The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-01-20 00:00:00

LI'TERABY NOTICES.

CHAMBERS'S JOUILWAL—IA mud be said of Cana-
kris Jaunt& that it is the purest reading of our cheap
periodical literature. The last part contains one of the
prettiest tales—" Margaret," we have read for many •
day. " Home from the (~tilonise," is here brought to •
close, and among othet olnusiSe and instructive article.
are the " Self-amused Witch," " Way in Peace time,"
" A doomed people," ." the Terpiiii of the Ahtlpodes."
"4 Rival to VT:mita," iii raper that will be reed with
great Interest by all lovers of athletic sports. It is •
description of the gains of Lacrosse, the national game
of Canada, which cau be played as well in winter as in
summer, and by any number of persons. The ground
needs no preparation. The materials of the game are
cheap and simple. It employs nearly every player at
once, and is capable of infinite varieties, while it fur-
nishes opportunities for the greatest skill and agility.
!serous is a game so wild and 'eliciting, so
varied and so dozenth", tfiat it Widest-a the
spectator as Mich as the player, cud this
ceenet be so truly said of any other game. It is
also a simple game, and one easily understood. Above
all, in lacrosse, the muscles of the body are brought into
exertion equally and at the seine time, and there is no
danger of loeing an eye, or splitting off • thumb.
Unlike cricket, lacrosse is • game suited to girls, and
might be introduced into girl's schools with advantage,
as the croase bet is scarcely beerier than • battle -dory,
and there is plenty of healthy running withoht any
danger of Motes. The writer says—" As a game, I
task !surmise far above cricket or golf. It does not re.
quire attendants and special 'boned like golf, and it
hoists more anternitMeg itiuMenient, and more simul-
taneous Mitpetition than cricket. The materials, ton,
see Whitener, and you require no "bog-in-armour"
costume. It is more varied, more ingenious, more
subtle than cricket, and above all, it can be played in
all masons of the year without danger, expense, or pre-
paration. No marquees required, no grass rolling, no
expansive bate and balls, no spiked shoe', and no ,
caddied leggings to preserve you from the cannon-shots
of feet bowlers, who seem deterninsed to maim or lame
somebody; above all, there is no tiresome, and
wearisome waiting for the innings. The *hole 24
men have their initibge timultancouely, and have ,
both an *lee thence mid an equal certainty
of mealeatent and employment ; while in cricket •
beginner geta ten strokes et a ball, and that is all in
the whole game. I admit the pleasure of the good
swipe in cricket, the excitement of the runs, the delight
of blocking • treacherous slow ball, the rapture of
catching out a good player, and the feverish excitement
of • close-run game, bet Mill I hold that erfeltet iannot
hold a candle to lacresee Icy variety, litibiuity, and ex-
*Denim's," Weilitneettet the glowing description given
of this game se(6l have the effect of inducing the lovers
of detd tports and the promoters of gymnastic exorcism
to introduce it into this country.
THE BOOK OF DATS W. and R. Chambers, London
and Rdinburgh.—The Twelfth Part of this publication
brings us to the 10th of June, and silicified other
interesting matters presents as with a history of the
Duninow Bitch of beam—William Lilly, the eatiologer
—the Shrewsbury show—Cbsrlottio Bronte—Cotswold
eames—description and Uharacteristice of June, with
an acooest el Marriage superstitions and customs—fit.
Patrick's purgatory—King James and the Tower of
London—the Empress Josephine and her horoscope. In
an article on "Superstitions about Disown" is the fol-
lowing conversation, which took place in a Dorsetshire
village, as tending to illustrate the popular bowleg,'
and therapeutics of this county.—" Well, Betty, said •
lady, how are you I—Pare, thank you, masts; but I
has been rather poorlyish. —Whet his Nei the matter
with you? Why, ma'am, I tree troubled with the
rising the Nits; but I looked a dose of shot, and
that his a.keepit them doun." This 'rising of the
lights" would appear to be a very prevailing error in
this part of the country. The other evening, on
Galling at • cottage, we found • young woman in
hysterics. She requires some restoratives, we re-
marked. "What be wanted," replied Per brother,
"be summit to keepit the llghte done. Ilterricks be
a-risen o' the lights. Don't per know," he added.
"our lights be like pigs, and they sometimes rises."
Tor these Coriolis in literately we heartily recommend
"The Book of Days."