The MAGAZINE is a case of evolution. The Bulletin wove about itself a cocoon of approved usefulness; and under the stimulating influence of a favorable business proposition, lo! it has developed into a beautiful butterfly of a MAGAZINE.

But the figure does not do entire justice to the publication. It both indicates only the beauty of its appearance; and in this case beauty is not its own excuse for being. Moreover, it bears a suggestion of the ephemeral; and the MAGAZINE, having passed the hazards of infancy, is assured of a vigorous and prolonged life. It must live, for it is under contract to do so-a contract duly signed and sealed, and solemnized by a bond.

Life implies growth. "MAGA," therefore, must grow; and all that is necessary to insure its growth in size, beauty and usefulness, is the sunshine of popular approval.

We have no apologies to offer for the appearance of this first number, though. it was, of necessity, hastily prepared; but we promise better things for the future.

HOW IT HAPPENED.

THE great increase in size and the marked improvement in make-up of the Library's official organ was made possible by an arrangement with the A. B. Benesch Publishing Co., by which that firm takes entire charge of the business side of the publication.

Under the terms of the contract, the Publishers assume all financial responsi

bility. The control of the columns, however, including the acceptance of advertisements, lies entirely with the Board of Directors. By this arrangement, the Library not only secures a medium of communication with its thousands of card-holders, but also has a share in profits accruing from the publication,

It is thought proper to make this statement, in order that the public may be fully informed regarding the acts of its agents and that subscribers and advertisers may know that in supporting this publication they are helping the Library.

THE SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE MAGAZINE.

THE primary object of this publication is to serve as a means of communication between the management of the Library and its owners, the people of St. Louis. The annual report made by the Directors to the official head oi the city gives a concise summary of the work and the growth of the Library during the year. It cannot go into details; it cannot publish a list of the books added or suggest books for reading. The MAGAZINE, appearing promptly on the first of every month, will furnish fresh and full information regarding the growth and progress of the Library. It will also aid the institution in performing its great

function as the People's University. This it will do by publishing annotated lists of the new books added during the previous month and special reading lists adapted to all ages, tastes and practical needs. In the present number, for example, will be found a list of the additions for January and February, with descriptive and critical notes on the more important books, and the first installment of a list of the books in the Library on the Useful Arts and Trades. There are also well considered reviews of new books of note, which will be a regular feature of the MAGAZINE.

The May issue will contain a graded list of books for young people; and the guidance of children's reading will be kept constantly in view as one of the most important ends for which the Library exists.

OUR AMBASSADOR TO ENGLAND.

THE appointment by President McKinley of Colonel John Hay as Ambassador to England is one likely to be gratifying to the country. What effect, if any, it will have on the situation in Ohio, or which faction in New York will feel itself aggrieved by the nomination, an outsider cannot undertake to say. It is more than probable that the President's desire was simply to name a good man for the place and to please all parties. At any rate he has followed a good precedent in American politics by naming a literary man to one of the highest diplomatic offices in his gift.

John Hay was born at Salem, Ind., in 1838.

He graduated at Brown University, studied law in Springfield, Ill., was admitted to practice in 1861, but went the same year to Washington as assistant secretary to President Lincoln. His intimate acquaintance with public events in the next few years was an admirable preparation for the diplomatic duties to to which he was soon to be called, as well

as for his subsequent journalistic and historic work. He also served in the army a short time, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel. He was first secre

tary of legation at Paris in 1865, then charge d'affaires at Vienna, and later secretary of legation at Madrid. He came home in 1870 and wrote editorially for the New York Tribune for several years. In 1875 he went to Cleveland, O., where he figured prominently in state and national politics. For one short period, during the absence of Whitelaw Reid, he went back to take entire editorial charge of the Tribune. This was in 1881. In the meantime he had been, from 1879 to 1881, assistant Secretary of State. In the latter year also he was chosen President of the International Sanitary Congress which met in Washington. He has made his home in Washington for a number of years, is a well-known figure in many circles at the capital, and is reputed to be rich. In 1890 he published, in conjunction with John G. Nicolay, their elaborate life of Abraham Lincoln, which is now the standard history of the Lincoln administration.

The more purely literary work of the author comprises the famous "Pike County Ballads," published in 1871. "Castilian Days," a series of prose sketches of Spanish life, also published in 1871, and his collected "Poems" of 1890.

The "Pike County Ballads" born of recollection of early times in Illinois, are racy dialect poems in the manner of Bret Harte's humorous pieces. They attracted great attention when they first appeared in the Tribune and Harper's Weekly, and "Little Breeches" and "Jim Bludso" have never lost favor with the public. The following is a good example of extravagant Western humor:

THE MYSTERY OF GILGAL.
The darkest, strangest mystery
I ever read, or heern, or see,
Is 'long of a drink at Taggart's Hall-
om Taggart's of Gilgal.

I've heern the tale a thousand ways,
But never could get through the maze
That hangs around that queer day's doin's;
But I'll tell the yarn to youans.

Tom Taggart stood behind his bar,
The time was fall, the skies was far,
The neighbors round the counter drawed,
And ca'mly drinked and jawed.

At last come Colonel Blood of Pike,
And old Jedge Phinn, permiscus-like,
And each, as he meandered in,
Remarked, "A whisky-skin."

Tom mixed the beverage full and far,
And slammed it, smoking, on the bar.
Some says three fingers, some says two,—
I'll leave the choice to you.

Phinn to the drink put forth his hand;
Blood drawed his knife, with accent bland,
"I ax yer parding, Mister Phinn-
Jest drap that whisky-skin."

No man high-toneder could be found
Than old Jedge Phinn the country round.
Says he, "Young man, the tribe of Phinns
Knows their own whisky-skins!"

He went for his 'leven-inch bowie-knife:-
66 I tries to foller a Christian life;
But I'll drap a slice of liver or two,
My bloomin' shrub, with you."

They carved in a way that all admired,
Tell Blood drawed iron at last, and fired.
It took Seth Bludso 'twixt the eyes,
Which caused him great surprise.

Then coats went off, and all went in;
Shots and bad language swelled the din;
The short, sharp bark of Derringers,
Like bull-pups, cheered the furse.

They piled the stiffs outside the door;
They made, I reckon, a cord or more.
Girls went that winter, as a rule,
Alone to spellin'-school.

I've sarched in vain, from Dan to Beer-
Sheba, to make this mistery clear;
But I end with hit as I did begin,-
Who got the whisky-skin?

It has been affirmed and denied that Col. Hay is the author of "The BreadWinners," an anonymous novel dealing with the strike and labor questions and written like T. B. Aldrich's "Stillwater Tragedy" from a standpoint of pronounced hostility to the walking delegate.

P

URSUANT to a call issued by the President of the British Association of Authors a year ago, at the time of the Venezuelan imbroglio, a joint convention of British and American authors was held recently in New York City, "to consider," as the invitation said, "the best means of maintaining and perpetuating amicable relations between the two great branches of the race which enjoys the same institutions, cherishes the same diversified and picturesque forms of religion, and, above all, speaks the same language, the language of Shakespeare and of Milton.'

As an intense lover of the other country personally, and as a member, officially, of Her Majesty's Loyal Fenian Filibusters, I attended the deliberations of what promised to be the most momentous international convention of history.

Mr. Rudyard K. Mulvaney was unanimously chosen as presiding officer. In calling the meeting to order he made a few well-chosen remarks, in which he said that he was glad to welcome the sahibs present, and only regretted that they had not brought their memlog along, as lovely woman, outside of the domestic sphere, was always in favor of peace. "However," he added, "as the proverb hath it, Because one hath not a rupee, he should not despise the humble anna.' And as it is sometimes best to begin at the beginning. I would call upon the charming writer whose mission it is to be the laureate of infancy; for if there be in all the world a common language, it is that of the cradle. I would ask Mr. J. Whitcomb Hoosier to make a few remarks."

Mr. H. arose, amid thundering applause, and said:

He

The chairman seemed to be a little impatient during the speech of Mr. H., and said that if there were any adults present he would be glad to hear from them. thought he saw his friend, Mr. Narcisse W. Cable, in the hall. Would Mr. C. please to favor the company with a few remarks?

Mr. C. would, and did. He said:

"I was jess goin' ad the poss-office, w'en I drop hin 'ere to lizzen ad yo' rimargues. Thass the rizzin I did not come prepare to mek a spitch. I ham no hauthor as Brutis hiz; boot I loaf the gran' Hanglo-Saxon tong, w'ch I 'ave learn him hat my muzzer's knee-the tong of the gre't Lord Biron hand of Mr. Keeplingue.'

Mr. Mulvaney, not displeased at this compliment to his biographer, yet groping painfully for something more modern, espied a stranger ostentatiously concealing himself from observation on a front seat, and asked the Rev. Doctor Drumtochty to improve the occasion with a few remarks.

Mr. Drumtochty, cheerfully complying, mounted the platform and began:

"Brithers a'-for are we not a' brithers in the possession of a common speech ?— this is no' a time for greetin', nor for idle clackin', but for thoughtfu' and canny cogitatin'. Let ilka tyke haud his ain haggis. In the benmost bore o' the hail beezeness, dinna forget the words o' the Gre't Duke o' Argyll (Got pless him!),