Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-21

SOMETHING TO Do. A novel. Boston, James
R. Osgood & Co. The author of this novel
shows the results of training in the more radical
department of what is called "the Boston litera-
ry culture" 0fcourse, there is no lack OF abili-
ty to write well, so far as this depends on such
training. 1t is the history of two girls, quite
improbable in some respects, but readable, and
part of it Exciting" The inculcatons are not
wholly free from objection. The writer's specu-
latons on marriage, will be regarded as Gun
sound, or, at least, as little too "free'; but,
at the same time, we get the impression that the
authors mind is pure and elevated. The book
is not common place in character. 1t has
special individuality of its own.
LITERATURE AND LIFE, by Edwin P Whip
pie. Boston, James r. Osgood & Co. These
essays, ten in number, upon literary and social
topics, have been previously published, most of
them in the Atlantic Monthly, but they will
bear reperusal. They are thoughtful and
scholarly, always clear and forcible in express
sion, and embody much sound and discrimi-
mating criticism and healthy and genial views
of life. L. H. Bigelow has the book for sale.
BRAGELoNNE, THE Son OF ATHos, by Alex
ander Dumas. Philadelphia: 7. b. Peterson Co.
Readers of Dumas novels need not be told that
this is the third and concluding volume of the
series of which The Three Guardsmen is the
first The interest in NJ. Dumas writings has
been in some degree revived by his recent death.
This, like all the rest of Them is full of exciting
incident, and is such book as only its author
with his wonderfully prolific imagination could
write. 1t is for sale at Bigelow's.
The ATLANTIC MONTHLY, for May, has an
unusually interesting table ofcontents. Among
the good things are, "The Descent of Fire" by
John Fiske, which discusses some of the popular
superstitons that have come down to US from
prehistoric antiquity; R. J. Hinton's article on
''The Organization of Labor" "Delsarte," by F.
A. Durivage; and "Our Whispering Gallery"
No. V, which closes Mr.. Fields "reminiscences
of Hawthorne, and gives an account of his
death.
HARPER's MAGAZINE, for May, has five illus
trated articles: "The Westover Estate" on
| James River; "The Monarch of Mountains"
Mont Blanc; "Along the Florida Reef" fourth
paper; "The Story of Punch and Judy;" and
Frederick the Great" No. XVIII. Among the
other articles are stories and miscellaneous pa
pers. The editors department has, as usual an
abundance of good things.
The GALAXY for May contains unusually in
teresting installments of its two serial stories,
Lady Judith and Overland" a judicious crit
icism of the campaigns of General Lee, by DR..
Guernsey; very interesting article, by Justin
Mccarthy, on the Duke of Cambridge and En-
glish army reform, and an exposure of more of
the dark ways of New York swindlers, by Ed
ward Crapsey, in his series of articles entitled
"The Neither Side of New York" He deals this
time with the counterfeit money and circular
swinders, who still flourish in spite of innu-
merable exposures. Mark Twain's 'Memo-
randa" is succeeded in this number by new
humorous department, called "The Galaxy
Club Room" conducted by Dom Piatt, with
the aid of several anonymous writers. This first
installment is sufficiently amusing, and the new
department promises to be worthy successor
to Mark Twain's inimitable drolleries.
LIPPINcoTT's MAGAZINE we have sometimes
thought a trihe dull, but that fault cannot be
found in the May number. Few magazines have
every presented more attractions Under the
queer title "Job and the Bug" Chauncy
Hickox gives some humorous sketches of life in
Washington at the beginning of the civil war.
Prentice milford, Bret Harte's successor as ed
itor of the Overland Monthly, writes entertain
ingly of mining life in California A story of
English life by Sir Charles Young is very good.
The piquant sketches entitled Wild Ireland are
continued, A. c. Dillman writes of Ivan Toor-
genet, the Russian novelist, and Charles Morris
on Ancient Monuments of America.
OUR You've FOLKS, for May, continues Mr..
| Trowbridges story, "Jacb Hazard and his For
tunes, takes its readers Down with the Divers"
and gives, from Helen C. Weeks, an account of
| 'Two Days in the Mammoth Cave" There are
| eight or ten other very readable articles
The BRITISH QUARTERLY, for January, has
been repubshed by the Leonard Scott Publish
ing Company, New York. This number is giUen
to all those who subscribed for the North British
Review for 1871. 1t has the following articles
"The American Press" 1.-The Royal Commits
sion on International Coinage;" "The Malmes-
bury Papers," "The Explorations of Palestine;"
early Sieges of Paris" "The Established
Church in Wales;" 'The Greek New Testament
of DR.. Tregelles;" "The War of $780," and
| Contemporary Literature"
| EVERY SATURDAY for this week has as its
principal attraction Bret Hartes now famous
poem, "The Heather Chinee," with series of
illustrations by Sol. Eytinge, Jr., designed under
the personal direction of Mr.. Harte, which may
therefore be accepted as furnishing authentic
ikenesses of the participants in that memorable
game of euchre.
SCRIBNER's MONTHLY, for May, comes to us
! in a very imperfect condition,-a portion of the
pages being duplicated, and an equal number
missing The table of contents enumerates
nineteen papers. There are indications that this
number is unusually good. The "reminiscences
of Charlotte Bronte" will have many readers.
GOOD WORDS FOR THE Young, for April
has just reached us. We have in it two add-
tional chapters of "The Princess and the Cob
lin, and twelve other articles which will secure
the attention of young readers. There is no
lack of illustrations, and these are remarkably
well executed. Published by j. B. Lippincott &
Co., Philadelphia.
The TEcHNoLoGIsT for April has an ilustra-
ted article on an improved thermo regulator,
another on the pier and caisson of the St. Louis
bridge, and one on a novel application of the
endless screw 1t contains also a great variety
of mechanical and industrial information. 1t
is an excellent magazine of lis class.
The MANUFACTURER AND BUILDER, for
April, published by Western & Co., New York
is very fully illustrated and its editorial man,
agement and typographical execution are alike
excellent.
PETERS MUSICAL MONTHLY contains thirty
five pages of music, of which twenty are occu-
pied with songs and hymn tunes.