PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 46

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

We have received from Messrs Cassell ft parcel of their various pub'ications, which seems to entitle the firm to tbe appellation of literary " universal providers," so wide is the scope of these monthly publication*. The February number of Caasell'a Magazine, wish its bright extsrior, comes first on the list, and on this as on previous occasion?, we have no'hing buf; praise for the tone and ttyle of its contents. Fiction is of course well represented, for we must rank Cassell's as among our " light " magazines. " Spectre Gold," a romanes of Klondyke, is the ssrial story, and several other short stoms, notably one in quite a new style by Morley Roberts, are quite up to the magazine standard. It is; however, iv the articles that Casiell's Magazine claims admiration as a family journal, for these combine information and amusement in a very attractive manner, their only fault being, perhaps, their brevity. We may instance "Animals as Hunters," " In the Areu*,"and " Mountainearimg in Winter " as examples. The Quiver for February is a striking exampls of the radical change that has taken place in Sunday magazines during the last ten years. There was a lime whea the average reader eyed tho Sunday Magazine with the same distrust with which he now •• sheers off " from, the thrilling story, which half-way down will spring an advertisement on him. The Quiver, however, maintains euch a pleasant humanity and cheerineis in its pages that the reader feels equally inclined for its pages on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as on Sunday. The stories are good — especially the short ones. There are some capital articles capitally illustrated, notably one by the Duke of Devonshire on " Hospital R-forms," another on " The Church Army," snd yet another on " Holy Week ia Seville," by the Couotsss of Maath, while the sermons arc excellent, as the names of th-s preachers, Rev. Hugh Macmillan, D.D., aad R*.v. Boyd-Carpenter, will indicate. Little Folks Magazine for February indicates convincingly how fortunate are the little folki of 1898 to be thus catered for. The magazine has long been an established favourite in its yearly form, but the delights of the monthly number are very little known so far ia the colonies. We hasten to commend it most: warmly to all parents. A more delightful present than a year's subscription to Little Folks could not ba found ; and we shall be much mistaken if older folks are not found enjoying its pages. Puzzles, competition?, stories, dainty little tongs set to music, and some of the prettiest illustrations we have ever seen fill tha pages of Little Folks, aad we shall be much surprised if the roll of colonial subscribers does not rapidly attain large proportions. Messrs Gasseli have provided for such a contingency by extending the time for entries m the various competitions so as to place colonial little folks on the same footing as their English cousins. " Chums " is already too well known all over the colonies to nesd much comment from ua. We will therefore content ourselves with noting I that the February number shows no falling off i in all the attractions dear to a boy's heart— adventures by sea and land, travels, comicalities, competitions, all are well represented I here. Dear to our boyish recollections as ths "Boys' Own Annual" remain*, we cannot help ; confessing that "Chums" makes an excellent I bid for equal favour*.

Think ifc over, ladies ; do not buy miserable imitations when the genuine it procurable. No modicine introduced to tlie New Zealand public has ever deserved success so much as Bonniko* j ton's Carrageen Irish Moss. It does all thai is claimed for it, and gives (satisfaction.