Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-25

and his book deserves to be generally read. 1t
is for sale by Grout and Putnam.
A MANUAL OF ENGLISH LITERATURE; a
Textbook for Schools and Colleges; by John
S. Hart, Ii. D.. Philadelphia: Eldridge &
Brother, publishers. The author of this work
is professor of rhetoric and of the English Ian
guage and literature in the college at Princeton,
New Jersey. He has had much experience as a
teacher, and, therefore, knows what is required
in a textbook; and he was ualifed by long
study of English literature to prepare such
| textbook as this. He begins with English
Literature before Chaucer," and presents a
symmetrical view of the whole subject through
all the periods of its history down to the pres
ent time. The notices of authors are neces-
sarily brief, but they tell us great deal; and
he has aimed to make the list complete His
method of grouping them seems to us excellent.
This work can not fail to be useful as a text
book; and it will be valuable in any private
library as book of reference, for it contains a
large amount of information clearly, though
very briefly expressed which is made readily
available by means of copious index.
SEPrnnUs FELTON,, or the Elixir of Life, by
volume of 229 pages, by James r. Osgood &
| Co., Boston. Readers of the Atlantic Monthly
have had it regularly, in monthly instalments,
since the beginning of the year; nevertheless,
many of them will be likely to get it in this
form. The topic of the story is one to which
the genius of Hawthorne was peculiarly adapt
ed. In the incomplete condition in which he
left it, ii is powerful story; and if he had taken
pains to rewrite it, fill the gaps, and complete
the work as he only could have done, it would
be one of his very best. We are glad it has
been printed; but criticism would be ont of
place, for this is not the story Of Septimus Fell
ton, as Hawthorne himself would have prepared
it for publication. For sale by Grout & Put
nam.
FLY LEAVES; by c. S. C. New York: Holt
& Williams, publishers. This is volume of
short poems, which has been well received. 1t
is an English book, or, rather, the original por-
ton of an English book published with the title,
''Verses and TRANSACTIONS" In some ofthe En-
glish notices, the authors name is given in full
as C. S. Calverley. The oversees" have been
praised partly, we suppose, because there is
nothing lackadaisical about them, and partly
because they have some novelty and originality
of expression. They will, doubtless, find favor
here. For sale by Sanford & Co.
THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, for Au-
gust, has portrait of Professor Asa Gray, of
Harvard College, with biographical sketch
There are thirteen articles besides the Editors
Table, Literary Notices, and Miscellany. The
first article, by Dr. H. Schellen, is on the Au-
gust and November meteors. 1t is illustrated,
and is, of course, a noteworthy discussion of the
subject. There is an article from the Anlhro-
biological Review, on characteristics of the
Calmucks," and one by DIR. A. K. Gardner on
the causes of Physical Degeneracy." But all
the articles are very good. Published by D.
Appleton & Co., New York.
CHRISTINA NORTH, by Z, NJ. Archer. New
York: d. Appleton & Co. This is a love story
quietly and simply told. Its characters and in
cidents are from the ordinary novelist's stock,
yet they are so combined as to have a pleasing
effect. The author has good taste and very
graceful style, if not striking originality. Chris
tina, the heroine, is charming, fresh and
natural character, and the Cleasbys are pleasant
specimens of easy, good tempered English peo-
| PIC Win u lOiClPu lIdlulllR. DdHlOIu q 70,
have the book for sale.
APPLEToN's JOURNAL Monthly Part No. 40,
containing all the weekly numbers for July, has
been issued. De Miles novel, can Open Cues
tion," begins in the first of these July numbers,
In this monthly part, Lady Sweetapple"
reaches the forty-second chapter, and is "to be
| continued" There are poems and short stories !;
| but tho conductors of Annlatonts Toprnal
derstand that "literature" means something
more than novels, plays, and poetry. In their
view, knowledge has place in literature quite
as important as that occupied by sentiment
and fancy. Consequently, they make this
periodical instructive as well as en-
tertaining. Biography, history, archaolo-
| gy, science, and every department of
human knowledge is recognized, not only in the
carefully arranged editorial department, but,
also, in the articles chosen for the general con
| tents of the weekly numbers. No periodical
furnishes more useful miscellany for reading
in families. In this monthly Fart we have por-
traits of Don Carlos, the Spanish pretender;
| Marshal Serrano, and Benson ]. Losing. There
is finely illustrated article on the Croton water
| works, and, also, one on Detroit. Among the
other illustrations are several views of Ameri-
can scenery.
HARPER's MONTHLY, for August, opens with
an illustrated article on Mount Desert, place
on the coast of Maine, with which some of our
summer tourists are familiar. THERE'S an illus
trated article, by Porte Crayon, and also one on
the 0rontes, in Syria, by J. A. johnson. The
continued stories are by Anthony Trollope and
Miss Thackeray; but the most notable thing in
this number of Harper, for many readers, is the
beginning of new story by Charles Reade en-
titled A Simpleton; Story of the Day" This
is an unusually good number of Harper, which
is saying great deal for it.
LIPPNcoTT's MAGAZINE, for August, main
tains its reputation as the handsomest and one
Of the very best of American magazines The
illustrated article is entitled "a Switchback Ex-
curson," and has some remarkably well ex-
ecuted views Of scenery in the Lehigh valley.
Other prominent articles in this number are
Eccentric Englishmen," by Lady Blanche Muir
ply; Heinrich Heine," by Kate Hillard;
"Camp Meetings in the West Fifty Years Ago."
by W. c. Howells; "Private Art Collections of
Philadelphia" by E. S. The "MonthIy Gossip"
contains some interesting personal details re-
lating to the poet Tennyson.
Coon HEALTH, for August, published by
Alexander Moore, Boston, contains carefully
prepared series of articles which cannot be read
without profit. The first is from Dr. Carpenter,
of London, and discusses the unconscious action
of the brain. 1t is very good, and yet not so
good, perhaps, as some of the Others.
Laughing in MeeIin'.
"REMINISCENCES BY MRS. BEECHER STOWE
We were in disgrace, we boys, and the reason
OF it was this: We had laughed out in meeting
time! 10 be sure the occasion was a trying one
even to more disciplined nerves. Parson 10th
rop mad exchanged pulpits with Parson Sum
neral of North Wearem. Now, Parson Sum
neral was man in the very outset likely to
provoke the rsibles Of unspiritualized juveniles.
He was thin, wiry, frisky little man, in pow
dered white wig, black tights, and silk stock
ings, with bright knee buckles, and shoe
buckles, with round, dark, swapping eyes, and
curious, high, cracked, squeaking voice, the
very first tones Of which made all the children
stare and giggle. The news that Parson Sum-
neral was going to preach iu our village spread
abroad among us as a prelude 10 something
funny. II had favor like the charm of circus
actiuUs and on Sunday ruorpfno Of our e,ar,,