Literary Notes

Short stories will be the feature of Harper's Magazine for Oc-tober. Edward Bellamy, AnnieTrurnbull Slosson, Margaret J. Preston, and Jlrs. Locy C. Lillie will each eontribute one. Á .ofender of California against the Charge of "tírossness" anda witness that "with all the wonders of the great and the grand " the State can show also "thesyivan and thedelicately beautiful," will contribute to Harper's Magazine for Oetobera paper upon the "Forests of the California Coust Range," accompanied with confirmatory testimony in the shape of nutnerous illustrations drawn by Julián Kix. The success of Marshall P. Wilder's book, " The People I have Smiled with," Cassell & Co., has surprised no one more than the arniable little fellow, its author. He knew that he had a great many good friends who would buy it and read it, but he did not know they were to be counted by the thousands. The sale of this book has been second only to that of Max O'Rell's "Jonathan and hts Continent." The truth is the people love to " smile " much more than they do to cry, and they have had a good deal of amusement out of Mr. Wilder'a shrewd observations, which are at the same time always toned with geniality. The series of Russian articles prepared for Harper's Magazine by Theodore Child, with co-operation of T. de Thulstrup in the matter of illustration, will be continued in the Oetober number with one entitled "The Fair of NijniiNovgorod." Both the article and the illustrations, in the variety ot types and scènes portrayed, bear out the VIcount de Vogüé's definition of this annual fair as "a microcosm of Russian life." Some time ago the Detroit Frae Press offered $3,000 in prizes for the three best serial stories sent in before July lst The result of the competition has been that Major Joseph Kirkland of Chicago has taken the first pnze, $1,600. His story is entitled, " The Captain of Co. K." Mr. K. is the author of "Zury, the Meanest Man in Spring County," "The McVeys," and other stories. The second prize goes to Omaha, Neb., and is taken by Mrs. Eliza W. Peattie. Her story is entitled, " The Judge." The third prize of $500 was awarded to Elbridge S. Brooks of Boston, Mass. The title of his story is, " The Son of Issichar." One of the most interesting as well as one of the most important announcements of fall publications is that of a volume of "Orations and After-Dinner Speeches," by Chauncey M. Depew, which Cassell & Company, Limited, have in prepartion. There in no more pleasantly familiar name in the country than that of Mr. Depew, and it is by his speeches that he is the best known. Very few of these have ever been printed in their entirety, and many of thern have only been dealt out in fragments by the daily papers and yet he has won a worldwide reputation by them. The public are to be congratulated upon the appearance of this volume. The book is now on the press, and will be published with a steel portrait of Mr. Depew. The leading article in the October Forum is a review of thepolitical situation in Europe, by Prof. Emile de Lavaleye, of the University of Liége. A hundred years henee, Prof. Lavaleye thinks, except China, there will be no nation that can compare in strength and importance with the United States and Russia. Senator S. M. Cullom of Illinois writes an elabórate article to show that protection is of greater benefit to the farmers than to any other class. Mr. Thos. L. James, who was Postmaster General under President Arthur, pointe out the reforms that are so greatly needed. Mr. Edward Wakefield, a member of the Australian parliament, writes from his experience as a politician about the ballot systera which several of our states have adopted. Bishop Huntington, of the diocese of Central New York, makes a keen analysis of the frivolities of fashionable life. Prof. Wm. T. Harris, the new United States Commissioner of Education, reviews the sytem of state socialism explained in Edward Bellamy's "Looking Backward." The Rev. John Snyder of SL Louis writes an essay on "Prejudice against the Negro." Other articles in this number are, "The Love of Notoriety," by Francis Power Cobbe; "Making a name in Literature," by Edmund Gosse, and "Democracy in the Household," by Eliza Lynn Linton.- [The Forum Publishing Co., 253 Fifthve, N. Y. 50c a number; $5 a year.