Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 26, September, 1880

In Short

This volume gathers a diverse array of non-fiction travelogues, serialized fiction, social commentary, and cultural reporting from 1880. Readers travel from the uncharted backwoods and expanding waterways of Florida and Minnesota to the sacred silence of Assisi, the exclusive salons of Paris, and the harsh realities of New York tenements. Through romantic narratives, historical accounts, and sociological reflections, it explores how rapid modernization alters physical landscapes, ancient traditions, and social hierarchies. Its enduring value lies in its vibrant, firsthand look at nineteenth-century life across disparate geographic and socio-economic worlds.

The Story

The volume moves across geographic and thematic terrains, tracing how human endeavor shapes both natural spaces and social structures. It begins with an expedition into the hidden wilderness of Ekoniah Scrub in Florida. A small party—the Artist, the Scribe, the Small Boy, and their long-suffering mule, Barney—sets out from Magnolia to explore a changing landscape where primeval forests recede into scrub and marshes steadily transform into shimmering lakes. Skirting circular basin depressions and ancient Indian mounds, the travelers observe nature in the middle of creation, witnessing a wild territory before tourists arrive.

This focus on North American waterways continues along the upper Mississippi River. A boating fleet paddled by energetic travelers navigates wind-driven storms and sweeping curves, encountering native Ojibwe life near Lake Winnibegoshish. The journey balances the natural beauty of pure waters with the harsh realities of remote encampments, while further inland, a quiet tow-path voyage along a Pennsylvania canal evokes a meditative, romantic communion with the countryside.

Shifting from wild rivers to human drama, the narrative delves into serialized fiction set along the rugged English coast. In a Cornish fishing village, Joan and Eve watch in terror as a lawless vessel flees revenue cutters near the dangerous Steeple Reef. The village erupts into anxiety as neighbors rally to aid the imperiled crew. Amid secrecy, romantic rivalries, and misplaced letters, the community confronts the perilous boundary between local loyalty and the king's law.

The volume then transports the reader across the Atlantic to the historical and social landscapes of Europe. In the Italian town of Assisi, quiet streets and gray houses provide a backdrop for reflections on local life, stubborn carriage drivers, medieval architecture, and traditional livestock fairs where ancient customs dictate how animals are traded. In Paris, the focus shifts to elite urban circles, detailing the strict, self-imposed simplicity of the Jockey Club, the social rituals of the race-course paddocks, and the hyper-fashionable crowds of the French capital.

Back in America, domestic comedy unfolds in a wealthy household where an efficient young governess, Miss Featherstone, navigates the romantic overtures of an eccentric French tutor, Mr. Brown, and the watchful eyes of her employers. This glimpse into private domestic life gives way to historic Newport, comparing the quiet, structured gallantry of eighteenth-century society with the fast-paced modern era.

Finally, the volume confronts pressing social issues through an investigation into urban tenement life. Examining the stark realities of poverty, the text argues that poor diet and cheap staples undermine health and foster social alienation. It concludes with reflections on American art exhibits, historical frontier lawsuits, and literary reviews, bringing its wide-ranging inquiry into nineteenth-century life to a thoughtful close.

How It Unfolds

Venturing into the scrub A small travel party leaves Magnolia, Florida, guided by vague directions to explore the amphibious, shifting landscape of Ekoniah Scrub. Guided past circular sinkholes, ancient Indian mounds, and flooded roads, they observe a pristine wilderness undergoing constant geographical evolution.

Navigating the upper waters A canoeing expedition pushes along the Mississippi River toward Lake Winnibegoshish. Fighting wind and mist, the travelers meet native inhabitants, trade for provisions, and experience the quiet, mysterious routine of river and canal life.

Peril on the coast In a coastal Cornish village, Joan and Eve listen helplessly as a local vessel is trapped near treacherous reefs by government cutters. The town rallies to support the crew, while underlying tensions over hidden letters and personal jealousies come to light.

Observations in Assisi and Paris The scene shifts to Europe, contrasting the quiet, sun-baked streets of Assisi—where ancient town gates and livestock fairs dictate daily life—with the high-stakes fashion, exclusive clubs, and strict social etiquette of Parisian high society.

Domestic entanglements and social critiques In an American home, Miss Featherstone manages household emergencies while politely fending off an unexpected marriage proposal from the dramatic tutor, Mr. Brown. Meanwhile, analytical essays critique the poor diet of city tenements and trace the evolution of American art and historical frontier litigation.

The People

• The Scribe, the Artist, and the Small Boy: Adventurous travelers exploring Florida's interior. Driven by curiosity, they navigate rough trails and handle their stubborn mule, Barney, seeking an untouched wilderness before modern development takes over.
• Joan: A fiercely loyal Cornish woman. Passionate and plain-spoken, she despises government intrusion and fights to protect her friends from dangerous traps set by king's men, though her temper often flares at household folly.
• Eve: A reserved young woman living in the Cornish coastal town. Overwhelmed by the sudden danger and lawlessness around her, she struggles to find her place amid secretive neighbors and lingering romantic complications.
• Jerrem: A reckless and coaxing young man whose secret communications and careless attitude irritate Joan, even as he attempt to charm Eve with a long-delayed letter.
• Miss Featherstone: An efficient, composed young governess. Calm under pressure, she steps up during medical emergencies, earning the admiration of her employer's household while maintaining her dignity despite awkward romantic advances.
• Mr. Brown: The highly dramatic French tutor who lives in the Pinckney household. Exuberant and theatrical, he longs for companionship and makes a sudden, desperate declaration of love to Miss Featherstone.

In Its Own Voice

"How many of them all have guessed that close at hand, hidden away amid the shadows of the scrub-oaks, lies her laboratory, where any day they may steal in upon her at her work and catch a world a-making?"

An observer marvels at the raw, unfinished wilderness of the Florida scrub, where land and water constantly reshape one another.

"Awh, you blidthirsty cowards! I wish I'd the pitchin' of every man of 'ee overboards: 'tis precious little mercy you'd get from me."

Joan vents her fury against the government officers attempting to capture local sailors off the dangerous Cornish coast.

"'Twarn't through no blabbin', take my word for that: 'twas a reg'lar right-down set scheme from beginnin' to end, and that's why I should ha' liked to ha' give 'em a payin'-out that they wouldn't ha' forgot in a hurry."

Jerrem insists that a sudden ambush was planned from the start, defending his own silence to an incredulous Joan.

What It's Really About

Underneath its varied travel writing, fiction, and essays, the volume asks how individuals adapt to rapid environmental and social change. It contrasts the quiet permanence of traditional landscapes—such as ancient Indian mounds in Florida or medieval stone gates in Assisi—with the fast, intrusive march of modern civilization.

The text examines the unwritten rules that govern distinct human communities, whether it is the strict code of local solidarity among coastal smugglers, the rigid etiquette of Parisian elite clubs, or the complex social dynamics within an American household. It argues that physical environment, diet, and social standing deeply shape human character, suggesting that true understanding requires looking beyond polished surfaces to examine both wild frontiers and urban tenements.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to readers who enjoy rich nineteenth-century history, vivid travel narratives, and detailed social observation. Reading it feels like flipping through an ornate historical scrapbook, offering sweeping views of North American wilderness alongside intimate portraits of European high society and small-town domestic life.

It does present some period-typical reading challenges. Readers must navigate localized dialects, such as the phonetically written speech of Cornish villagers, as well as the dated social assumptions and harsh generalizations regarding poor immigrant populations in urban tenements. The writing shifts quickly from lighthearted travel humor to intense dramatic fiction and dense art exhibition catalogs. Yet for those fascinated by the cultural landscape of 1880, the collection delivers an authentic, unvarnished look at an era balancing traditional folkways with the relentless approach of modern life.