Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-04

The HISTORY OF PARAGUAY, with Notes of
Personal Observations, and "reminiscences of
Diplomacy under Difficulties. By Charles A
Washburn, Commissioner and Minister Resident
at Asuncion, from 1861 to 1865 This work. in
| two quarto volumes, has been published in Bos-
ton, by Lee & Shepard. Mr.. Washburn is not,
i'll any respect, the proper person to write his
tory of Paraguay but he contrived to enlist
some assistants whose knowledge of the subject
| is much superior to his own. Therefore, the
early history of the country is given with ntcli-
| genCe But he has infused his own spirit into
the work, aud made it, to some extent, an
elaborate attempt to yindcate his own preju-
| dces, passions aud mistakes. 1t is not possible
for him to write an honest and candid history
OF either DR.. Fraucia or the elder Lopez; and,
when he comes to Francisco Solano Lopez, he
writes anything but history. This part of his
work is utterly untrustworthy, because it aims
to defend his own mistakes and uphold views
resulting from these mistakes, to which he was
committed before the public. The story of the
| younger Lopez, the heroic defender of his
| country, will be written hereafter in a different
| spirit, and far more truthfully. Mr.. Washburn's
account Of him is not truthful. He was incapa-
| BILE of making it so.
| LIGHT AT EVENING TINE: A Book of Sup
pot and Comfort for the Aged. Edited by John
Stamford Holmes, D. D. New York; Harper &
Brothers. This volume contains selections
| from great number of authors, and is intend
ed as kind of religious handbook for aged
persons. 1t is handsomely printed on large
type, and the binding is very neat. 1t is an
octave of 352 pages. The editor has done his
work well, and most of his selections will be
new to those who are likely to read the book
and become familiar with its contents. For sale
at Bigelow's.
ZELL's ENCYCLOPEDIA, numbers 81 aud 3d.
with all the previous numbers, excepting num-
berS and 10, have reached us. The 3lst num-
Der begins a new volume, and carries on the
work TO the word Jackson" There is no falling
off in the ability or the thoroughness with which
the work was begun, and we eau only repeat
that it deserves favor. Horace King, of Thomp
sonvlle, Ct, is general agent of the publishers.
The NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW, for Janu-
airy, has an article on civil service reform, by
Gen. J. d. Cox, late secretary of the interior,
which will not fail to get attention. The other
topics are "The Aborigiues of Nova SCOTIA"
"The Government and Railroad Corporations;"
mining Schools in the United States;" "Prus-
STA and Germany" Modern Architecture" and
'Pope," by j. R. Lowell. Among the critical
notices is a review Of Cox's Aryan Mythology,
in which we can see how this subject is treated
by fancifu philologists, who are not well trained
in either archaeology or speculative philosophy.
The critic admits that Cox is extreme" in the
new and wild direction.
OLD AND NEW, for January, has come to
hand with table of contents which shows that
Its conductors are determined to make it a great
deal better than it has been, and this means
that they intend that it shall have no superior
among the magazines. Mrs. Stoves novel,
'Pink and White Tyranny" is continued.
The OVERLAND MONTHLY for January ought
to have plenty of readers. Bret Harte con-
tributes something further from Truthful James,
in his inimitable style, and also a story which is
humorous aud pathetic, though not perhaps in
his very best manner. The other articles are
all good, and there is not dull page in the mag
aziue. We have no hesitation in saying that not
one of the other American monthlies for Janu-
airy is of so uniform excellence and interest as
this. The practice of giving the names of con-
tributors is adopted in this number.
THE TECHNOLoGIsT for January has an in
teresting table of contents. Among the subjects
treated are: "The limits of the magnetic power
evolved by voltaic battery" "Breech-loading
rifles" "The holGing-power of spikes and nails"
| 'Notes on iron and steel" Ventilation . &c