SUNDRY PUBLICATIONS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1508, 24 January 1901, Page 32

SUNDRY PUBLICATIONS

Messrs Herbert Baillie and Co., Cuba street, forward us copies of the Christmas numbers of the following magazines : "Harper's,” “The Strand” ancl “Pearson’s.” In “Harper’s” the most noticeable features in an exceptionally fine number are a fairy fantasy, “The PTgrimmage of Truth,” by Erie Bogh; a short story, “Enter a Dragoon," by Thomas Haidy; an article by Henry Fouquier on “Bernhardt and Coquelin” ; a description of “The Discovery of Ophir,” by Dr Emil Peters, the African explorer, and a decided novelty in an article by Benjamin Constant, the famous French painter, on “Victor Hugo as an Artist.” Other items in a rich programme include stories bj 7 Mary E. Wiikins, Thomas Bailey Aldrich, and Alfred Hodder and poems by Marion Wilcox, Ruth Stuart, Nina Layard and W. H. Hayne. .The illustrations generally are simply superb, although we confess we »lo not care very much for the colour schemes of Howard Pyle’s otherwise delightful drawings. -The" article© on Victor Hugo as an Artist will be a perfect revelation to those who only know Hugo: as a poet and novelist. The drawings display great power of imagination, although in execution they may be a trifle bizarre. All readers cf “Harper’s” will be glad to notice that the popular “Editor’s Study” department, long conducted by the late G. AY. Curtis, has been revived under the capable control of Mr AY. Dean Howells to-day perhaps the first of American literary men.

"The Strand” is a wonderful production, consisting cf 208 pages, with no fewer than 250 illustrations. Amongst the contributors are W. W. Jacobs, A. E. AV. Mason, Richard Marsh. John Strange Winter, L. T. Meade, Robert Eustace, Huan Mee, and other popular purveyors of fiction. Some of the special illustrated articles, of which “The Strand” was first to make a prominent feature, are excellent. Specially noticeable are. Mr Adams’ “The Training of Lions, Tigers and Other Great Cats” • “The Building of the Deutschland,” by S- Raker; “Chinese Puzzles, Tricks and Traps,” ; “The Most Beautiful Wo-, men in Painting,” by Frederick Doland “Decorated Ostrich Eggs.” Ihe Strand” well maintains its old reputation for being the most readable of itmglish magazines.

The Christmas Number of “Pearson’s Magazine is a bulky and handsome budget of good literature, and pretty and interesting pictures. A special feature is * n ome ve ~y cleverly executed illustrations in colour, notably those m the article headed "Why the" Indian Paints His Face.” ' The little nigger boys and girls whose photos adorn Errol Stanhope’s story, “The Little Black An. 6,e1,’ are delightfully funny youngsters. ‘The Art of the Age’’ introduces' iorhe. excellent reproductions of famous paintmgs, and as a collection of horrors the “Prehistoric Monsters” described by Mr Lawson Wood provide material for a first-class nightmare. Mr Fyfe’s article on “Curing Animals by Electricity” contams some curious information, and sret,5 ret , , H /?oJ e " s 1 cl ®Yer skit on Conan Doyie s Sherlock Holmes”, must not be overlooked. Altogether, the Christmas Rearson s is a particularly strong number which will doubtless find a host of well-pleased readers.

Messrs Ward, Lock and Co. Melbourne, send us (through Messrs cs „ i W Mackav, the r “3 the Windsor Magazine.” It i s an P y.' cellent production judged either from a hterary or artistic point of view Amongst the contributors are Sir Edwin Arnold, Messrs Zangwill p, lv Booth by B. Phillips Oppenheim, Rider Haggard, Robert Barr and Barrv Pain behave rarely see n better black and white work than that rMessrs Greiffenhagen, Forever? T Wat ler Wilson, Warwick Goble Harnlj n 1 pmg, and other Cop-

the number are responsible. Amongst the fiction we like best Mr Halliwell Sutcliffe’s story, and a clever sketch by Mr Barry Pain. Mr Rider Haggard contributes an interesting account of life at Pretoria in the seventies. An illustrated article of great interest is that which deals with the work of Mr S. Gr. Waller, several excellent reproductions of whose most famous pictures are given. As a special supplement, there is given away with the Christmas “Windsor’ a complete novel, “Mistress Dorothy Marvin,” by Mr J. C. Snaith. Altogether, the r Windsor” publishers have surpassed themselves this year- in liberality towards their patrons. The Christmas Number of “The Quiver,” to hand from Messrs Cassells and Co., Melbourne, is , a splendid production, including two splendid photogravures from original paintings, two beautifully coloured plates, and a generous supply of halftone engravings. As a special supplement, the publishers give a large extra photogravure of a fine painting - by Stanhope Forbes, entitled “News at Last.” Amongst the literary contributors are Sir Lewis Morris, the Rev Mark Guy Pearse, the Bishop of Ripon: “lan Maclaren,” Katherine Tynan, Coulson Kernaban, and other wellknown writers. The whole number is bright and interesting, and is a marvellous production for a shilling.