SOME MAGAZINES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 12

SOME MAGAZINES.

One of the best of the many good things in the March number of the UTm/sor Magazine (London and Melbourne : Ward Loch and Bowden), is a beautifully illustrated article on Giraffes by the well-known naturalist, MrGambiorßolton. In “London’s Parliament at Work,” we have a most interesting description of the methods of procedure of the London County Council, with character sketches and photographs of some of the leading conn ullors. Another excellent feature is “The Art of the Potter,” by Mr J. F. Fraser, in which the manufacture of pottery from Hie simplest to the most artistic kinds, is very faithfully described, the numerous illustrations helping the reader to understand the details of the work. “Dr Nikola.” begins to develop in interest and excitement as Mr Boothhy’s clever story proceeds, and of short stories, sketches and poems, there is a bewildering variety. The illustrations are still somewhat uneven in merit.

That (Id favourite of cur youth, the orange coloured Chamber's Journal, lias a very strong numberforMareli. Sir Walter Besant’s serial story, “ The Master Craftsman,” will please his admirers. The scene is in the writer’s favourite East London. The story is bright and interesting, and the heroine bids fair to develop into one of the most delightful ladies that the writer lias yet introduced us to. A complelo story, “The Girdleston Gallery Mystery,” deals with the disappearance of a supposed very valuable painting from a London art gallery, and is a pleasant, if not over brilliant, tale, and there are several short stories which will maintain the reputation of Chamber's for this form of fiction. A timely interest attaclu s to two or three African stories and sketches, and amongst the. general articles is one on

“ The National Debt,” in which is very agreeably conveyed much valuable and interesting information. Chamber's lias no pictures, but its literary merits are much in advance of some of the new comers.

Cassell's Magazine, the March number of which we have received from the publishers, shows a great improvement. It is exceptionally well illustrated, and the subjects of the articles are well chosen, the useful blending well with the purely recreative. “ Pictures of Sailors and the Sea’’gives a capital account of some of the more prominent among the younger marine painters of the day, and is well illustrated. Another of the series of articles describing the homes of English statesmen is contributed by Mr Frederick Dolman, the several castles and “lordly pleasure houses” of the Duke of Devonshire being described. The account- of the Duke’s famous palace of Chatsworth in the Perth district is exceptionally interesting. Mr D. If. Parry contributes a pretty tittle French story, “Babillo” (illustrated by graceful drawings by Mr Gordon Browne), Mr Fletcher Robinson writes on “Athletics for Ladies,” but Mr Cutclitfe Jlyne is hardly up to his general high standard in his story, “The Defier,” a tale of a British West African colony. “ Steeplejacks and their Ways ” and “Recent Railway Racing” are also worthy of notice, but the whole number is a very strong one.

The Quiver for March (Cassells and Co.) contains articles by the Rev Joseph Parker, Hiles Hitchens, Boyd Carpenter, Professor Gordon Btaikic, D.D., and the Very Rev the Dean of Armagh and others, all most suitable for Sunday reading. The two serial stories by Alan St. Aubyn and Fay Ax tens respectively, both display considerable merit, and the illustrations, of which there is a very liberal supply, aro uniformly good.

Wo have also to acknowledge, from Messrs Cassells and Co, the March number uf Cliums, t han which no better magazine for boys could possibly be desired, and the Saturday Journal, the latter being an excellent collection of stones and general items of timely interest.

The March number of the Magazine of .■lid. (Messrs Cassells and Co., London and Melbourne) is a handsome and useful tribute to the memory of the late Lord Leighton, and is decidedly the best number of this fine publication that wo have yet seen. A photogravure frontispiece is a reproduction of Lord Leighton’s wellknown picture. “ Perseus and Andromeda,” and a special article, containing no fewer than twenty-two line illustrations, deals with the artistic and personal career of the late President of the Royal Academy. The ai tide is from the pen of Mr Spielnian, the editor of t he magazine, and for ■ nniy years an intimate friend of Lord Leighton. Another excellent feature of the number is an ,ai tide on tin: Belgian artist, Felicien Pops, whose weird pictures, dealing largely with the supernatural, remind one of Blake and of the Belgian artist Weirtz, the famous collection of whose paintings at Brussels is so well known to British tourists. Several examples of Mr Reps’ work are given. Mr Lionel Cust discusses “ Some Old Masters at the Royal Academy,” ami other articles deal with the Roberts Collection, Sport in Art, Some Rivers of Lakeland, and “ The Influence of Architectural Style upon Design.” The whole number is illustrated most profusely.

We have also received a copy of the “Wanganui Collegiate .School Register,” compiled by “An Did Boy.” This is a usedul and interesting little publication, containing a complete history of the rise and progress of the now famous school at Wanganui, it-, value to old collegians being specially enhanced by a list of the hors and their present addresses from 1882 •,;> t o tiie present time. The reminiscences f ton earlier days of the school aro very

: ,timr. and the whole publication re dec ia the highest credit upon me gentleman (Mr A. G. Kemp, of Wellington) who is mainly responsible for its appearance.

Two views of the school, taken in 1868 and IS9O, respectively, give a convincing proof of the really wonderful progress made by the institution whose history is here so faithfully recorded. C. Wilson.