The Magazines Of The Month.

THE MAGAZINES OF THE MONTH .

Tho current number of Blackwood is excellent . "A Woman-Hater" is continued , but the thread of tho storyfis somewhat broken by tho narrative of Rhoda Gale's experiences . Miss Gale being tho young lady Avhom Vizard met , in au almost fainting state , towards tho close of tho preceding part . Tho interruption , however , clearly has its purpose , as will bo seen as tho story proceeds . An article on

"SAvift and Macaulay , " in which are noted tho points that distinguished them , or Avhich they possessed in common , is admirably writton . We commend , in partioular , tho writer's censnre of those Avho publish privato letters and papers reflecting on the conduct or character of past worthies , without a thought for the feelings of the Iatter ' a relatives . " Pages from the Story of my Childhood " ia a pleasantly , written narrative . The continuation of "A Run through Kathiawar "

ia certain to find appreciative readers . As a specimen of tho reviewer s art , we commend to tho notice of our friends the review of the second volume of Mr . Theodore Martin ' s " Life of the Prince Consort . " The military reader will doubtless find much to interest him in the essay on "Army Promotion and Retirement , " and tho political will bo equally taken with , tho views expressed in . the last of the contents , " The Recent Homo Agitation and tho East . "

In Belgravia are continued Mr . Charles Reade a " Good Stories of Man and other Animals , " but wo hardly think the present one of "The Exchange of Animals , " in which a man sells his Avife for a dog and twenty shillings , is equal in point of merit or in interest to the halfdozen that precede it . However , as the story of an English custom , now , Ave believe , entirely obsolete—though Mr . Reado ' s illustration of

it belongs to a date Avithin the last half century—we doubt not it will serve to amuse the roader . The illustration accompanying it is the best Ave havo seen in this magazine for several months , the face of the dog , which seems to be enjoying the joke , being admirably expressed . Mr . Richard A . Proctor contributes a paper on "Astrology , " well worth reading , and 'An Old Enthusiast and a Young Cynic'furnishes a round dozen of "Quips and Cranks , " which are admirable . As to the serial

fiction : Mrs . Lynn Linton ' s story , entitled " From Dreams to Waking , " is concluded . 'Juliet' finds her married life Avith Cis Travors just what she might havo expected from tho circumstances under which it Avas contracted , and young Travors himself docs not improve . The little Gretchen rc-appears iu a now character , and Colonel Fleming returns from India , so that there aro new elements of interest in store for ua . Aa to the other tales , we have nothing to add to our previous remarks .

The feature of Cornhill is tho opening portion of a new serial story , entitled "Erema ; or , my Father ' s Sin , " by Mr . Blackman , author of "Alice Lorraine , " current some time since in Blackwood , and other almost equally well-known novels . Mr . Blackman is a writer of considerable power , and the reader will doubtless anticipate that "Erema" will bo a sourco of pleasure duringtho long winter evenings . Nor , to judge from our first introduction , do AVO think ho will bo disappointed .

"CaritiV is continued , so that fiction has in this magazine tAvo capital representatives . In addition , AVO have noted "On Turkish ways and Turkish women" ( part II . ) , Avhich is suro to find many readers just now , when tho Turk is engrossing tho attention of all Europe . Among the other contributions , tho following are in the highest degree praiseworthy : — " The Laws of Dream-Fancy , " " Thoughts on Criticism , by Critics . " and " Forgotten Jokes . "

Baily is always welcome . Its programme for the current month is of the nsnal character , and includes moro than one paper of special interest . Thus a glimpse is vouchsafed us at "Winchester Race Course , " and tho events and persons most intimately associated with it . Under the head of "Country Quarters , " we havo a ahort narrative of the " Surrey Union ' s " doings . In " Frank Leigh of Watercombo , " Frank

and the old squire ho is visitiug sally forth for an early morning ' s quest after the pole-cat . The experience is new to Frank , and he enters fully into tho spirit of tho sport . " Our Van " is more heavily laden than usual as regards matter , and as racily Avritten as ever . In addition is a list of "Hounds , " with tho names of tho masters , Avhips , days of meeting , and the country hunted .

The serial tales in the Leisure Hour , namoly , "Tho Shadow on the Hearth , " and " The Grants of Lochside , " Avhich aro very suitable to the pages of this periodical , are both continued . " Tho Stone Ago in Great Britain " is highly interesting . The Rev . W . Wright ' s contribution on " Turkish Law and Turkish Mis-rule " is an earnest appeal to the Great rowers no longer to leave tho Christian subjects of the

latter at tho mercy of Turkish law . Then Ave have noted No . III . of "American Caricatures , ' and "A Stranger in St . Petorsburgh . " The experiences of the latter , coming as they do from tho pen of Mr . Sala , when ho was Special Commissioner of tho Daily Telegraph , Avill bo found very amusing . We have noted likewise two other descriptive papers , "Among the Mormons , " aud an account of " Girton College . " Iu the usual "Antiquarian Gossip of the Month , " and the " Weather

1 roverbs , " we find recorded many quaint old customs and sayings . It is almost needless to say that the " 5 th of November" and " Lord Mayor ' s Day " occupy a prominent place ; in tho former , tho quaint civic pageants Avhich accompanied the Lord Mayor of former days being specially mentioned . Loss well-known , however , aro sundry provincial customs , such , for instance , as tho Staffordshire ono described by Dr . Plot , where children go round from house to house on St . Clement ' s Day ( 23 rd November ) ,

singing—Clemeny , Clemeny , God be wi' you , Christmas comes but once a ye-ar ; When it comes it will soon be gone , Give me an apple , and I'll be gone . On this day tho bakers in Cambridge hold an annual supper . On St

Catherine ' s Day ( tho 25 th ) , ycrang women , according to JIampson , " assembled to make merry , according to a custom Avhich they called ' Catherining , ' and Avhich probably originated in the religions processions suppressed by the proclamation of tho 33 rd of Honry VIII . " " Cattern Day" is celebrated by tho lace-makcrs in Buckinghamshire .

The Magazines Of The Month.

who hold a " merry-making , and eat a sort of cake called * wigs , ' and drink ale . " On the 30 th , or the day of St . Andrew , tho patron saint of Scotland , " the Scotch , in their annual procession , bear singed sheepa' heads . " In Northamptonshire , tho samo day was kept ,

according to Miss Bakor , " by the lace-makers , U 3 a day of festivity and lace-making ; but since the use of pillow-lace has in a great measure given place to that of the loom , thia holiday has been less and less observed . " Among tho " Weather Proverbs , " tho two folloAving from Notts are worth quoting : —

" If there's ice in November that will bear a duck , There'll be nothing after but sludge and muck . " " If the ice bear a man before Chiiatmaa , it Avill not bear a mouse after . " The same prevaila in West Kent , we are told , only goose and duck are substituted respectively for man and mouse . A similar ono ia noted in connection with Hallowe ' en ( 11 th Norember N . s . )—

" If ducks do slide at Holland tide , At Christmas they will swim ; If ducks do swim at Holland-tide , At Christmas they will slide . "

But , as tho Avnter remarks , " the experience of certain great frosts ia 1565 , 1683 , 1762 , and 1814 directly oppoaea thia popular view . " In the Midland Counties , it seems ; there is a proverb to the effect that " if the wind ia S . W . at Martinma 3 ( 23 rd November N . s . ) , it will keep there till after Christmaa . "

In the Sunday at Home there is a short , well-written story of " The Suspected Man , " in addition to which we have noted No . XII . of Dr . Stoughton ' s historical aketch of " Westminster Abbey , " an aocount of a visit to "Pukapukaj or , Danger Island , " in connection with tho

excellent yet often arduous , and indeed dangerous work undertaken by the South Sea Missions ; a narrative of the life and labours in Biblical publication of " Constantino von Tiachendorf , " and a short story of " The Two Lime Trees . " The frontiapieoe , " St . Martin ' a Mount , " from Turner ' s picture , ia admirably engraved .

The principal attractions in Cassell ' s Family Magazine are the notes on "Gardening in November , " a paper by Profeasor Andrew Wilson , of Edinburgh , on "The Luminosity of the Sea , " a highly interesting description of "The Dinner Tables of the Past , " sundry wise directions by Mr . A . G . Payne as to the preparation of "Breakfast Dishes , " and a paper exhibiting "The Daily Occupations of a Turkish Lady . " In addition , thero ia a second article about " Washing at Home , " and

"The Eradication of Stains , and 'A Family Doctor' 18 seaaonably earnost in prescribing "All about Asthma . " The 'Gatherer , ' as usual , ia useful and instructive , and any one who may have needlework for which she experiences a difficulty in finding * market will meet , in theso pages , Avith a solution to her difficulty . The two tales , "Caught in the Briars" and "A Hard Case , " are concluded . Our hope ia that their successors may prove as entertaining . "By the Hoarth , " drawn by M . E . Edwards , makes an effective frontispiece .

The third part of The Countries of the World has specialattraotiona at this moment , when all tho world is talking of the Arctic Expedition of Captain Nares , so recently returned to these shores . Dr . Brown is very happy in his description of Artio life , and the illustration 3

which accompany his text are in every respect worthy it . Among tho most effectively drawn are those representing "Explorers disturbed by Walrus , " "Recreation near the North Pole , " and "Wave born Ice . bergs . " " Polar Bear attacked by Eskimo Dogs , " from an original sketch , furnishes an admirable frontispiece to the number .

We have also received Part I . of Canon Farrar ' s well-known work , The Life of Christ . Many of our readers , no doubt , aro already acquainted with the merits of thia work . It has , indeed , been generally eulogised , and no words of ours will affect the opinions which have been pronounced so unanimously . But the publication by Me 3 ara . Cassell and Co . of a now edition , at a price that will enable all classes

to include this important work among their biblical possessions , ia a service to literature and to the public , which is deserving of all praise . We have plenty of literature of a cheap form , but it is only in the periodical issues of this and other publishing firms that we find quality combined with cheapness . At the same time , Messrs . Casaell , in bringing out The Life of Christ , at the moderate cost of seven-pence

per number , have spared no pains to make the edition worthy of the work . It is admirably and profusely illustrated , those exhibited places and the customs and habits of the people being taken from photographs , to obtain which Mr . F . Mann Gord specially visited the Hol y Land . Tho copies of medals , coins , & c , are produced under the

superintendence of the Rev . S . S . Lewis , corresponding member of the Archaeological Societies of Paris and Berlin , whilst the maps and plans aro based on tho latest geographical discoveries . Knowing this , we have no manner of doubt that this aerial issue of Dr . Farrar ' s work will find an earnest welcome from all classes of the reading public .

The September number of The Masonic Herald of Western India contains a short but excellent article on "Masonic Secrecy , " a full account of the meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Bombay on tho 4 th of April last , as Avell as of the District Grand Lodgo of Bengal held on the 14 th of June . In tho latter we find a resolution passed ,

expressing tbo sincerest regret at the resignation , by R . W . Bro . John B . Roberts , of the District Grand Mastership , and a deep sense of the important services he had rendered to Freemasonry in tho Province of Bengal . The general noAVS is interesting , and we rejoice to find tho Craft in Western India has so ably conducted an organ to watch over and promote its interests .

We have also received Nos . 2 to 6 inclusive of Vol . I . of the Standard , a monthly magazine dedicated to Freemasonry in India . This , likewise , appears to be admirably conducted , and somo . of tho contents , notably an essay on " The Secret Fraternities of tho Middle Ages , " which gained the Arnold Prize at Oxford in 1865 , sundry chajiters from "An Ancient History of Freemasonry , " and an article .