Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-01

man Clarke breaches on common Sense IN
Religion" Col. Higgnson does not put the
name on his banner, but he makes a gallant
fight to keep tins most desirable quality domi-
nant in the womans rights movements and in
the November number of "The Radical" Sam
uel johnson discusses, with eloquent common
sense, the labor parties and labor reform.
The fair season is opened by the Catholics
with prolonged sale in the new cathedral,
which is not nearly finished, but offers large
and comfortable place for the crowds who wish
TO 20. The tables are like all other fair tables,
loaded with all sorts Of fancy work, and trimmed
with bunting and pretty devices; but they look
very small in the large space; and the children
who run about energetically and cry their
rafles, might get lost in the great bare building,
The choice in raffies appeared to be unlimited;
if you did not want library, or a picture, you
could try for a fast horse, and so down through
watches and furniture, to slippers and dolls of
all Sizes The guardians OF the fair pointed out
to guests the table of Mrs. Harrison Gray Otis,
at which that philosophical and energetic lady
presided, assisted by bevy Of bright and pretty
attendants.
The excitement caused by joaquin Miller's
poems has passed by; and it is very amusing to
glance at the different criticisms which they re-
ceiyed Mrs. Harriet Prescott Spoford's, in
Old and New was probably the most enthusiasts
tic: and the funniest and most severe was pub
lished in the World, and attributed to one gifts
editors. 1t secuted the idea that Mr. Miller is
a poet, and accused him of literary immortality
and entire falsenesS in facts, especially in de-
Scriptions of western scenery and of Walker in
Nicaragua, it asserting that Walker "habtually
wore there the dress not only of European,
but of European undertaker;" and ii explains
the popularity of Miller, Whitman and Swim
burne in England, by declaring that England
for the last twenty years, like Lady Clara We're
de We're, has been sckening of a vague disease.
The dress-cOat and the white cravat have been
slowly taking its life Priggishncss has invaded
all the realms of English literature and English
society, until men have begun to cry out for
brutality and bad manners, as children fed for
six months together on sponge-cake might roar
for back-bread." The abuse of both England
and Miller is too fierce to be just, but it is very
amusing considering the source from which it
comes.
Among the new books of poetry is pretty
volume of the poems and ballads of Goethe,
translated by W. Edmondstoune Aytoun, and
Theodore Martin. 1t is published by Holt and
Williams, and is one volume of Library Of
Foreign Poetry" including King Rene's Daugh
ter, from the Danish; Frithiof's Saga, from the
Swedish; Nathan the Wise, by Lessing; The
Kalevaa, the national epic of Finland; and
Heene's songs The Sakuntaa, from the Sam
scrit, is in preparation, and three Others are
promised Boris Godounof, from the Russian;
Calderon's "Liie is a Dream;" and the Songs of
Mizza Schaffy, from the Turkish.
Roberts Brothers have announced practical
translation of Frederic MistraPs Provcncal
poem, Mircio. The poem is simple, beautiful,
and like no other; it was published in Proven
cal with French prose translation in 1854, and
went through four editions in three years; in
1867 an English prose version was published;
we know of no English poetical translation;
and so welcome the promise of one