English, German, or Spanish actors in Paris; and that, when she left us, the day of her departure was marked with a black stone, by all lovers of high art and classic drama. Now that she is gone, we have nothing to do but to laugh. So we go to see King Charming and the Blue Bird, and the ugly, princess that wanted to marry him, and the pretty one that he wanted to marry; and we shake our sides at the puns and the funny things that all these funny people say to each other. To see Pocahontas, too, the best burlesque ever written in America; and we laugh more than ever at the droll sayings of King Powhatan and his comical court. Why not? See what Jules Janin's friends are doing. At the Français, they have a new piece, Joconde, in the style of the younger Dumas, which would have brought a blush to the cheeks of Margaret of Navarre, and made Bocaccio repent his excessive modesty; at the Variétés, Clairville has reviewed the year, in a two hours' string of puns, honestly christened Le Royaume des Calembours. In London, people are trampling each other, to see a grand burlesque on the meeting of the Cloth of Gold, whereof the crowning charm consists in processions of gorgeously-caparisoned horses, and queerlooking knights, with long candlesticks, in guise of spears, and other enormous originalities. Pocahontas is high art, compared to this. We hear it said that the theatres are doing badly-that the war, and the Nicaragua troubles, and politics, and the "cold terms," injure them. It must be that these sly Inanagers don't want us to know how rich they are growing. Else, why should we have a new theatre-a very pretty one, too, with boxes à la Européenne, and some very good actors and actresses-springing up, all at once, and doing a famous business, without hurting its neighbors, apparently? Why should people, who are able to dig or sew, think of writing plays, in the absence of any sort of copyright? All are not crazy, and there must be nuggets somewhere, to reward so many diggers. We hear of a new five act comedy, by Mr. Brougham-whose industry is such, that Lope de Vega was a trifler, in comparison, and who, it is said, would not sleep, if he had not thrown off, at least, a farce after supper. Of a great American piece, with a double-dyed American character, of the Western go-ahead sort in it, for Mr. M. Vickar. Of a couple of comedies, by Mrs. Bennett-Barrow, both of which are highly commended. Of farces and burlesques beyond counting-a burlesque on poor old Don Quixote, a promising subject; another, on the minstrel Blondel, whose trials and touching devotion to his master were made the subject of a pretty comic opera, nearly a hundred years ago, by Grétry-and so on. These grapes do not grow on thorns. Some of them, perhaps, had better not grow at all. Time will do justice on what is silly and mischievous. Time, too, will surely teach that wit is not incompatible with truth, and that plays may be moral and reasonable, without ceasing to be amusing. We are to have a child's theatre, it seems, with a host of well-known juvenile comedians, and some infant phenomena besides, whom fame as yet ignores. We hope, if this project be carried out, that the management will follow the example of the French Gymnase des Enfants, in the selection of pieces. When the Gymnase was started, the manager applied to several dramatic authors, for pieces specially adapted for children-with child-like dialogue, and plot turning on the passions and accidents of childhood. Our children's theatre could not do better, at first, than adapt these French pieces-many of which are very beautiful. We must bestir ourselves, or the Athenians will call New York Bootia. They have been importing ancient sculptures into Boston by the ton. Seventeen tons of them they have landed at once-tons of Assyrian bulls, tons of stiff Babylonian archers, tons of date-trees done upon stone. The whole to be sold for the benefit of the owners. They say the Bostonians will not let a single ounce of all these treasures go out of the city. What an excellent thing it would be for some enterprising person to buy up the whole seventeen tons, without warning to the Athenians, to unite them with Abbott's Egyptian collection, and lay the foundation of a grand Museum of Antiquities at New York! An Illustrated Magazine for Boys and Girls. Every number will contain original matter, from the best American Authors; with selections and translations from late English, German, and French Publications, and will be finely and profusely illustrated. It will be the aim of the publishers to combine in the engravings and the letterpress of THE SCHOOLFELLOW, the utmost possible beauty, variety, interest, and substantial instruction, with an elevated moral tone, and reverent spirit. The general character already established for THE SCHOOLFELLOW may be inferred from the following OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE JANUARY NUMBER. It is the intention of the publishers to give this work a high place among the juvenile periodicals of the country, and, judging from this earnest of their enterprise, we anticipate a successful fulfillment of their promise. The number now issued is distinguished by the agreeable and instructive character of its contents, the good taste of its embellishments, and the beauty of its typography. We think the future numbers cannot fail to gain a kindly welcome in the family circle.-N. Y. Tribune. It is filled with reading matter that cannot fail both to interest and instruct the youthful mind.-Pittsburg Post. The Schoolfellow having passed into the hands of new publishers, the January number has been brought out by them in the most elegant and attractive style. The printing, paper, and engravings, surpass anything we have ever seen in American magazines, and its literary merits are intended by its publishers to equal its beautiful mechanical execution.-New York Christian Inquirer. This is the best publication of the kind that has come under our notice. It is printed excellently, is profusely illustrated, and, in every way, is highly creditable to its proprietors. The stories are just such as will interest the young, and at the same time result to their benefit.-Middletown (N. Y.) Whig Press. Dr. Kane, by J. B. Elephants at Work, by the Editor. The number is full of attractive reading for young people, and from the tact evinced in its pages, there can, we think, be no doubt in regard to its increased circulation and value. -Boston Eve. Transcript. We know that the publishers will do all they agree to; and they promise to make this one of the most interesting Juvenile Monthlies that is published. The price of the work is nothing compared with the amusement and instruction of which the child will become the recipient.-Boston Christian Freeman. This most excellent juvenile periodical, published by Dix & Edwards, the publishers of Putnam's Monthly, and the American edition of Household Words, comes to us at the beginning of the new year, entertaining and instructive in its stories, and artistic and graceful in its illustrations. The Schoolfellow is published monthly, and if any kind father wishes to make his little son or his little daughter a valuable present which will be renewed at the end of every thirty days, let him subscribe for this pleasant periodical, and he will be satisfied that the dollar which he has expended could not have purchased five hundred letter pages of this nature in this or any other country.-Troy (N. Y.) Daily Whig CONTENTS OF No. II. What the Heart of the Small Boy said in his Bed, by A. W. H. About New York-Markets, by Phillip Wallys. Rain, by Paul Read. Furries-All about Furs-Fur Animals-Fur Hunters Brothers and Sisters, or Lessons of a Summer, by The Story of the Great War. Cousin Alice. The Greek Schoolboy, by the Editor. Fireside Fancies. New Books. "THE SCHOOLFELLOW may be obtained of Booksellers, News Agents, or of the Publishers. TERMS.-One Dollar a-year, (payable always in advance,) or Ten Cents a number. CLUBS.-Four copies of "THE SCHOOLFELLOW," to one address, $3.50; Five Copies, $4.00; Eight copies, $6.00. Either "PUTNAM'S MONTHLY" or "HOUSEHOLD WORDS" will be sent with the "SCHOOLFELLOW," to one address, for $3.50; or ALL three of these Magazines for $5.50. PUTNAM'S MONTHLY and HOUSEHOLD WORDS, to one address, Five Dollars; PUTNAM'S MONTHLY OF HOUSEHOLD WORDS with the SCHOOLFELLOW, to one address, Three Dollars Fifty Cents; or all three of the Magazines, Five Dollars Fifty Cents. DIX & EDWARDS, 321 BROADWAY (FORMERLY 10 PARK PLACE), NEW YORK., New York, February 1st, 1856. Putnam's Monthly. Putnam's Monthly may be obtained of Booksellers, News Agents, or of the Publishers. TERMS.-Three Dollars a year, or Twenty-Five Cents a Number. Those remitting Three Dollars will receive the Magazine free of postage. Putnam's Monthly and Household Words, Five Dollars. Putnam's Monthly and the Schoolfellow, Three Dollars and Fifty Cents. All three of the Magazines, Five Dollars, and Fifty Cents. Other magazines have their appropriate place and are worthy of commendation, but Putnam, inasmuch as it is a repository of the best current American literature, must be placed at the head. It affords a variety of reading matter of a high order, and has an elevating tendency upon the tastes of its readers. Besides, it stimulates and encourages meritorious authors. There has been no falling off in its character since it passed into the hands of Messrs. Dix & Edwards, and during the three years of its publication, it has verified the language of the publishers concerning maga-it.--Bangor (Me.) Daily Journal. The January number is a fine specimen of what this valuable publication will be for the future. The course Putnam is pursuing will stamp it with permanency, and the reason for this permanency will be the substantial literature which its pages offer to the public. Putnam is the pioneer, in our opinion, of a new era in literature, and which must, at some future day, take possession of the people. The present is the age of romance, and light literature has its millions of votaries, but the coming age will be an age of substantialities, and then Putnam will lead the van and establish a fame which other cotemporary zines can never pretend to aspire to.-Brooklyn, L. 1., Morning Journal. It is the best for those who wish to read and preserve the best purely literary serial in the country, to begin to take this magazinewhich we do safely and heartily.-N. Y. Courier and Enquirer. We would remark of Putnam's Monthly that it has been thus far, the American Magazine of the day. Its articles have been, generally speaking, of a high order, and they will favorably compare with the contents of any periodical in existence. Under its present editor it stands as well and as high as ever.Boston Mass.) Post. Putnam, of January, is the best number of any magazine ever published in this country. No one can keep up with the progress of American mind and American scholarship without Putnam'e.-Lawrence Sentinel. Occupying a position between the stately quarterlies and the lighter monthlies, it is a magazine which is well calculated to elevate the public taste, and deserves from its intrinsic excellence a large circulation-Boston (Mass.) Journal. We feel ourselves called upon, however, just now to repeat, that from intimate and continued examination of all the publications of this class, we are convinced not only of its unrivaled superiority as a household and literary periodical, but as identified with the best interests of the cause of letters in this country; we would testify to its great utility and value. Subscribers to periodical literature for the ensuing year should consider the fact in connection with this periodical, that they will equally benefit the cause of American literature and their own welfare, by a support of Putnam.-N. Y. Morning Express. It furnishes a great variety of popular It is not only a sound and able advocate of literary entertainment; is bold, spirited, and the principles of freedom, but it is exclusively judicious, and furnishes better reading for the and emphatically an American Journal.-Depublic than any magazine in the country.-troit (Mich.) Eve. Tribune. Ogdensburgh (N. Y.) Sentinel. REMOVAL. MESSRS. DIX & EDWARDS would announce to the trade, that on the 1st of February their publishing establishment will be removed to the fiue central position, No. 321 BROADWAY, Where they will possess every desirable facility for the prompt and methodical transaction of their business, and will be happy to receive the calls of their friends. HOLMAN & GALT, PRINTER, con. CENTAR AND WHITE STB., N. Y. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1856, by Dix & EDWARDS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. Post Master General has decided that the advertising sheet in "Putnam's Monthly," "Household Words," or" The Schoolfellow" does not subject them to any additional postage. CONTENTS OF NO. XXXIX. 1. LIFE AND CHARACTER OF ST. AUGUSTINE, 225 2. OWL COPSE-A STORY OF REFORM AND REFORMERS-In Three Parts 5. ABU HAMOOD'S MULE, AND THE CEDARS OF LEBANON, 264 6. I AND MY CHIMNEY, 269 7. ON THE PIER, 283 8. CIRCE-A STORY OF PARIS IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, 284 9. MY MISSION, 294 295 10. LIVING IN THE COUNTRY, Our New Barber-Reminiscences of our Old Barber-A Dog of Another Color-October Woods-A 14. SEA COAST DEFENSE, AND OUR FORTIFICATION SYSTEM, 15. EDITORIAL NOTES, 314 326 American Literature and Reprints. Novels-Edith; or, The Quaker's Daughter-Lanmere-Wolfsden-Home The World of New York, 331 March, a Blusterer and a Nuisance-A Herald of Spring-The Cold and the Ills it brings-The Charms of Winter-A Christmas DinnerChristmas Around the Register-A Hole in the Floor-Lord Palmerston's Definition of Dirt-Snow in New York and Snow in the Country -The Streets, their appearance-Snow-clad Roofs-Two Weary Months -Welcome is March, Harbinger of Spring-Onr Opera House-Madame Lagrange-Philadelphia and Boston-Miss Hensler-BrignoliRovere and Dediée-Ardlti's New Opera-Rossini and Meyerbeer-Our Our Philharmonic Concerts-Classical Berlin-Old Print of Albert Dürer's-Mr. Bristow-Gottschalk-The Varieties-Wallack's-Burton's-The Broadway-Miss Keene-Mr. Lenton-Duke Humphrey's Dinner-She Stoops to Conquer-Mr. Walcott, an American Comedy -Malle. Rachel in America-Private Theatricals-Good Pictures in America-Our Sculptors-Engravings after Cole's Voyage of Life, by James Smillie. |