The First Advocate.

It is too bad that the first number of the Advocate is not of its usual excellence; it contains, however, two poems which merit praise. "Across the Centuries" has unusual charms of melody, and "The Boy and the World" is inspiring. The third poem, "Autumn Leaves in June," is somewhat obscure.

"The Story of the Princess. Who Had Lost Her Heart" is a brazen attempt at cleverness and could at best be a mere literary tour de force. "Vive la France" is fairly interesting, but is spoiled by touches of bombast and inexcusable printer's errors. Much superior is "The Invention," which is out of the ordinary and distinctly amusing. Without doubt the best story of the issue is "The Dream of Melik the Goatherd," which is a very pleasing turn of fancy.