand faniousjourney through equatorial África; a very practical paper ou the best way to improve the common roads of the United States ; an end paper by " Ik Marvel," the author of "Keveries of a Bachelor;" one of the most attractive electric articles, showing modern applications of electricity to war, on land and sea ; the end of Stevenson's great romance, "The Master of Ballantrae ; " an unconventional travel article on Iceland; the second instalment of Harold Frederic's romance of Colonial New York ; with other interesting fiction and poema. Most of these anieles are richly illustrated. Ex-Postmaster General Thomas L. James has prepared an explanation of needed postal reform which will appear in the October Forum. Mr. James declares that the railroad postal service is twenty years behind the times and oughtto be very greatly improved; that small oftices near to one another ought to be Consolidated under one management so as to save expense and that ocean postage ought greatly to be cheapenen. Senator Cullom of Illinois will have an article in the same number on " Protection and the Farmers," to show that the farmers are benefited by a protective system more than any other class. Mr. Edward Wakefield, a member of the Australiau parliament, who has been elected and defeated many times under the Australiau ballot system, will contribute to this number an explanation of the practical workings and of some defects of the system which has been so much discussed in this country. Prof. Wm.T. Harris.United States Conimissioner of Education, writes a critical examination of Edward Bellamy's "Looking Backward." The Century has in preparation a series of papers on topics relating to the Gold Hunters of California. The articles will be prepared for the most part, as were the War Papers, by prominent participants in the events which they describe, and they will include accounts of early explorations, life in California before the gold discovery, the finding of gold in 1848 atSutter's Fort, the journey to California by the different routes (around the Hom, across the plains, by Nicaragua, and by Panama), life in the mining ca taps and in San Francisco, and other important aspects of California life at the time. It isbelieved that these papers will be in the nature of a revelation to the reading public of the present day as to many interesting aspects of the pioneer period, its romance and adventure, its tragedy and pathos, and its poetry and humor. A careful search in California and elsewhere has already brought to light many interesting pictures never yet engraved. The publicationof the papers will not be begun until the series is further advanced. No one who reads the papers much can fail to note how constantly " the race question" keeps cropping up in the northern press, while in the South it is daily and permanently a topic of intense discussion. It is still a "problem," pressing more and more sharply for answer, and portentous of danger. Fords, Howard & Hulbert (N. Y.) will very shortly isssue a book entitled, "An Appeal to Pharaoh : A Radical Solution of the Negro Problem." It is said to be candid, températe and strong in argument, lucid and attractive in style, and really to offer a new idea - which is conscientiously considered on all si des and pursued to its logical outcome. If this be so the book must make a deep impression and secure a wide reauing; tor there can be no genuine "unión" of Xorth and South, no wholesome prosperity in one half the land, and no possibility of proper attention to the many important interests of the whole country, until in some way the "negro question" iseliminatedfrom our politics. No other topic will healthfully divide Southern opinión so long as this onesolidifies it. It will be worth much to have a positive plan to talk about, and the author of this little book thinks he has one to present. The article in the October " Popular Science Monthly" that will attract the most attention is the one that lieads the list, "Pensions for All. Dr. M. Allen Starr has an illustrated article on "The Old and the New Phrenology," showing what has been really ascertained about the location of the faculties in the brain and how the errors of (tii.11 Anri Sïnnr'hfiim ViflVA Íwí'm ov_ ploded. A lively picture of "Evolution as Taught in a Theological Seminarv" is given bv Rollo Ogden, a seminary in New York being the institution criticized. There is an entertaining sketch of "Life at the Cameroons," by Robert Müller, M. D. I)r. RobsonRoose, writes on "The Art of Prolonging Life," giving advice as to the care of body and mind, and telling what length of days may be expected. The article on " Education in Ancient Egypt," by F. C. H. Wende 1 will surprise many, who would not suppose so much information on the subject was attainable. Mr. W. II. Larrabee contributes a second illustrated article on the antiquities of Sweden, this one dealing with the "Bronze Age." In "Anthropologv at Washington," Prof. J. Howard Gore describes the organization and methods of the Government scientific bureaus engaged in investigating the customs and history of the Indians and mound builders. Prof. Wesley Mills contribntes a popular account of "Digestión and Related Functions." W. Bernhardt, writing of "The Chemist as a Constructor," gives cases in which almost creative power has been attained by rnan through ecience. Prof. D. R McAnally tells the curious sources inany " Industrial Family Ñames.' T. J. Evans has a pleasant description of -'The Home of the Ferns." " The Origin of some General Errors" is pointed out by S. Exner. P. Souriaou describes " The Pleasure of Motion ;" and J. von Falke has a bit of anthropological lore on " The History of the Fork." The subject of the biographical sketch and portrait is Linnpeus, the "Flower King." There are editorials on "The Domain of Science" and "The American Association." Miscellaneous topics are treated briefly in the departments. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Fifty cents a number, $5 a year. Brentano's of New York, Chicago, Washington, Paris and London, will publish during thelatter part of September : Priest and Puritan, a story ty an anonymous author.which, it is expected, will meet with great success in church circles. The Sommerville Series, a collection of " history jingles" especially adapted for commitment to memoryby children. They have been modelled on the famous "House that Jack Built," and make with their catching rhythm a very practical as well amusing history primer. They also announce for early publication : Vol. II. of Brentano's Views of American Cities,containg 25 photogravures of the City of Washington, with descriptive text, and : Military Miscellanies, by Gen. J. B. Fry, U. S". A. This work will contain a collection of short papers on a variety of technical and historical topics treated clearly, concisely and forcibly. The technical chapters under the several heads of " Notes on Theoretical and Practical Military Matters," " The Cotnmand of the Army." " Justicfi in the Army," "Law in the Army." "Obedience in the Army and Navy," "Justice for the Army," " The Honor of the Army," " A Military Court of Appeals," " An Elastic Regular Army," " Admission to the Military Acadeiny." "The Militia," are grouped in Part I of the work, and cover an extraordinary ainount of painstaking research and practical experience by an oiiicer of long service in the staffand line of the Army. Part II. comprises much interesting historical and biographical material and professional criticism of some of the military men and measures of the Civil War. These sketches are entitled.. "Abraham Lincoln," " An Acquaintance with Grant," " Grant and Matthew Arnokl," "Halleck and Grant : " and contain the personal reminiscences of the author, whose duties in the Adjutant-General's Department in the field and as Provost Marshal General of the Ariny during the War, brought him closely in contact with the famous men of the time, The remainder of the book is devoted to interesting military studies of certain battles of the Rebellion, and criticism of published accounts cf some of the participants. Military Miscellanies will form an important part of the equipment of every commanding officer; also of those who make, as well as those whose duty it may be to execute, military laws. The technical part is a remarkably comprehensivo digest of the theory and practico of the Service from its original establishment to the present time. The edition will be limited to three hundred copies, printed from type. The National Retail Shoe Dealers' association discussed at its last meeting, among other things, the question of hov best to promote the honesty of employe3. They reached at last the admirable conclusión that employés could best be made honest "by adequate wages and a good example of honesty and diligence in business." Nothing could be better. The late Mrs. John Tyler was a very brilliantand beautiful wonaan, charming to her latest day. She was a New York girl, not yet 20, and the president was thirty-five years older when he feil in love with her. She would not marry him at first, and must therefore go on record as one woman who refused the hand of a president. She thought better of it af terwards, however, and took him.