Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-20

which, according to his own showing, lacks
many things, and has nothing really superior
outside Of its classical training. The book is
open 10 criticism in certain respects; but it con-
tains much useful information which cannot
easily be found elsewhere in this country. For
sale by Grout & Putnam.
DoMBEY AND Son, by Charles Dickens, with
Fifty-Two Illustrations by W. L. Sheppard.
New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers.
This handsome volume has been issued by the
Harpers in continuation of their new edition of
the works of Dickens, of which we have previ-
ously spoken. 1t is an American reproduction
of a new English edition, which has entirely new
Illustrations. lteomes in large octave volumes
with double column pages. This is one of the
best If Dickens novels. He tells us that he
: began writing it in Switzerland, continued the
work in France, and finished it in England,
Those who have read it once or twice can read
it again and find something new. For sale by
Grout 6 Putnam.
THE DESERTED SHIP: A Story of the Allan
tic; being Adventures in the Early Life of Cup
pies Howe, Mariner. By George Cupples, Au-
thor of the "Green Hand" Boston: Shepard
& Gill, publishers. Those who have read the
Screen Hand" which was first published years
ago, will be inclined to read this story. The
author has an aptitude for writing sea stories;
and he shows this IN the Deserted Ship" which
is story well planned, full of exciting in
cident and adventure, and told in very natural
and probable way. There are seven or eight
full page illustrations, and the book is neatly
printed and bound.
MIDDLEMARCH: A Study of Provincial Life.
Vol. Ii. By George Eliot. New York Harper
& Brothers. We have already spoken of this
story, in a notice fthe first volume. If it had
no other attraction, it would deserve attention
for these two reasons: first, George Eliot
Mrs. Lewes) is the most thoughtful, truthful,
and powerful English writer of fiction now liv-
ing; and second, no other English writer is so
well qualified to describe accurately the charac-
tiers and peculiaritieS Of English provincial life
We need not repeat what has been SAID of this
novel. Those who have read the first volume
will not fail to get this. For sale by Grout &
Putnam.
NEVER AGAIN, a novel by W. S. Mayo. New
| York: G. P. Putnam & Son. This book has
some of the elements of a good novel; the char
acters are well conceived, and fairly drawn; the
scenes and incidents are appropriate, and the
story a whole is interesting; but it is serious
ly marred in the telling by an affectation of
smartness, an deliberately clumsy sarcasm which
is not effective as such, and delays and annoys
the reader. This is a natural fault in a Young
writer, but we should not expect to find it in
| one who has had so much experience as the
author of "Kalooah" and 'The Berber." The
book is for sale by Grout & Putnam.
| DERwENT; Or Rccollections of Young Life in
| the Country, by John Chester. Published by A.
D. F. Randolph & Company, New York. This
volume contains series of sketches, the recol-
lections of one whose memory goes back to the
beginning of this century, and little way into
the last. He tell us ofhis old.fashioned country
home in the parish of Derwent, on the banks
of the Connecticut, dseourses pleasantly of old
time customs, of the old homestead, of Saturday
night and Sunday, and of the tenderly remem-
bered school days, sports, and occupations of his
youth. Life to the writer of these sketches must
have been happy, so genial and kindly is he.
One can spend an hour or two with him not I'M
profitably. For sale by Sanford & Co.
SPICY, Novel, by Mrs. Martha ]. Lamb.
Published by D. Appleton & Co., New York.
This novel is considerably above the average of
that class of literature. "Spicy" is the heroine
of the story, wide awake, pretty, fascinating
damsel. 1t is an American story, the scenes
being laid in Chicago. The author, beginning
! her story during war times, gives her expert
ences of those days, and finally carries her read
ers through the fearful ordeal of the "great
fire, telling her tale with much spirit and feel
| ing.
The GALAXY, with the January number, be-
gins Its fifteenth volume 1t must be satisfac-
ton to its editors, in looking back over the seven
years of its existence, to see how much real IT,
struction and entertainment they have given TO
the world in its pages. In some departments,
as, for instance, that of recent political history,
TO which ex-Secretary Welles, Mr.. Black and
other have contributed, this magazine has been
conlessedly without rival; in vigorous and
sparkling personal sketches no magazine
writer surpasses, if any equals, Justin
Mccarthy, and in fiction, such names
as De Forest, Trollope, and Mrs. Edwards,
are sufficient guarantee of excellence. The
editorial departments, too, are always full of
attractions; the scientific miscellany especially
is fresh and prepared with much intelligence
and Judgment. Such record is the best as
surance for the future, and we do not need a
formal promise that the Galaxy in the coming
year shall be worth reading. The January
number certainly is. Justin Mccarthy is at his
best in his sketch of Earl Russell; Mr.. De For
est has two contributions, an installment of his
novel, "The Wetherell Affair" and ''The Growth
Of Giant Pope" Richard Grant White, after
long absence from these pages, reappears with
an article entitled Language According 10
Sample" Trollope'S Eustace Diamonds is ended
at last, and there are short stories, poems and
miscellaneous articles, all of which deserve and
| will have readers.
The January number of LIPPINCoTT's MAGA-
ZINE begins the eleventh volume of this period
ical. As usual we have a varied and interesting
table OF contents and artistic illustrations. The
number opens with an article on 'Iron Bridges
and their Construction" fully illustrated.
Searching for the Qlnne Plant in Peru" is
continued,an1 is also carefully illustrated "2ro-
bationer Leonard, or Three Nights in the Happy
Valley" is the title of new story of which
three chapters are given, by Caroline Chesehro,
and there are other papers, stories, poems, &C.,
&C., worth reading. The publishers in the pros.
pectus promise new serial novel, "The Princess
of Thule" by William Black, and another,
"Malcolm," by George Macdonald. They mean
10 keep up their well deserved reputation.
The SAINT LOUIS MAGAZINE, devoted to
fashion and literature, is edited and published
by Julia NJ. Purinton, St. Louis. The January
number has some attactive features
TO-DAY, is a weekly magazine, edited by Dio
Lewis, and published by Maclean Stoddart &
Co., Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Gin
cinnati. The Christmas number before us con.
tains stories by Christian Reid and t. s. Arthur,
Chats by the editor, Christmas poems, pictures,
&c. OF course it contains advice about health
In Prof. Lewis usual vein.
A TEA TRAIS.-Mention is made elsewhere
oil the passing OF a heavy tea train east The
train is special one, consisting of sixteen cars,
each car containing ten tons, the whole aggre-
eating 100 tous or 100000 pounds of tea Ii
leit San Francisco on the evening of the Sd at