New-York daily tribune., 1844-04-13
THE TRIBUNE.
Rcvic W.

Review.
LITERARY Rrx>,ss Tnx L.rT Willis r Gsy1onT ,,, i,
sl.S and Secctcn tr9Gl his Msccaneons l'toe and
snd Writing, IN snN Mei, o ~ Of f the Xa.rsI
t4ttn t4te. Wace:ine NewYork Bnrscs StTinS"r n Co
aaS 6r.t number Of this work, which we have
s..dy announced and cordially welcomed, has
:, hsep issued BY the publishers, IN style OF
r..u,;cn unsurpassed by any of the publications
~. ,;me, at the small COS, OF twenty five cents
y, indeed most admirably printed, upon fine
shte paper, and in all its externils recommends
...s =, once to the eve and the good taste OF the
..,a., The high estimate which VIC place upon
a. p,ose and poetical writings OF WILLIS O..
c,,.r WAS on many occasions exhibited, both
comment and i'll extent, III the columns Of the
w., yorEtr; and meeting again with the Oiiapo-
};,.a papers, all our former love for, and admi-
,,,,on Of them, is at once renewed. Although
.o,s generally remembered, perhaps, one Of
:, most delightful poets, Than as a graphic and
-,,erainnr narrator and essayist; yet tIIcsc
.psmsins' of CLARK will exhibit HIM IS one of
IN most felicitous of prosc-writcrs with a Won
asful mastery Of our infiexiblc speech vein
II the richest, most irresistible hunor, with in
stances of touching pathos and witha IA spirit of
.be most winning humanity and unaffected be-
neyoence.
The Editor Of these Remains a twin brother
of the deceased, land so much like him, in fea.
.ure manner, tone of voice, &c, that the two
were mistaken for each other continually, by the
most intimate friends of cach,) in the opening of
Memoir Of his subject, mentions that it was
his intention to have presented IN extracts from
! his private letters, something which under his
own hand, and in the easy play of unstudled
correspondence with his most intimate friend on
earth, should be an exponent of his inner life,
his everyday thoughts, impulses and affections.
WHY he was not able to do this, he thus explains
@For many months previous 10 the death OF my
twinbrother, that event was constantly IN my mhd,
and tinged the whole current OF my thoughts
Each sun that rose and set upon us, counted to-
ward his last resting place and the slOw-swingllg
pendulum of clock, accidentally encountered ap-
peared to me TO have but one purpose il was notch
me his rcsstless progress TO an early grave. When
the last bitter hour came; when all that was mortal
ofmy severed half had ceased TO live nothing il
seemed could add TO the poignant sense of present
bereavement. | was told indeed that fine, the
rreat Healer would soften the bitterness of my re-
eret; that even the memory of past sorrow might
vet become pleasant, though mournul 10 the soul.
Among many letters which | received soon after
WuLiss DEATH was one which can not resist the
inclination 10 quote here:
'suSSYsIpE COTTAGE July s, 1874
uvded Sr1 have not sooner replied TO your letter OF
thseehteeuth Of June communicating the intelligence nl uc
untmey dealt, Of your brother because III tact was nj u
loss how reply II one Of those caes which al al crdnTy
never rcach the ac;o. In such always
appears better to leave the heatt to struggle WIN m nMi
mind. hc2hhul bodies Providence has beneceiy I'M
rg. gual,ef TINT IN time close up and Utmost
Il do ecoec to have met your brother more tlgn once
confirmed and strengthened by uI ntc,wqrd knfw OF him
S GGse , 0Gs Ss has Dss DsS m iG s left hen , writ
pcs which will make love his and lament his loss
Under such circumstances has not lived IN van aud
though his death lie premature there consolation 10 his SUI
vyofS sprnginG from hi. yery grave.
Yours. v. very truly. WAsnlScros IRVING.
l.. GAYLORD CLARK EsQ.
"Replete with characteristic feeling and beauty
as is this most Kind note which is cited as one o
many kind letters OF coincidence that reached me al
this period, cannot let it pass 10 the reader without
saving, even al the risk OF exposing mind hercit o
selEheang qualities, and unheathiul, that ttl, decI
wound which huve received only yawiis The wlici
with the lapse OF time. Although il is only dus
that descends 10 dust; although 1t was not the bro
ther the friend the cherished being, that wen, dowi
into the grave 10 sleep in cold obstrucuon yet I,
TO that grave that Memory still points the unnovlns
finger. There every phase OF Nature is cares
marked There spring the first tender green OF tht
early spring time there upon the long grass sl'n
mers down the sunlight through the heavy iollag'
of thick leaved June there walls the November
wind there rustic the wilhercd leaves and tall tho
Borrowing rains OF melancholy Autumn; and there
in the bowling midnight storm, over The walls OF St
Peters church-y yard, Winter 'weaves his iroic arch
lecture OF snow There. features once radiant with
intellectual light have faded into indlsnctness
fhrre the eye that loved 10 look upon all the glor
Gus works of God, closed color, and the ear 10
sound; there The warm hand whose cordial grasp
ofraterna affection can never be forgotten, mould
ers at the crumhling side And upon the CORES
pondence traced through many wears by that now
wasted hand / cannot vet look. Since the announce
meut, by the publishers of The immediate issue OF
the present work, have tried repeatedly 10 over
come this reluctance but | cannot. Ii may be- Q
morbid eeliug-doubtless 1t but II is not less GER
tain that with ne il Is irresistible There is some
latent, souie mysterious yet undenable connection
(says an eloquent writer, IN allusion TO the CORES
pondcnce of departed riends between those l5eless
manuscripts aud the beings whose affections seem
even yet 10 haunt and hover round them: and the
pulse BEATS and the blood CUISINES through the Loyal
heart as ii vibrates again 10 The well-rpnembercd
words and half listens for the voice that might hav,
uttered them 1t is this ordeal which cannot We
brave.
friends will appreciate the feeling and force .
the foregoing passage. A Memoir of CLAkl
ensues, which is followed by an affecting accoun
of his closing hours and his triumphant death
The Remains are then opened with the Ola
podiana papers, q term which was intended by
the writer TO designate the familiar chat or gossiI
of a parsonage ike DR.. OLLArop' in the play
upon all such subjects as might happen to cnlls
bis fancy or touch his heart. Nothing could b(
more various or more delightful than those free
and-easy Talks with the Reader. Here passage
feplete with melting pathos, brings the warm
tear upon the check there an anccdote full o.
humor makes the side ache with irrepressib!e
laughter; now you have descriptions Of Nature
and its influence upon the susceptible, the po
etical heart; and again, the most lancful and
g'otesGue buresques, and odd conceits touching
men and things and all this, too, in good keep.
ing, without violent transitions, or unnatural