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distinguish civilized nations the world over. " They are the jolliest, most sympathetic, generous souls" the author ever found in his wanderings. The stories are written in a bright, entertaining mariner, and the account of " House-boating in China " is fascinating in the extreme. In Sister Jane,1 Mr. Harris writes in a more McCLURE's MAGAZINE for 1897 will contain a new serious vein than usual. The story comes very op Life of Grant, by Hamlin Garland, profusely illus portunely at this season of goodwill to man, for the trated, Rudyard Kipling's first American serial, heroine displays true charity to rich and poor alike. "Captain Courageous," and Robert Louis Steven The book is admirably written, with here and there son's " St. Ivés," the only novel of his still unpub touches of the quaint humor that characterizes the lished. Chas. A. Dana will also give an account of author. his " Recollections of Wartime." Conan Doyle, Ian Few writers have a stronger hold upon the reading Maclaren, Joel Chandler Harris, Octave Thanet, and public than Charles Dudley Warner. Whatever many others will contribute the fiction comes from his pen, whether story or essay, is sure to contain the best possible food for reflection. The Relation of Literature to Life1 is made up of a THE December number of CURRENT LITERATURE series of essays devoted to showing the connection has numerous holiday features, m addition to its between our literary, educational and social progress. regular departments, which are abundant and inter One paper, on " The Novel and the Common esting as usual. Among these special features are a School," ought to be placed in the hands of every French Christmas Legend, '• The Three Low Mass teacher and every parent in the land. es," by Alphonse Daudet; a Yuletide Legend of Life on the ocean wave in all its varied phases King Arthur's Country; two pages of Christmas is graphically described by Lieut. -Commander Kelley Verse, and a timely reproduction of Washington of the U. S. Navy, in The Ship's Company.* Irving's "Christmas Feast at Bracebridge Hall," The Chapters on " Midshipmen, Old and New, "and from the Sketch Book. "Superstitions of the Sailors," are particularly inter esting, and it may be news to the legal profession to learn that lawyers are looked at with disfavor on THE complete novel in the December issue of sailing-ships, as sure to bring ill luck. The book is LIPPINCOTT'S is "The Chase of an Heiress," by most attractive in every way and is beautifully and Christian Reid. The scene is in Santo Domingo, a profusely illustrated. region hitherto unfamiliar to fiction. " The Whip No one was more prominently identified with the ping of Uncle Henry" is a tale of Georgia before the formation and early history of the Republican party war, in that original and effective vein which is pe than William H. Sewarä, ¡ and the story of his life culiar to Will N. Harben. Pauline Shackleford covers the most exciting and critical period of our Colyar tells a Thanksgiving story of "Two Old national existence. Mr. Lothrop's biographical Boys." " How Timmy Saved the Piece," by Liv sketch is fair and unprejudiced. While recognizing, ingston B. Morse, records a remarkable event in appreciatively, Seward's many noble qualities, he theatrical annals of the humbler sort. does not overlook his weak points, and the reader is given an admirable insight into the real character of the man. Whatever may be one's political affiliation, WHAT SHALL WE READ? he will find this book exceedingly interesting.

with the charming life of the South of France. " Light in Dark Places," by Jacob A. Riis, is a study of the better New York, presenting hopeful aspects of tenement-house work in the metropolis.

This column is deviated to /»'iff nutices of recent pub lications. 'e hope to make it a ready-reference column for those of our readers who desire to in form themselves ai to the latest and best new books. (Legal publications are noticed elsewhere.) AMERICAN ideas of the Chinese are vague and in definite, but the reader of Mr. Ralph's Alone in China i will find that they are after all much like other people, possessing the same qualities which 1 ALONE IN CHINA, and other Stories. By Julian Ralph. Harper & Bros., New York, 1897. Cloth. $2.00.

2 SISTER JANE: Her Friends and Acquaintances. A narra tive of certain events and episodes transcribed from the pa pers of the late Villiam Vv'orman. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston and New York, 1896. Cloth. $¡.50. ' THE RELATION OF LITERATURE то LIFE. By Charles Dudley Warner. Harper & Bros., New York, 1897. Cloth. $1.50. < THE SHIP'S COMPANY and other Sea People. By J. D. Jerrold Kelley, Lieut.-C'ommander. U. S. N. Illustrated. Harper & Bros., New York, 1897. Cloth. 52.50. By Thornton Kirkland Lothrop. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston and New York, 1896. Cloth. $1.25.
 * WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD (American Statesmen Series).