Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-24

| MIREIo: Provencal POEM BY Frederic
Mstral; translated by Harriet W. Preston.
Boston: Roberts Brothers. This poem is one of
the most remarkable productions of modern
literature, partly on account of its rare merit as
poem, but, also, because it is connected with a
| literary revival of the old Provencal language,
which is still spoken in the south of France
The story of this revival is full of interest.
Joseph Roumanille, sou of gardener at Saint.
Remy, well educated in the French schools,
wrote French verses for the entertainment of his
mother; but she had forgotten the French she
learned at school, and could not understand
them. This moved him TO write verses in the
Provenfal tongue, and to take notice that the
only literature in that tongue, current among
the people, was confined TO the vulgar songs aud
catches of the tayerns. He resolved to add
something better; and, as he was a teacher, his
enthusiasm in this direction was impaired to
som, of his pupils. One of the brightest OF
these was Frederic Mistral, the author of Mireio.
This poem was published at Paris in Septem.
Der, 1889, and created lively sensation in
French literary circles. 1t was aceompa-
MED by a very literal French translation
in prose. 1t is not too much, perhaps, TO
say with this translator at is the most original
poem of modern times" But it cannot be
really reproduced by translation, in French,
English, or any other language for its wonder
jul music, not TO speak of its PrOvenea felieities
of expression, cannot be translated. In Eng
land, Mr.. NJ. c. Grant published prose version,
and a metrical translation by II. Crchton APP
peared in 1868; but they failed TO give Mistral's
poem TO English readers. This American trans
lation is more nearly a complete success than
another. Miss Preston understood the difficulty
with which she had TO deal. As she found it
impossible TO reproduce the "un-English Prov
encal measures" which is liquid, alluring, or
nate in melody, and filled with echoes and
assonances, she did the next best thing; she
adopted the measure used by William Morris in
his Earthly Paradise" In this way, she has
made the best translation of Mireio, probably,
that viii ever appear in English. In her YER
sion, it is a noble poem, rustic in theme, I'M
conventional in treatment, and full of the I'M
shine and the untaught grace of out door life"
For sale by Grout & Bigelow.
NoTEs ON ENGLAND. By H. Tame Trans
lated, with an Introductory Chapter by WE.
Rae. New York; Holt & Williams, publishers.
These "Notes on England" were written origi.
nally for the Paris Temps. Portions of them
have been translated into English for the Lon
don Daily Ne,cs, and circulated in American
newspapers, since Mr.. Taines other works made
him literary celebrity. They are the result of
much acquaintance with the English people, and
careful observation Of their ways We find in
them the same pecuiarities of mind which are
so manifest in his other books. The English give
him credit for being candid and even sympa.
thetic, in his sketches of English society and
character, but, at the same time, object to some
OF his narratiOns and criticisms. We learn from
the Introductory chapter that he was born,
April 81, 1928, at Vouziers, on the frontier of
Champagne and Ardennes, and that he was
named Hyppolite Adolphe Taine. His father
was a solicitor, and "his uncles and cousins
were notares, merchants, civil engineers" He
was carefully educated, and among the first
things he learned, after he could read, were
Latin and English. We can see in what he has
written how richly his mind deserved the most
careful training. The History Of English Lit.
erature" was first published in 1868. His "Notes
on England were collected revised, enlarged
and published in volume, in 1871. They have
not waited long for translation. For sale by
Sanford & Co.
HE PASTOR OF THE DESERT, Jean Jarous-
seau. By Eugene Pelletan. Translated from
the French. New York: Dodd & Mead, pub.
fishers. This is the story of French Protestant
preacherwho lived nearly an hundred years ago
| when Protestants were still fearfuly prosecuted
in France. 1t is well written, and the author
may have used some fancy with his facts; but
he is sure of the facts, for the "pastor' was his
| grandfather; and was 'Pastor of the DESERT
because the prosecuted Protestants were obliged
to hold their meetings in the woods, and in other
| places where they could he hidden from obser-
Walton. The authors purpose is not so much 10
tell the whole story Of Jarousseau's life, as to
snow the actual condition of Protestantism and
lis preachers, at that time. This American
EDITION is very neat volume Of 226 pages. w,
suggest TO the publishers that their uroor
reader mas not done his part of the work in th,
. most perfect manner possible. The typorranh
ical errors, however, will be easily detected II
the reader For sale by Grout & Putnam.
"THE LIFE OF WALTER DOUGLAS" +" FIN
ING SHELTER, or LITTLE NAN" and "Tm
CHRISTIAN HERO, a Sketch of the Life of Ro
ert AMMAN" the latter by Rev. J. Macpherson
are three English books republished in Bosto
by Henry Hoyt. Little Nan" is a pleasar
and useful story. The others are well write
sketches of religious experience, character, an
work For sale by Sanford & Co.
LORD KILGoBBIN" is the title of Charlie
Levers last story, which has been published i
New York by Harper & Brothers. His novel
are too well known to readers of fiction TO nee
much description. This has dedication date
at Trieste January 20, 1872. He dedicates
TO the momory Of one whose companionshi
made the happiness Of long life, and who's
loss has made me helpless" He writes the ded
cation with breaking health and broke
spirits, and says: at is not without acause
say hope this effort may be my last" Fo
sale by Grout & Putnam,
The STRUGGLES OF PETROLEUM V. Massey
with illustrations by Thomas Mast. Publishe,
by l. N. Richardson & CO... Boston. When Mr.
Locke began to write the Nasty letters for tn
Toledo Blade he little thought how widely the,
would be copied and read or OF the influence the,
would have upon the decision of great nationa
questions. 1t can be safely said that there is No
republican newspaper in the country which Ia,
not published, and hardly one, who reads news
papers at ALL who has not read one or more q
them. No name is more familiar to the Ameri
can of to-day than that Of the correspondent
from the post Office at "Confedrte X Roads :
aud in political discussion no source is so fro
; quently drawn upon to strengthen an illustratio
orpoint sarcasm as the Nasbyletters II woul
be high compliment to any Of our statesmen Q
! journalists to say tina, he had bad as much /
do with shaping the course of popular feelin
: anu opinion in regard to the issues growing on
Il Oh The rebellion as the author of the Nasty lei
y lefs and Of only very few could il be said viii
~ truth The influence they have had iustiies m
~ preservation Of these letters in permanent orr