Magazines Of The Month.

MAGAZINES OF THE MONTH .

SECOND NOTICE . One of the chief merits in the Neiu Quarterly is that its fiction is not serial . It follows that we are not tronbled ever and anon to refresh our memories about the latest incidents before plunging further into the story . Mrs . Cashel Hoey's novel , " Dark CybeL" is made up of very slight materials , but it is well written . There is an

air of reality about the personages and events which ensure our attention throughout . There is nothing in the shape of nonsense or sensationalism introduced . We feel that what happens might have happened , and , indeed , has happened many times over , and we are grateful , accordingly , that this fiction so closely resembles truth . Hardly less , if at all , less worthy of praise , is Mrs . Lynn Linton ' s

" By the Law . " Tho frequent antagonism between law and equity is well set forth in this tale . The law is with Lambert Dynevor , or Lambert Moss , as he really is , while equity is on the side of Dion Dynevor . Bub the burden of proof that Lambert is not his mother ' s son , but somebody else ' s , rests with Dion , no evidence that can be substantiated being forthcoming . Lambert succeeds to his mother ' s

property , and Dion lives to vegetate on a few hundreds . Those interested in great historical characters , will find two articles to their taste , namely , "Affonso Henriquez and the Rise of Portugal , " by the Bev . F . Arnold . Both these papers are carefully written , and , as regards the latter , there is no trace of partisanship evidenced by the writer . In " The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse , " the merits of

town and country life are prettily evenly balanced , almost too evenly indeed . That careful weighing of every pro and con is very wearisome when judgment on the merits is withheld . With many of Mr . Buchanan ' s strictures on " The Modern Stage" we feel disposed to agree , but Mr . Buchanan lays down the law—or rather his views —somewhat too authoritatively , much as though he

saidthese views , being my domj , are orthodox ; all other people s views , being others' doxies , are heterodox . Nor is the case against the stage strengthened by the silly rant in which he indulges at the expense of that much-abused , yet very harmless official , tho Lord Chamberlain . This indulgence makes one believe that Mr . Buchanan

courts tho applause of "the Gods . " Be it so , but the applause of " the Gods" is not worth much . Aa to the critics , they will doubtless protect themselves from Mr . Buchanan's attacks . Doubtless these gentlemen will do what they are so well able to do—take care of themselves .

Of Baily , with the exception of the short biographical sketch of Mr . J . H . Houldsworth , accompanying his portrait , a sensible criticism on "the Noble Animal at the Royal Academy , " and a further chapter of "Frank Raleigh of Watercombe , " the contents are made np of summaries of recent doings iu Cricket , Yachting , Rowing , Polo , & c , & c . To those who havo not leisure to watch the progress , month by

month , of their favourite in the cricket field , on the river , or elsewhere , these summaries are very useful . They are admirably compiled , and give a far better general idea of a man ' s performances than can be gleaned from a hasty glance at the various contests he has engaged in . " Our Van , " which contains an omnium gatherum of sport , wit , and humour , is livelier even than usual . One or two of tho anecdotes

with which it is garnished will bear quotation . Such are the following : " A firm wrote from Germany to their agents in London , inquiring as to the credit of Coutts aud Co . and ( we will call the other gentlemen ) A . B . and Co . ; the answer was concise but true , viz ., that both the firms in question were good , Coutts and Co . good for anything , A . B . and Co . good for nothing . " Again , " a young lady

at last year ' s Eton and Harrow Match at Lord ' s , asked , respecting a yonng Eton friend of hers , ' Why do they not play Mr . S . in the Eleven ? ' 'Oh ! ' was the reply , ' S . has not been playing with a straight bat lately ! ' ' Then why in the world does he not buy one ?' was the innocent reply . Again , " At one of tho Bishop of Rochester ' s visitations , a Kentish parson gave a little proof of his

wit , when a neighbouring divme told him that he could ' nt well pay attention to the address , from the annoyance of a certain small animal that was biting him . 'Simply a verification of the text , ' rejoined our friend , "The wicked flea , and no man pursueth . '" One more as to a subscriber to Baily itself , of five years' standing , but

who had never paid a subscription . When applied to , " his answer , " we are told , " was not destitute of point : ' I paid your account , ' he said , 'in August 186— . If you doubt my word , ask Mr . Commissioner . '" A reference to the public prints of the day named , showed us that it was on this very date that our friend had taken the benefit of the Act . "

In CornMll , besides the opening chapters of the new serial , " The Hand of Ethelberta , " by Mr . Tboma ? Hardy , a well written sketch of the late Mr . Frederick Walker . A . R . A ., an excellent article on " British Birds and Bird Lovers , " ' Wnotiau Popular Legends , " "Art and Morality , " and "The Sceptic , a Tale of Married Life , " will be most attractive reading . " Penelope and other women of Homer , " and "Horace ' s Two Philosophies , " aro scholarly performances .

No doubt it is within the recollection of our readers that the career and correspondence of the notorious Count Cagliostro , have been the subject of comment in these columns . Those interested in the history of this personage will find a well told narrative of his life in All the Year Bound . Nor is this the only "Remarkable

Adventurer" of whom we read in this periodical , for what is known of the " Count Saint Germain " is also recorded in a manner equally effective . A short tale , " The Hostess of the Raven , " is very forcibly sketched and there is an admirable description of " A very low Restaurant in Paris . "

Among the contents of the Leisure Hour and Sunday at Home should bo mentioned papers on " Ventilation , " " The Divers in South America , " ' Some Natural History Anecdotes , " and " Recollections and Adventures of au Aeronaut" in the former , and is the latter ,

Magazines Of The Month.

" A day at Norfolk Island , " " Jewish Life in the time of our Lord , and "The Jews in Russia and Poland . " We have , by the way , received the complete volumes for 1874 of these excellent periodicals . Tho nature of their contents is so generally known and appreciated that it is needless for us to mention any particular articles , or class of articles , as specially worthy of commendation . Let it suffice , if wo suggest that we know of few , if any , periodicals which are better

suited for presentation to the young of either sex . Every variety of subject is discussed in the pages of the Leisure Hour , while Sunday at Home , as its title betokens , is confined to ono class of literature only . But each contains matter that cannot fail to entertain and instruct the youthful reader . Nor , for tho matter of that , need adults hesitate about consulting their pages . Wo repeat , these volumes are among tho most sensible gift books wo know of .

The most interesting contribution to Le Monde Maconnique , aro sundry excerpts from an address by Bro . A . Arnal , to a newly initiated member of the Lodge of Besancon . We hope , if space permits it , to give a rough translation of this admirable address in some future number .

The "Knowing" Mason.

THE " KNOWING" MASON .

HOW strange , and yet how true , is the saying that the " world does not know itself , " there is no mind capable of comprehending the vastness of this great machine . Every branch of business , no matter how great or how small , ia but little known outside of its own world or sphere ; every sect or denomination is more or less the same . The labourer or mechanic is not known by the great world of commerce , the merchant by the railroad men ; the

abilities of an underwriter are only known to the insurance worid , so with every branch represented . The farmer , banker and railroad kings , all jog along in their own spheres and know comparatively nothing of each other . Yet one could not well get along without the other . We all mingle together and make a busy world , all working to advance science , and get the " almighty dollar . " Yet we find once

in a while a man who knows ifc all ; he will tell you all abont every sect and denomination , about every branch of business represented on the globe ; how ships are built and navigated ; how millionaires made their fortunes ; how railroad kings became rich . He will also tell you how he suggested to Franklin to fly his kite and control the elements of Heaven ; how ho suggested to Fulton to build a steam .

boat ; he was the saviour of the country by being Lincoln ' s adviser ; that he is the gem of the starry heavens , and salt of the earth ; aud finally ho will tell you all about Masonry , when it begun and when it will end . He has invested 25 cents , ( most likely his all ) in an " Exposure , " and can tell you how the whole thing is done from the first to the thirty-third degree . He knows how Morgan was

murdered , and who did it ; will tell the atrocities of the Order , the heinous and blood-thirsty crimes that are committed by all Masons , and so freely he will tell you the folly and wickedness of any secret Order , where anybody can't know everybody ' s business . He proclaims ( perhaps ) that ho has been a Mason and renounced it , but this he fails to get his own congregation to swallow . Trace this great apostle back , and perhaps in some little Lodge you will find he

has been balloted for and rejected ! But let him study ancl learn all that is going on in this world that is public aud open , and he will then be old enough and perhaps wise enough to bo a Mason . But I fear he is too much like a good old lady we once knew , who was very curious to know what was in a box , but couldn't get it open ; she said she " knew well enough what was in tho darned thing , but wouldn't open it for fear it would smell bad ' . "—Masonic Tidings ,

Railway Traffic Returns.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS .

The following statement shows the receipts for traffic on tho undermentioned railways for the past week , as compared with the corresponding week in 1874 : —• Miles open . Receipts . Railway . 1875 1876 1974

Caledonian .... . 739 — — Glasgow and South Western . . 315 J 19 , 101 17 , 857 Great Eastern ... . 763 49 , 082 43 , 977 Great Northern .... 523 54 , 311 54 , 155 Great Western .... 1 , 525 106 , 979 101 , 187 Lancashire and Yorkshire . . 430 67 , 266 65 , 196

London and Brighton . . . 376 i 35 , 068 32 , 818 London , Chatham and Dover . . 153 £ 21 , 449 21 , 317 London and North Western . . 1 , 586 J- 181 , 668 130 , 057 London and South Western . . 626 J 41 , 561 41 , 733 London , Tilbury and Southend . 45 2 , 933 2 , 301 Manchester and Sheffield . . 259 ^ 31 , 355 30 , 916

Poland 970 i 110 , 227 108 , 757 Metropolitan 8 9 , 537 8 , 471 „ „ District .. . 8 5 , 274 4 , 505 „ „ St . John ' s Wood . . 1 | 591 521 North British 839 47 , 006 42 , 071

North Eastern ... . 1 , 400 ^ - 134 , 752 125 , 383 North London .... 12 6 , 898 6 , 856 North Staffordshire Railway . . 190 10 , 097 10 , 083 » „ Canal . . 118 1 , 540 1 , 588 South Eastern .... 350 41 , 340 39 , 917

COTB HorsB PIAVINQ CABDS . —Mogul Quality , picked la 3 d por pack , Us per dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack , lis per dozen packs . If by post lid per pack extra . Cards for Piquet , BtSzique , Ecarte " , & c , Mogul 67 Barbican lo * ' " d ° P aokfl ' -I'OIldOB ' w - w » Morgan ,