Harper's Magazine for August contains "The Convict System in Siberia," by Stephen Bonsai. "Under the Spell of the Grand Canon," by T. Mit chell Prudden, M.D. "Mr. Gladstone. Reminis cences, anecdotes, and an estimate." First paper, by George W. Smalley. This number is rich in short stories. Among them are " The Lord Chief Justice, by H. B. Marriott Watson; "The Monster," by Stephen Crane; "The Child's Mother," by Margaret Deland; "The Fish-Warden of Madrid," an amus ing sketch of New England character, by Bliss Perry; and "When the Clouds Fell down," a romance that takes place in London during a black fog, by Julian Ralph. In view of the strong tendency which is being manifested in the United States toward colonial ex pansion, the leading article in Appleton's Popular Science Monthly for" July is of special interest. It is the first of a series by James Collier, on the " Evo lution of Colonies," and deals with their genesis. "Weather Forecasts" is the title of a very instruc tive paper describing the methods and apparatus in use by the United States Weather Bureau. W. E. Cram, the naturalist artist, contributes an attractive article entitled " Woodpeckers and their Ways." Under the title " Eye Language," Dr. Louis Robin son contributes an essay calling attention to the wonderful ability of expression which the human eye possesses. " Gerarde and the Gerardias " is the title of a brief account, both botanical and biographical, of a famous fourteenth-century botanistjohn Gerarde.
The July Century opens with a story of the times, "By Order of the Admiral," by Winston Churchill. This deals with a filibustering expedition and is full of romance. There are two articles on "Confeder ate Commerce-destroyers." Stephen Bonsai, late of the American Legation at Madrid, writes of " Holy Week in Seville." Cornelia Dearth, in " An Artistic Treasure from Spain," describes the recovery of a fine antique bust at Elche. Poultney Bigelow gives a risumi of " Ten Years of Kaiser Wilhelm," writing from intimate personal knowledge of the aspirations of the Emperor and his realizations of them. Mrs. Mabel Loomis Todd, contributes a paper entitled
"In Aino-Land," in which she describes a wild, hairy race almost unknown to the western world. James Bryce analyzes the conception of " Equality" and examines how far it can be realized politically, socially, and economically. " Modern Dutch painters" are appreciatively criticised by Mrs. Elizabeth W. Champney, and there are reproductions of many noted pictures. A story of Japan, full of warmth and color, is " Purple-Eyes," by John Luther Long, whose " Mme. Butterfly" was widely talked about.
WHAT SHALL WE
READ?
A book which will attract unusual attention is Capt. A. T. Mahan's The Interest of America in Sea Power, Present and Future.1 Captain Mahan is an acknow ledged authority on naval matters, and the papers on " Preparedness for Naval War," " The Future in relation to American Naval Power," and " Strategic features of the Carribean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico," will be read with especial interest. The captain is also a firm believer in the annexation of Hawaii and one paper is devoted to this subject. The " Possi bilities of an Anglo-American Reunion " are also discussed. The book is thoroughly interesting, and valuable as embodying the ideas of the leading specialist upon naval strategy and warfare. No novelist of modern times has attained a greater reputation than Henryk Sienkiewicz. The first novel which brought him prominently before the public and which exhibits, perhaps, to the greatest degree, the author's wonderful dramatic power is entitled With Fire and Sword* Messrs. Little, Brown & Co. have just published a new illustrated edition of this remarkable book. It is a story of Poland of the most absorbing interest, abounding in thrilling scenes and incidents, keeping the reader's interest undiminished to the very end. Mr. Curtin deserves unstinted praise for his admirable work as a translator. 1 The Interest of America in Sea Power, present and future. By Captain A. T. Mahan, D. C. L., I.I.. D. United States Navy. Little, Brown & Co., Boston, 1898. Cloth. 2 With Fire and SworD. An historical novel of Poland and Russia by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Authorized and una bridged translation from the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin. Little, Brown & Co, Boston, 1808. Cloth. Library Edition S2.00. Popular Edition Si.00.
