Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-16

China, and then voyaged onward 10 Calcutta
He spent considerable time in India, and, afte
seeing many parts oft, embarked at Bomba,
for Cairo by way Of the Red Sea, From Cairo
he went to Jerusalem, Damascus, Constantine
pie, Italy, France, and England, and came hom
across the Atlantic. lie left home in August
1859, and so timed his movements as to avoi,
extreme heat and extreme cold in the countrie
visited. He gave most time and attention to In
dia, but he saw something of Japan He seem
to have been a diligent observer, and gives
good account of his adventures and ohserva
tons. For sale by Grout & Putnam.
PASSAGES FROM THE FRENCH AND ITALIA,
NoTE Books OF NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE,
published in two volumes, by James r, OsgooC
& Co, will attract many readers. But they
ought to have a good index. Hawthorne wen
from London to Paris, by way of Boulogne, ear
" in January, 1858, remained there ten or twelve
days, and then went on TO Italy by way Of Mar
settles, arriving in Rome on the goth day of the
same month. After passing four months in
r me, he made brief visits to various places
spent three or four months in Florence, again
toward the latter part Of October where he re.
manned until May Goth, 1859. He returned to
England by way Of Switzerland and France,
reaching southampton June cad The next four
or five months he spent in Redcar Yorkshire,
England where he wrote the marble Fam,
which was finished in November, 1859 At
Florence, he saw the Brownings, Hiram Powers,
e,,1 "a, 81
whom his Notebooks" give very entertaining
Sketches Wherever he went, he gave careful
attention TO the churches and cathedrals, and
nothing in all his sightseeing seems to have at
traCted him so much as these. The BrownineS
and Mr.. Powers brought him to some acquaint.
ance with "Spiritualism," Hume being the
medium" Powers, being a Swendenborgian
believed in the manifestations" Mrs
Browning was inclined to believe in
them, but Mr.. Browning, after much
observation of what the Spirits" could do
remained a very positive unbelievcr. 1t is not
the least charm of these Notebooks" that they
are always thoughtful and sincere. Whether
in italian galleries of art, in the studios of art
lists, or anywhere else, Hawthorne never makes
pretense of admira tons which be does not feel
There is no alee:aiion, no attempt to think,
feel, and talk in harmony with the standard ora
cles of art. He is careful to express his own
thought and feeling honestly, without seeming
to care much whether he contradicts orthodox
critics or agrees with them. 1t may be added
that these volumes and the English Note
Books" show us more Of Hawthorne than can
be found anywhere else. For sale by Grout &
Putnam.
HIGHER LAVA romance by the author of
"The Pilgrim and the Shrine" New York: G.
P Putnam,& Sons. In explanation of the title,
he has chosen, the author says in his preface:
IN its common acceptation, especially on the
western side of the Atlantic, the phrase de-
notes the recognition by two persons of opposite
sex Of a mutual affinity; strong enough in their
own view to Justify them in breaking all exist.
ing ties whatsoever, in order to effect their I'M
ion with each other; the appeal in such case
being from the traditional TO iutuitional NOR
ality" People on the eastern side of the Allan
tic may accept this statement, but those on
this side to whom the phrase is associated only
with a very different and much more res pectable
meaning, will wonder what is this authors au-
thority for that which he says is its
common acceptaliou. The main purpose
of the tale, he explains further, is to
show that the yotares Of the "higher law"
as thus defined, are liable to the charge of ar
resting the development Of their system of
morality at point where its operation becomes
purely selfish, and therefore immoral. Instead
of yielding to the attraction Of their "affinity,'
they should refuse to yield, not out Of Difference
to social conventions, or fear of consequences
here or hereafter, but because selfsacrfce for
the sake of those with whom it is our lot to be
allied under the strongest possible inducements
to the contrary, is the lofties result imaginable
or desirable. The moral is sound enough and
the story well written, but, like most other
stories with an obtrusiye moral, rather dreary.
For sale by Sanford & Co.
HARPER & BROTHERS have begun the publ
cation of a Household Edition of the Works
of Charles Dickens. " The first issue of this edi-
ton is ''Olver Twist" The form is large octave
with double column pages. 1t is very hand
somely printed on type Of good size, which is
remarkably clear. The binding is handsome,
and there are illustrations. For sale by Grout
& Putnam.
TWENTY YEARS AGO. New York: Harper &
Bros. This is the first of a series of books for
girls, edited by Mrs. MULCH Craik, author Of
John Halifax, Gentleman" The present vol
ume, as the preface informs US, is the account
by young English girl Of her visit to Paris in
the year of Louis Napoeon's coup d'etot TIE
young lady's narrative has been subjected to
very slight revision, and gives with admirable
spirit and life likeness sketches of society in the
gay capital, gay and liehtbearted to a wonder
full degree, so this English girl thought, even
then when it was stained with such enormous
crimes against liberty and life. For sale here
by Grout and Putnam.
RIGHTED AT LAST. A Novel. New York ::
D. Appleton 6 Co. The scene of this story is
laid in Connecticut aud New York. 1t is in the
form Of an autobiography, of which the author
and heroine was in her childhood one of the
Clown poor, but after many vicissitudes turns
out at last to be the daughter of rich and
aristocratc family. The plot is well conceived,
and the story has considerable interest. For
sale by Sanford & Co.
The BEST READING. Hints for the selection
of books, the formation of libraries, public and
private, courses oil reading, &C., with CLASH
fed photography. Inc list Of books is con-
veniently arranged and is as accurate and COM
plete as could be expected in so small a com.
pass. The suggestions on books and reading by
Fred. B. Perkins are judicious and pleasantly
expressed. The volume is a small one in paper
covers, is published by G. p. Putnam Co., New
York, and Tor sale here by Sanford & Co.
A Crown FROM THE SPEAR, by the author of
woven Of Many Threads" Boston: James
r. Osgood Co. This is a fairly good, but no
way remarkable story, told in rather extrava-
gantly romantic style. The characters, how
ever, are drawn with much skill and yigor, and
some Of the situations are very effective. For
sale by Grout Putnam.
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Miscellaneous Items.
The first coal ever mined in the United States
was dug up near Richmond, Virginia. Bitumi-
M nfsnIr = /. alTap 4