Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-07

birth and marriage, he was extensively CON
:. nected with the famous "first families
of that state, among which the Seatons were
prominent. His mother was a Winston,
and he had a great circle of relationship
among these 'first families" as this biogra.
pher delights to tell us. He married a sister of
Joseph Gales, another Virginian, with whom he
was so long connected in business. They edited
and published the National Intelligencer, nearly
half century. A well prepared narrative of
their history as journalists and politicians,
would be valuable. Mr. Gales died in 1860.
The book does not give US the date of Mr.
Seaton's death; but he was 81 years old when
he died. Mr.. Seaton was regarded as "the beau
ideal Of true Virginia gentleman of the old
school,; but he had more ability and culture
than have been common in that school, and his
personal character was quiet, peaceful, and
really admirable. Doubtless his prominence
was, to a considerable extent, due to the social
influences by which he was aided. We are glad
to get this account of his life, and wish only
that it were more complete, For sale at Bige-
lows.
The EARTHLY PARADISE. By William Nor
ris, Part ". Boston: Roberts Brothers, pub
fishers. 1t is sufficient to announce this volume.
Those who have read parts 1, aud s, will be
sure to read this; and they will find it no less
worthy of admiration than the preceding vol
umes There is the same poetic power, the same
mastery of language, the same subtle music Of
rhythm, and the same spell, that have made his
previous productions so attractive and given
them foremost place in English poetry. In
this fourth part of the Earthly Paradise" we
have "The Golden Apples" "The Fostering of
Aslang," "Bellerophon at Argos" "The Ring
given to Venus" "Bellcrophon in Lycia," and
'The Hill of Venus" There is an "Epiogue"
and 81 Envoi," which close the book and the
work. For sale at Bigelow's.
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY IN France
By Ernest Renan. Translated from the Second
French Edition. Boston: Roberts Brothers,
publishers. This little book contains an essay
which was first published in the Reoue DIES
Delr Mondes. 1t gives us Remains thoughts on
questions of the highest Importance to France,
just now, which the French publishers describe
as "the most delicate political questions of our
time" 1t was written in 1869, before Louis Ma
pOleon declared war on Germany. Renan holds
that the political condition of France makes a
French republic impossible, at present. He adj
vocates constitutional monarchy, and we infer
that he is an 0rcanist. He wants ga cOnStitu-
tional monarchy, limited and controlled; decen-
tralization; less government; a strong organic
alton of the commune the canton and the de-
partment;" a peaceful policy, education, and
organized liberty, such as they have in England.
Renan always writes well; and whether we
agree with him or not, what he says is worth
attention. For sale at Bigelow's.
MI STUDY WINDows.-This ambiguous title
is given to a collection of essays by Professor
Lowell, some of which we recognize as old
friends in the pages of the Atlantic or North
American, and we believe none of them are
here printed for the first time. As an essayist
Professor Lowell has no superior among Amer-
can writers, and this book contains some of the
best specimens of his work in several styles.
His desultory talk about the birds in his garden
shows hearty sympathy with nature, as his
essay on Chaucer displays at its best his emf
nent qualities as literary critic. The essay
"On a Certain Condescension in Foreigners, is
in an entirel, different vein from either of the
Others, while each is full of those unexpected
turns of thought and expression which make
him one of the most agreeable of writers. This
book is one of the first publications of the new
firm of James R. osgood & Co., whose mono
gram on the title page succeeds the somewhat
less elaborate one of Fields, Oseood & Co.. as
that had superseded the still palmer trademark
of Ticknor and Fields. 1t is for sale here by L.
H. Bigelow.
THE Snow MAN, by George Sand; Boston:
Roberts Brothers Any one who, having heard
George Sand denounced as an author of demon
alzing books, takes up this one expecting to
find in it either loose theories of the relations of
the sexes or any of that glorihed RIGHTEOUSNESS
which is the staple of too many French ro-
mances, will be surprised at his inability TO dis
cover any such faint, or to conjecture how the
author of book so pure in all respects, so full
of natural and charming good humor, could
ever get the reputation of a dissseminator of
peruicious influences. The Snow Man is one of
the most delightful of George Sands books. 1t
is a story of Swedish life, in which the charac-
tiers and manners of the country are faithfully
reproduced through the medium of a simple but
ingenious plot, and personages remarkably life
like and true TO nature. The story is unusually
adapted to be read aloud in a small company,
as many of the scenes are too amusing to be
thoroughly enjoyed by a solitary reader.
Miss Virginia Vaughan, the translator, has
been very fortunate in rendering so happily in
English the grace aud vivacity of the authors
style. L H. Bigelow has this book for sale.
The OVERLAND MONTHLY, for February, will
disappoint many by having none of the 5charac-
teristic poems or stories of Bret Harte. There
is nothing from his pen in this number but the
book notices, and possibly the "Grizzly Papers"
which are not so amusing as the instalment in
the las. number. Mr. Harte seems to be just
now doing his best by rdicule and rebuke, 10
make CalifoTnlans see as others do, their absurd
vanity and selt-conceit. lie may succeed in
working a radical reform in this matter, but it
is more likely that he will be compelled to fly
from the virtuous indignation of an enraged peo-
pie, and accept some of the numerous offers of
literary employment that eastern publishers
have urged upon him. Among the articles
are-Salt making at Alameda, Coast Whaling,
A New View of the Labor Question, Under the
Dragons Footstool, by J Ross Browne, and an
interesting sketch of the Rothschild family, by
| n. S Dodge.
| MECHANISM IN THOUGHT AND MORALS, by
Oliver Wendell Holmes. Boston: James R Os-
good Co. Tins is DIR. Holmes address before
the Phi Peta Kappa society of Harvard universe
ty last summer. Wit and wisdom are pleasant
ly mingled in it, and ii does not touch material
ism, though its title might seem to indicate as
much. 1t is for sale bv L. II. Bigelow.
How TO DRAW, by Charles A. Barry, teacher
Of drawing in the Boston public schools. This
series of six letters to little girl contains sim.
pie directions for learning TO draw, with a few
examples to be copied by the learner. 1t looks
as if it might be a very useful as well as enter.
tanning book for children.
OLD AND New, for February, brings its usual
variety of readable articles Mrs. Stowe con.
tinues her story, "Pink and White Tyranny
j. Elliott Cabot writes to prove that Huxley is
not materast. F. r. Perkins discusses the
"Genealogy of Trade-Unions." Among the
r Il.