New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-06
CITY ITEMS.

beautiful books open golden, and tempt US 70 re-
new the luxury of Summer leisure in tasting the
fruit Of its rpening. Let these Christmas bells,
that shall soon sound, ring you into ga mellow
mood, my Masters" and if you would honor the
season and give graceful and proper gift-one
which you will be glad to give and happy to re.
member-seek Godwin's V0la, which Putnam
will publish in day two,) Tale of Norwegian
Mythology and Jenny Lind-weird and wild-mu-
sic from the Northern mountains-a most happy
homage at the shrine Of Genius--or muse with the
MarvePs Bache}or whose Rcceries are rich and
rare breathing fair fancies daintily and far away
unreal realities, like seaeounds in a shell
There s singular grace and beauty in these two
books, They will weave a Summer spell in the
very heart OF Winter
LEssING's MARTYRDoH OF HUss-This noble
picture was exhibited on Tuesday evening to a
party OF eminent artists and literary men, prepara-
tory to the public exhibition which commenced
THURSDAY morning. There was but one feeling
in the minds of all pres ent and that was of the
EXTREMIST delight, not only in the commanding
worth OF the picture, but in the fact that we have
now in America one Of the finest of all cotempo
rary Works of Art for Leasing ranks among the
stands very near the head of Modern Art. He
shares the palm with Kaulbach in Germany
whose most striking difference from Leasing is a
q more daring and poetic imagination
OF the present picture we can scarce do more
than indicate the value. Description we leave
aside, for it is something that all must sec and
study. 1t represents the martyrdom Of John Huss
the famed early German Roformer, aud the artist
seizes the moment when the victim kneels for the
last time and q grim fanatic is just holding the
cap over his head which shall shut the sun from
his eyes forever.
The picture is finely balanced. The group upon
the right is composed of the foes of the Martyr,
represented in the figures of Duke Cardinal,
Friar, and the fanatical crowd. That on the left
is mass of Bohemian peasants, including one or
two Prests-onc of whom, with bent head, clear.
" meditates if this sacrifice be altogether OF
sweet saver to the Lord. In the depth Of the pic
ture ia the Stake, surrounded by cxecutloners in
whom human sympathy is quite eXtingulshed, and
who await their turn with the consequential COM
posure of scene-shifters at the wing.
The composition Of this works. most thoroughly
digested and artistic Although the scene is full
of tragical suggestions, the eye is constantly
drawn to Huss, it's center and is there refreshed
and consoed Thisis in kind, the same artistic sue
cess as in Raphaes TRANSPORTATION, in which the
serene sweetness OF Christ ccasecssly seduces
tie eve from the foreground horror and disease
It is success moreover ottener sought than OBJ
4ained md in which the artist most surely op-
proves himself a master.
The great success of the work is in this, that it
produces in the spectators mind the just impress
sion of the scene and we ascertain that from the
group OF Bohemian sympathisers in whose won
tering, profound and perplexed SORROW we lind
mirrored our own emotion, after long and as'
cinated look into the tranquility OF the picture.
1t has so far, too the character OF classical work
that it is broad and composed and tender IN the
unity of its impression Neither the eye nor the
mind are distracted. The story is told simply
and vet not barely. The emotions that wait upon
che tale have their proper place and no more than
their proper prominence in the telling. But Les
sing has achieved one success in this work greater
than those of Delaroche and the French Artists
who are of similar school. For while the
Frenchmen are content with an admirable repre-.
sentation OF their incident and punctiliously per
feet the adjuncts and details yet have no more in
eheir pictures than existed in the words of the
story, the Gormans-th0nks to their subtler I'M
aginations and more catholic intellect-make the
picture tell what the story implies, and SO elevate
it from being mere illustration of History or Poe.
thy into the dignity Of q distinct work Of Art.
But we must pause in mid career; satisfied if
we seud our readers with greater desire to rare
enjoyment, and the more satisfied that we can
promise them at no distant day, careful and ad
tn lJ.,-t Coli
CRoToN WATER SpEcuLAroR-NEw MopE OF
RAISING ruE W1ND,-Many and exceedingly
yoyel are the means resOrted to by the geutee
loafers Of this City in Of immediate necessi
ty TO replenish thow empty pockets bat an en-
sirelv new method of raising few shillings re-
Gently came to light on the west side OF the CITY
On Friday last the Captain Of the brig Fulton,
lying at the foot of Harnson-st. being outward
bound, and wanting supply Of fresh water,
brought his casks on shore and filed them at the
public hydrant with the pure Croton, after which,
wbne he was taking them on board up stepped
one Of the boys" who said to the Cants;n Sir.
en- agent ePpointedby the Croton " alter Com,
mlssione's to collect moneys from sea captains
and ah o'9sys who take our water out of the Cor.
porstaon, sn@Ssytcularly 70 use on the high seas
she W1'S"! STSsalh NOT doubling the authority,
asIisiths1anainsNe seedy appearances of tbs So
Gi,,'G ,G nv RopTsentative said to to
p p it ' W 2ssa Nix out ys iii and viii
I'D to groggery neasSr and sftss9ack repair
tn0t water presented L. foIIo~ns saSSIps drink
srig Eoultoa and Owners NEw.YoSS, Sov. y, 1850.
To Filing wsier
nv, Reed payment, " \ 50 cents
iae Gspnia took the b. and obssr1TslsA E =.
s9 nssr " bag5 and wOFse eng show Ine
legally made. Poor Tins Wal wall the charge gas