Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-24

or sixty ladies, who have read 1854 books writ
ten for young people, and have found only sH
suitable for Unitarian Sunday schools. A small
portion of the number rejected for doctrines OPP
posed to Unitarianism might properly find
place in Evangelical Sunday schools, but the
greater part were rejected, because they ale with
out literary merit, without moral strength or
honor; and because they teach what is not true;
that good deeds are rewarded at once in this
world; that if a child gives to a poorer child,
the first child will be at once rewarded in kind;
if it gives an orange, it will Immediately receive
two; if it gives five cents, its mother will at
once give it ten cents; or if she (there is no
question about the pronoun in this case) gives
away the money she has saved for a mufI, her
mama will bestow upon her a set of furs. 1t is
depressing to find how much of this disgusting
and demoralizing selishness is taught in books
written on purpose for Sunday schools; and it
was the low state of Sunday school lite nature
that induced the ladies of the commission to
form their society, and undertake the work of
sitting this great mass of printed matter to see
if enough good books could not be found to
supply Sunday schools with healthy, improving,
interesting and grammatical reading.
The third is list of about five hundred
books, selected by committee of the ladies'
commission on Sunday school books, for the
use of young persons. 1t is an entirely unob-
jectionable and rather dry list; one might safely
send it to a bookseller as an order to be filled
for the foundation of library: but if one were
to be confined to 800 books, | am not quite sure
that should, in all cases, recommend the five
hundred here enumerated
The two remaining pamphlets are remark
able, and suggest too many thoughts, both
serious and satirical, for letter. They are the
advertisements of the American literary and of
the Boston lyceum bureaus, and contain list
0fthe lecturers, readers and singers for whom en-
gagements will be made during the next lecture
season. So far, it is all well. Almost all lee
turers find it necessary to have stationary
agent to conduct their business, and so these
bureaus have grown up; but, besides the names,
the most extravaganza puffs are given; and we
find that a small army of beautiful women,
with exquisite grace, persuasive manners, rich
voices, thrilling eloquence, wide scholarship,
womanly power of reasoning, glowing fancy,
keen wit and all other charms of mind, body,
heart and soul are to appear next winter on the
platform, and to delight crowded and enthusiast
tic audiences. There are between thirty and
forty of these charming women, and they lee
ture upon a great variety of topics, chiefly,
| think, some form of the woman question.
Mrs. Lofty Hough, "the celebrated Yankee
Coincidence" "the one woman in thousand for
talent and beauty and goodness" "tne thorough
English scholar" the '1ady of unusual culture,"
will avoid the sentimental side Of the question,
and will deliver a lecture "to make the people
laugh and grow fat" on the amusing subject OF
Popping the Question" 1t is not difficult to
believe, after reading the advertisement, that
her culture is unusual.
The lecturers already famous simply an
nounce their subjects and their terms; the
scientific lecturers have the same dignifed re-
serve, and offer the most valuable courses and
single lectures; there are large number Of read
ers, of singers, and denominations. Among the
names, new to the lecture platform, are many
which are known in other professions or lines
of business. Mr.. II. B. Blackwell with lecture
on St. Domingo, one on Manifest Destiny, and
with the st. Domingo commission gave him
fine opportunity for observation of the island,
and he writes well; Alice button offers three
lectures, which are said to be intellectual and
oratorical luxuries" Miss Dutton is described
as beautiful, cultivated, refined, and contribu-
tor to the Atlantic. Matilda Fletchers first sub
ject is care you for Sale~
Edwin Morton appears as lecturer on the
"Life and Death of Socrates" Rev. E. E. Hale
is to read his stories of "The Man Without a
Country" "Daily Bread" and a new one, "He
Did His Level Best" Oliver Optic and Virginia
Townsend are to read their own stories. Corrinne
D'Estaign and Edwin de Leon are new names to
many lyceums. Mary Nolan's lectures on
"Man's Better HALF" and "The Life of an UNI
brella," are said to be intellectual treats.
And so on-the pamphlets are literary curiosi-
ties, and deserve the careful consideration of
those interested in the mental condition of the
northern and western STATES.