New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-08-26
NETWORK TRIBUNE.

NETWORK TRIBUNE.
zrNopIA: or the Fan Of Palmyra By Rev. William
Ware. New-York c. :. Francis 3 Co vols.
This book consists Of series OF Letters purport-
ing to have been written from Palmyra in the reign
Of Aurelian, md containing n history by IN ~
witness Of Palmyra under Queen Zenobia ana OF
ts conquest by Aurelian and final overtime" -
These letters were originally published III tic
Knckerbocker. we believe in 1881 and l-3'' and
attracted good deal Of attention They are now
rcpublished in n handsome and permanent 'oi1n'
and very wor,lily constitute member OF Fran
els s. Co.'S Cabinet Library
Mr.. Ware is one Of that numerous class OF paint.
ers whose gaze is ever fixed upon the past aud at
whose back spreads the unseen, unno,iced future.
Manv of bis pictures however, are powerfully
drawn deep.toned, full! OF repose and surrounded
with thpt atmospheric medium through which their
spirit and meaning font to the inner sense OF the
teholder, although the artist himself seems but TO
have busted himself with producing faithful por.
rraiture of the external We know not but this is
very high praise Notwithstanding there are those
who would have made Piso, with his abundance Of
Roman cool sense. correct feeling and phllan-
thropic instincts. somewhat more of the prophet
than the mere chronicler Of what passed immediate
" under his vision. Yet rs series OF pictures
this book is not TO be lightly valued. We know
few writers who could have more completely idem-
tilted themse elves with their subject better sus-
tanned the illusion necessary TO produce a vivid
impression of Palmyra as ii was. The gorgeous
nagnifcence OF this Venice of the dcsertseo and
the spendor OF It's palaces and temples, rvalina
cJ ,viJn
mnutcness aud vet breadth of general effect
which declare in uuequlvoeal terms the artist VINO
paints with words h The dclineahon OF charac-
ter in developing and sustaining those delicate
shades of thought, temperament mind aud pas
sion which constitute ndividuasm, the author Is
bv no means SO successful With the exception
of Zcnobia hcrself-and even she lacks the living
warmth and truthiuness of actual he-the char
acters if not absolute failures, nrc .or the most
pnrt Mt least tame aud unsatisfactory por,rmtores
For the first time in hic we have with Difficult
" prevented elves from beng bored with Lon
ginus He appears in tis book, as tame cross
between the Top and the buc.stoclGng Gracious
is one OF an innumerabc uudistnculshable tribo Of
buuetheads with parcel OF line sentiments stuck
INTO their mouths by the obieme author Fausto
Is nh undeveloped but mmstakoble vixen who.
having been 30 war with the Roman cohorts m her
erlhood will continue hostilities with hcrhnsband
ever after Zabdps is az stupid and brutal is any
military chieitain ought to be, md Is. altogether
pretty good portrait The character Of the Prin-
cess julia is probably the best thing the book
contains in the way OF personnel II we except the
Emperor Aurelian who is dashed of with few
bold and effective strokes and stands cut like Il
rough bronze monument The character OF Isaac
the Jew, too is well enough in the abstract, but 1t
is not truthful and cannot be kept in view-smk.
ing Of it, own weight beneath the surface
Tie descriptions of battles and of the confasro-
ton of the City are inir specimens OF imaginative
writing, but lncl, the yivdness and power winch
make the nerves thrill and the blood rush 10 the
heart in sympathetic excitement and terror. In
word as descrbcr OF architectural masniiicenee
suburban scenery and the general effects and con
,rasts OF ancient life an rcpoSe Mr. Ware is an art
ist OF very high order. In the stirring, exciting
aud to the common observer chaotic confusion oi
struggle and CONFUSION which make up SO large a
part of the history of the past. lac must be content
with lower rank-althouch even here he still
possesses considerable merit
The plot of the story is Of course Yer! simple
aEd scarcely more worth rtentonins than the siiken
thread on which mamma strings her baby corals.
The language is wellselected and the style cool
and pure--possessins the very great merit OF be
ING free from that hyperbole which 50 APPLY runs
INTO tue crotcsQuc and ridiculous 4.