The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-12-04 00:00:00

knowing an optical practitioner as Mr. Hurlbut
reveals something worth recording, and he deals
those glances about without stinting apprehension,
nor is he invariably particular on what special
objects he shall fix his photographic lens. In
these his sketches, as in the class of pictures to
which we have referred them, strong fidelity of
representation frequently overcomes mere delicacy
of filling in, and truth is sometimes made to do
unnecessary, if not occasionally degrading, offices.
These remarks, or ones of similar tendency, must
frequently obtrude themselves upon the reader of
these vivid pictures, a good though not a glowing
illustration of which may be found in his

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF HAVANA.

On the left hand rise fortifications massive as those of
Malta or Gibraltar, wrought into the dark grey rocks of
the Morro, sweeping along the many-hued hill-sides of
the Cabanas, glittering throughout their lengthening lines
with the white uniforms and shining bayonets of the
sentinels who guard the proud flag of Spain, that gorgeous
limner of blood and of gold.—On the right stretch irregular
masses of parti-coloured buildings, blue, pink, white,
green, yellow, overtopped at intervals by some massive
church tower or graceful tufted palm-tree. Queer-looking
boats, emancipated gondola., shameless sisters of the
veiled Venetian nuns, and brilliant as butterflies, dart in
and out along the crowded quays.

Of a less questionable, though not more graphic
character, is the annexed

STREET SCENE IN HAVANA.

Ever and anon a punchy black mule with stiff, erect,
close-shaven mane, and braided tail tied with gay ribbons
to the saddle, comes prancing by in the shafts of a gor-
geous volante, or a grey donkey shambles along, and ion
his back a Creole boy, with smiling kindly face and great
black eyes, and warm bright complexion, half sitting,
half lying between two great straw panniers full of
oranges, or zapotes, or pineapples, or plantains. The
whole spirit of the place is that of a drowsier Spanish
Italy. For the lazzaroni, we have the negroes, many a
them magnificent Africans, the finest specimens of the
race I ever saw. Their ways are infinitely queer. For
instance, they use their ears for pockets. You see a huge,
tattooed, bronze Hercules take out a lucifer match from
behind one ear, and a long cigar from behind the other,
while small silver change gleams in the orifices of both.

From the preceding ' extracts, it will be seen
that Mr. Hurlbut has within him the elements of
a good pen-and-ink sketcher. What he wants
chiefly is a more discriminating taste, which would
enable him not merely to heighten the really
valuable features of his selected compositions,
but which would also guide him in rejecting such
as are comparatively valueless as mere illustra-
tions, while they are in many cases deeply
tinctured with a moral stain. We cannot enter
into the " entrancing" memories, nor very deeply
sympathise with the " wooing" of which he
speaks in fervid tones ; and, as sober critics, must
pass over without admiration the effect of " music
pouring the plaintive passion of its wailing
cadences through every nerve and vein of the
pale, dark-eyed" Creole girls. Physiologically, we
believe it to be untrue ; morally, vicious ; as a
specimen of literary composition, turgid and
bombastical ; and, as the production of a man or
the world, unquestionably silly. Similar con-
demnation is extensively provoked by his frequent
and almost childish reference to classical autho-
rities ; and even the stoker of a well-organised
steamer would smile at any man who, like Mr.
Hurlbut, , should condescend to inform him that
his gallant ship was impelled over the ocean by
" the double help of Dedalus and Watt." Fine
writing is very dangerous in any species of literary