The Century, May - October, 1899. (Macmillan and Co. 108. 6d.) —This
volume of the Century is not the less interesting, at least to the English reader, because there is not a word, as far as we have observed, about the Civil War. That subject is superseded by the more fascinating topics of " Expansion and Empire." There are papers on the Spanish War, the story of how the warships behaved, told by their own captains, and other matters, and there is an account of the great personality whom the war brought into prominence, "Admiral Dewey," from the pen of Admiral W. Sampson. The series of papers on Alexander the Great, begun with this year, is concluded. No better subject could be found, and it is one on which we have abundant contem- porary evidence, more than in the case of any other great hero of antiquity. We must say that the illustrations are not good enough for the papers. Mr. Frank Stockton's story, " The Vizier of the Two-Horned Alexander," is completed, as is also Mr. Marion Crawford's " Via Crucis." Other series are " China ; " "Churches and Cathedrals of France," illustrated by Joseph Pennell; Benjamin Franklin ; Irish stories by S. MacManus ; "New York Life," &c. The interesting single papers are as numerous as usual. Among them may be noted " Volunteer Lifesavers," by Gustav Kobb6, with its tale of heroes and heroines; conspicuous among these latter being Mrs. Martha White, of Copalis, in the State of Washington ; " Lapland," by Jonas Stealing; and "The Solar Eclipse at Benares." The portraits are a notable feature in the Century. —St. Nicholas, conducted by Mary Mapes Dodge (same publishers, 85. 6d.), is another volume for which we look at this season. The magazine keeps up its standard of merit and variety with amazing success. Here, again, we recognise the subject of the day ; the children are as much interested in the Philippines and Admiral Dewey as are the grown-ups. Miss Amelia Barr continues a story, " Trinity Bells " ; Miss Proctor writes about " Mars : the Planet of Romance." Next to the moon there is none of the heavenly bodies which has so excited the terrestrial imagination. The verse is, as always, a conspicuous feature in St. Nicholas,
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