Worcester daily spy., 1872-12-28
fFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
BosroN, Dec. 90, 1872,

positively dangerous to be there; and when the
man or woman behind you was loaded. as he or
she always was, with Christmas shopping,
nobhy packages and sharpcornered boxes, the
bruising of shoulders and arms became serious
matter. All the streets between Cornhill and
Boylston have been thoroughly uncomfortable.
More shopping has been done than ever before
at thi; season, and there has been a constant
block of vehicles of all descriptions in the
streets. Sometimes line Of cars reaching d
quarter of a mile would be stopped by one balkv
horse; and the swearing of drivers would be
emphatic, but decidedly wanting in variety
Active policemen would CONVOY frightened
women under the heads of impatient horses,
and through the intricacies of innumer-
able wheels and runners, and there was
endless shouting and turmoil, that did not
suggest "Peace on earth," although it might
Good will to men," for peace was probably
sacrificed in order that all men might "Know
bv these presents" how much good will prevails.
On Christmas day quiet fell with the mercury,
and closed stores, windows thickly curlained
with frost, and deserted steeets made the city
dreary enough.
The municipal election has been both dis
graceful and amusing. Either the morals or
The mathematics Of the vote counters are sadly
at fault, perhaps both. II is notorious that
ward Two is never expected to count correctly,
few of the voters having been taught in our
schools, but the blunders in the other wards
were unexpected Most surprising of all is an
incident that happened in one branch of the city
government. The story goes that twelve alder
men voted lor a city engineer. The votes were
counted and the result declared seven for Mr..
A, and FIVE for Mr.. b. "There must be some
mistake" said an alderman who, by some acci.
dent, could not count into the teens, "for voted
for Mr.. c."
Miss LeClercq's engagement at the Globe is
the best thing in the theatrical line, although
before ''The Angel of Midnight was reproduced
the performances at the Museum had been I'M
commonly good. "Pygmaon and Galatea,"
which is now running at the Globe, is unlike
any other play, and is in many respects both
pleasing and interesting. Pvgmalon, an Athen
ian scul ptor prays the gods to give life to his
statue OF GIatea, his masterpiece. The prayer
is granted, and the beautiful statue steps from
her pedestal, living woman, fair and tender
and innocent, second Eve, full of wonder and
affection and child like trust, and ignorant o.
dissimulation, passions, and the ways of the
world. She knows that TO Pygmalion she owes
The beautiful gift of life, and she rewards him
with overfJwing gratitude and affection. HeI
conversation with him and her artless ques
lions are the charm OF the play. Her innocence
and want Of worldly wisdom make miserable
although sometimes funny complications in the
domestic affairs of the Pygmalion family
the wife uses some miracul Jus power
to strike her husband blind, and then goes off
il fury of jealousy and ill temper; che sister
and her lover quarrel and separate; an Athenian
patron of arts, who comes to buy Galatea
the statue, and remains to Airt with Gllatea the
beautiful maiden, is turned out of his house by
his strong minded wife, and every body blames
aud hates poor, innocent Galatea, who cannot
understand why she makes SO much mischief
She is most cruelty treated, and shows saint
like self sacrifice Pygmaliou is simply brute
TO her; and when the wife has repented and re
stored his sight, and the lovers are reconciied
poor Galetea, sorfowlul and cursed, finding lift
a misery when love is gone, creeps back to her
pedestal with a chill in her sweet young heart,
aud mysterously fades away-melts into moth
ingness before our eyes.
Miss LeClercq plays Galatea exquisitely, with
perfect simplicity and purity. 1t is one Of the
most difficult parts ever put upon the stage, and
MiSC nr - -
would alone place her in the front rank o
actors The play is a satire, and is capable
IN many places Of coarse Interpretation ant
lndelcate suggestion. Mr. Stuart Robson, al
the Art Patron, is a mere buffoon, making the
most OF all possible coarseness in his part, ant
apparently unconscious that the part offers any
thing but coarseness and buffoonery. Ii Mr.
Sheridan as Py gmalion would show a LITTLE
more animation and generosity; If Miss Orion,
as his wife, would play little less eXIravagant
ly; and ii the Art Patron would be given TO
man of some tasie and wit, the comedy would
be really delightful one. AS 1t is, the con
trast between Miss LeClercq's re6ued aud TEN.
pered acting, and the crude, harsh performance
OF the others, produces an unpleasant effect,
to be pleased.
The art and the book stores are filled with
photographs at moderate pr.ce; their variety
is endless, and besides the genuine photographs
which vary much in beauty and style, are al
the new forms of reproducing pictures, hello.
types, autotypes, and others. These proces Sc:
are much in use for the Illustration of books
.I.a f,.n
volume "From the Nile to the Jordan, ,
are excellent specimens of the aut0type pro
cess; James Il. Osgood & Co. have brought
heiiotypng 10 some degree of perfection anc
use it for their book illustrations and for larger
pictures. Many OF the most beautiful OF las
years holiday books, are reprinted for this sea
son. Harmerton's "Unknown RIVER" and Lore
Houghton's poem GOOD Night and Coco
Morning" illustrated by Walter Severn, deserve
to become standard gift books; while Mis-.
Cnase's illustrations Of Mother Goose will never
20 out OF favor. have spoken before of the
Life OF Tbervaldsen, one Of the most brilliant
and interesting biographies that ever read anc
now the same publishers give us the memoirs o
Madame Desoordes Valmore, by Salnte-Beuve
Mduane fdlmOTe was Wtll hHOWl III france
where she was admired as poet, and loved as
woman. Her character was noble and tender
she was full of sentiment, generous, and deepl,
religious. Her Affections were so great that sh
seemed "vowed to sorrows" yet Sainte-Beuv
calls her 'the most courageous, tender, aud com
passionate Of feminine souls;" and Alfred d
Vigny said that "hers was the finest female mint
Of our time" She was very lovely in person
aud character, and her memoirs have specia
fitness Tor Christmas book. Her own life wa
one Of tender, devoted, unsel6sh love; SAINT
Beuve's biography Of her is a tribute OF sure at
fection; and so is Miss Pres:on's translation
1t there is any truth in "spheres" and "atmos
pheies,' II nanlmate objects partake the spii
oi those who make them; tue very pages ol thi
book ought to exhae tender affection, the mos
winning piety, aud the purest generosity.
Madame Michelets Mature, or the Poetry oJ