PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10571, 18 January 1896, Page 8

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

v Macmilisn'i Magnzine" for Decembe* contains a 'paper on •» Oxford In-tie Thirteenth Century." which throws a vivid light on the wiia students of days gone by, with their riots, fights, and even murders. The writer concludes that the energies which in these days find vent in half a dozan forms of athletic exercise had in the thirteenth pratury hardly more than tha single- outlet of fighting. " The Swiss Infantry", gives some particulars of the development of Swiss taetios, bat points out that it is a mistake to gnppose that the Swibs were the first to overthrow the mailed chivalry on tha open field. The Milanese anticipated them by 150 years. "The Yam Custom" is a tale of Ashantee, and gives some idea of the atrocities practised under tfie direction of the Fetish priest. " The Battles of the Nive " is a brief account of the five days' fierce fighting during the Peninsular War near that now favourite resort, Biarritz, in which the margin between victory for Wellington and defeat was perilously narrow. "Stage Struck," "The Craft of Hunting," and "My Friend Arcanieva" are lighter tales and sketches. The serial, " A Bride-olest," is developing in a manner calculated to arouse the interest of the readers. The Christmas number of the " Pall Mall Magazine " is rich in illustrations and contains a variety of seasonable reading. . " The Chess Chib " is a short story of how a young man was beguiled into joining an Anarchist club, and of the manner in which he escaped from a violent death at the hands of the club's emissaries. "Santa Barbara" is an account of the American Nics. One of the most interesting articles is that entitled " Behind the Scenes at Monte Carlo," in which the manner that thi« famous gambling casino is conducted is explained. " Raby and its Memories" and another of Mr Grant Allen's papers-on " Evolution in Early Italian Art" are also worthy of special mention. " Kepamos " is a tragedy worked out on somewhat nnnsual lines. " Jack Sheppard Up to date" and " Princess Cherry Blossom " are special Christmas stories. The poems are above the usual magazine standard, and altogether the number is a good one. " The Century Magazine " tor December is, as usual, charmingly illustrated. The frontispiece is an engraving of a painting by Jame< Tissot, " Jesus Found in the Temple." "Tha Passion Play at Vorder-Thierste" dispels the illusion that it is only at Oberammergau that a survival of the miracle-plays of the middle agea is to bs mot with. Vorder-Thiersee io situated among the Tyrolean Alps, and the author assures us that the passion play was produced there even earlier than at Oberammergau. Another instalment of the *' Life of Napoleon Bonaparte" deals with Trafnlgar, Austerlitz, &c. " Captain Eli's Beat Bar " is a Christmas story, affid "Tom Grcgan" may almost be placed in the same category. " The Brushwood Boy" is by Rudyard Kipling. Special interest will be taken in the illustrations in tha paper on Tissot's " Life of Jesus." "The Windsor Magazine" for November is capitally illustrated, and contains a variety of matter. The conclusion of Mr Guy BoothbyV story, "A Bid for Fortune," is riecidodly weak, and it is evident tfce idea of a seqoel in which furthsr particulars "of Dr Nikola arc to be given was only developed after the story was commenced. The second serial," " The Gray Lady," is also concluded. " A Velat Vendetta "ib a complete story, and is well told. Some particulars are given of the duties of the Lord Chnraberlain, with a portrait of tha present occupant of the office, Lord Carriugton. "At Sea with the German Emperor" is not an account of the voyages of the Kaiser, concerning some of which, some strange stories are told, so much as a description of the Imperial yacht Hohenzollem. There is an interesting account of baseball iv EogHnd and a paper on the art treasures of Manchester, with several tales and sketches.

" Chambers's, Journal" may be said to be almost unique, inasmuch as it continues to hold its own amoDg the lighter magaizinea without the aid of illustrations. This evidently goes to show that literary merit is still appreciated without the adventitious aid of pretty pictures. The Decembsr number is well up to the usual high standard. The serial story, "An Electric Spark," somewhat long drawn out, iB concluded. The short steries are invariably good. There is an interesting article on "Our Butter Suppiy," which once more conveys the moral that nothing bat the best should ba sect ta London. Canada had at one time a very fair proportion of the tiv.de, but when Canadians thought their t supply indispsDS&ble shippors persisted in sending batter bought cheap in summer and kept in cool storage where its bloom disappeared. The result was that mer,chantß refused to buy Canadian butter except as a substitute for train oil, and now the Government seek t» re-establish the trade by paying a bonus of a cent a pound for freshmade, creamery butter, in addition to giving special railway facilities. The Chrretmas number of the " St. Nicholas Magazine" is full of good things for young folks. It opens with letters to young friends writton by the late Robert Louis Stevenson. "How a Street Car Came into a Stocking," " Betty Leicester's English Christmas," and a " Christm&B "White Elephant" at once indicate the nature of the stories. There are, in the language of young folks, heaps of other tales and sketches, not the least interesting being tbe account of " Owney, the Post Office Dog.' This animal has taken a fancy to travel by train with the mails not oniy in various p«fe of the United States, but has aiso visited Portland (Oregon) and Seattle (Wasbiugton territory). He is the welcome guest of evesy post office clerk wherever he goes.