Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-02

mouth of the main pipe from the admission of
impurities. When this was cleared the water
ran freely again. The supply was cut off from
> o'clock A. NJ until about noon. A fire break
ing out duling that time might have proved
serious matter.
HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, by H. A.
Tane. Translated by II. Van Laun, one of the
Masters of the Edinburgh Academy; with a
Preface prepared expressly for this edition by
the Author. Vol. |. New York Holt & Will
liams. This octave volume of $50 pages con-
tams the first half of work on the history of
English literature and of the English people as
represented in this literature, written by
Frenchman whose brilliant books, previously
written and translated into English, have given
| him a wide reputation. He made thorough
! study of the subject, before undertaking to pre-
! pare the work for publication; and the least
| that can be said in its favor is that no English
man has ever written anything of the kind on
the literature of his country, which deserves
comparison with it. With Mr.. Taine a study of
the literature is a study of the nation in all its
| phases of development, from the beginning of
its civilization; in its persistent instincts as they
! appear III every tidu2G VI tdSIc OF OF cOntTOll-
| ing influences, and in every movement of the
progress from rude beginnings to the most adj
vanced condition of learning and culture He
aims toshow what the literature represents from
| age to age, what stands behind it and gives its
peculiar form and spirit. His work begins with
the SaXons and the poem Of Beowulf, and comes
down, in this volume, to the literary develop
ment which followed the restoration of Charles
Second.
1t is something more than a mere history of
books with extracts from all the leading writers
of each age 1t is history of the people, of the
language, of the life of the English nation, and
of the influences by which the national iudiyi-
duality has been directed from aye to age In
this first volume, after the introduction the gen
eral headings Of the chapters are as follows
The SaXons; The Normans The New Tongue
The Pagan Renaissance; The Theatcr; Ben Jon
son; Shakespeare; The Christian Renaissance;
Milton; The Restoration. But these headings
do not show the fullness with which he has
| treated all the periods and topics they suggest
The 'New Tongue" brings him to Chaucer and
the literature of his age which followed the
"long impotence Of Norman literature" 1t is
out defects and shortcomings here and there;
but can his brightest critic make another half
as good, on the same subject, without borrow.
ing his thoughts? He is invariably candid in
his treatment of English writers, and every
where illustrates the force of his reason for TAX
ing up this subject, namely, that ga stranger
has one advantage; custom does not blunt his
perceptions; he is unconsciously struck by the
principal characteristics, and treats the subject
with reference to them.'
We observe, that, in one or two notices of the
book, an objection has been raised against his
exposition of Shakespeare and his significance
in English literature. Mr. Taine admits and
admires Shakspeare's wonderful genius with A
fullness OF enthusiastic appreciation which
ought to satisfy even the national pride, with
which the English are accustomed to celebrate
the great poet and dramatst as the brightest
of bright particular stars in modern literature
He says; Shakespeare had a complete imagin-
alton; his whole genius is in that single word;''
and a mind the 'mOst creative that ever en-
gagged in the exact copy of the details of actual
existence, in the dazzling caprice of fancy, in
the profound complications of superhuman pas
sions" His estimate of Shakespeare, given
briefly before proceeding to explain his thoughts
and illustrate its correctness, is this che was a
nature poetical immoral inspired, equally mas
ter OF the sublime and the base, superior to
reason by the sudden revelations of his seer's
madness; so extreme in joy and pain so abrupt |
of gait, so stormy and impetuous in his trans
ports, that this great age alone could have
graded such a child" The Directing criticism
seems 10 have been provoked by that word Gin
mora" by which Mr.. Tame means that his ge- |
MUS worked regardless of moral restraint and
portrayed the whole reality of life Just as it was
in that age. We cannot agree with this crti-
csm, for it seems to us directed against one of
the finest points made by Mr.. Taine in his adj
mirable analysis of the poets genius and
works.
The translation of this work is excellent hav-
ing been made by a very competent translator
under the supervision of Mr.. Taine himself No
student OF English literature can afford to do
without it; and it will be sure to find its way to
many Others who 10 not formally class them
selves as such students, but who are led to such
studies by The instructive tendencies of their cul-
ture. For sale by Sanford & Co.
THE STUDENTS HIsToRY OF THE MIDDLE
AGES" by VIM. Smith, LII d., published by
Harper Brothers, is the Students" edition of
Hallam, and corresponds in size and appearance
to the other volumes of this student series. The
preface tells us that nothing essential in Hal |
lam's work has been left out, and that it con-
tains his latest additions to it, with additions
also from other writers. 1t is really the most
useful edition Of Hallam that has ever been pub.
lished, because ii is likely to be more popular
with general readers than any other, and there
fore more successful in communicating knowl-
edge Of the history Of Europe in the ages when
the present European natonalities arose and be-
came established. The work is handsomely
printed on very clear type; and it is neatly
bound; the publishers evidently aiming to have
it find many readers among those who would
not be likely to purchase a more expensive edi-
ton. For sale at Bigelows
AMERICAN HOME Book" is the title of a
handsome volume prepared by Mrs Caroline L.
smith, and published by Lee Shepherd, Bos-
ton. II Is book of"in-door games, amusements.
and occupations for old and young There
are games for the children, "games of memory"
natural magic" "the SybiI,' amusements for
the Christmas holidays, and full EXPLANATION
of the art Of ventrioquism. considerable nor
ton Of the book is devoted to flowers home
arts, the toilet, the sick room, and various do
nestle matters. Mrs Smith shows that She is