THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



141 



are set forth in this sketch, and portraits 

 of himself and family add to its interest. 

 W. T. Stead's impression of the Czar is 

 another article of especial interest. His 

 first impression of the Czar was summad 

 up in the answer he made to a princess at 

 the court who asked his opinion. His re- 

 ply \vas, "I thank God for him! If he be 

 spared to Russia that young man will go 

 far.'' Subsequent meetings have but con- 

 firmed Mr. Stead's good impressions, and 

 he thoroughly believes in "Nicholas II, 

 Czar of Russia" as a monarch who has the 

 best interests of his people and kingdom 

 at heart, and he believes that the peace 

 manifesto, so much talked about, was sin- 

 cerely meant by the emperor. 



SCRIBNER'S 



In addition to the stories, among which 

 are ' 'Search-light Letters," ''The Peach," 

 "The Muse's Tragedy,'' etc., the January 

 number contains an account of ''The Rough 

 Riders" by Theodore Roosevelt, which 

 deals with raising the regiment and will 

 be continued in subseque it numbers. 

 The frontispiece is a drawing of Col. 

 Roosevelt by Charles Dana Gibson. The 

 article abounds in good illustrations. 

 Richard Harding Davis contributes "On 

 the FeverShip." The letters of Robert 



Louis Stevenson are to be published in 

 the magazine, the first installment of 

 them, dealing with his early engineering 

 excursions, appearing in this number, 

 with an introduction by Sidney Colvin, to 

 whom has been entrusted the work of pre- 

 paring Mr. Stevenson's Life and Letters 

 for the press. Admirers- of Stevenson will 

 be glad of this opportunity to get a glimpse 

 of his personality, sucli as letters to family 

 and friends alwavs afford. 



The holiday season is generally marked 

 by the especial attractiveness of publica- 

 tions; the best stories, the finest illustra- 

 tions and the daintiest of covers being 

 used by the publisher in getting out the 

 Christmas and New Year's numbers. As 

 to covers, probably the most elaborate and 

 expensive of any that came to our desk 

 was that of the Implement Age. It is cer- 

 tainly a handsome one. The inside 

 abounds in artistic '"ads" and fine illustra- 

 tions, making the Christmas number a 

 work of art, surpassing their holiday 

 number of last year. 



The Indiana Farmer gives its fifty-third 

 annual greeting to the public through its 

 December issue. The turkey and holly 

 are advantageously used in the colored 

 cover. 



A THANKSGIVING. 



Thank God for brains ; and for the plan 

 That hid them far below the brink 



Of bitter cups. The happy man 

 Has never learned to think. 



Thank God for pluck unknown to slaves 



The self ne'er of itself bereft, 

 Who, when the right arm's shattered waves 



The good flag in the left. 



Thank God for humor. Still unborn 



Is he who is not truly blest, 

 Who makes the point of many a thorn 



The point of many a jest. 

 Thank God for pity for all men 



For fellow fool and fellow clod ; 

 And if the gods are cruel, then 



Thank God I'm not a god. 



