New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-04-01

l;.o~,, ,,,e.ent a sipealary co0gerlsl ned Tor toe
.x.,c;.a NJ Mr.. Hawthorne peculiar genius.
From tbi. fruitful source he has derived the ma
tsr;sls for his mos. remarkable creations he never
sooesr. 50 much ia his element - when thread
inc out some dun shadowy tradition Of the tHi'
Ight age Of New England, peering into the faded
records Of our dark yisaged iorefathers Tor the Ia
eering traces Of the preternatural, and weaving
into his gorgeous web OF enchsntmen; the slender
Tamea.s which he has drawn from the distaf Of
some nluttering witch on Gslo~sHl. He derives
the same terrible excitement from these Legendary
horrors, as YVES drawn by Edzar Poe rom the
depths Ct his own dark and perilous Imagination,
and briggs before us pictures Of death ike, but
strangely fascinating agony, which are described
with the same minqteness OF fnsh--thc same
allow and fatal accumulation Of details-the same
exquisite ooolness Of oolorng. while everything
oreeps forward with irresistible certainty 70 soul
narrowing climax which made the lsstnsmed
writer such a censommate master Of tho horrible
and internal ia fictitious composition Haw-
thorne's tragedies, however are always oaotsred
with a wonderful insight and skill TO which the
intellect Of Poe was a stranger In the most ter
rfhc scenes with which he delights 10 scare the
Imagination, Hawthorne does not wander into the
region Of the improbable yoa scarcely know that
you ara in the presence Of the supernatural. until
your breathing becomes TOO thick for this world
II Is tbs supernatural relieved, soitened made tol-
ersble and almost attractive by strong sfmx
turo Of the human you are tempted onward by the
mid. unesrthly light, which seems to SHINE upon
you like healthlul star, you are blinded by no
lurd glare you acquiesce in the necessity of the
wizard Journey instead Of being provoked % an
ger by a superauous Introduction 10 the company Of
the devil and bis angels.
The elements Of terror which Mr. Hawthorne en-
ploys with such mastery effect, both in the orr
sina oonce ptiou of bis characters and the scenes
Of mystery and dread in which they are made to
oct, are blended with such sweet gusles of natural
feeling, such solemn and tender relations OF the
deepest secrets Of the heart, that the painful i'm
preston is greatly ntigated and the final influence
Of bis most startling creation is serene sense Of re
freshment without the stupor and bewliderment
occssioned by drugged cup OF lntoxication
The Scarlet Letter" in our opinion is the
greatest production Of the author beautifully dis
playing the traits We have briefly limited at, and
non, a more subtle instinct Of humanity and
more imposing splendor Of portraiture, than any Of
his most successful previous works.
On fair Summer morning in Boston, less than
two centuries ago, throDg OF bearded men, In
sad colored garments, intermingled with women
some wearing hoods and others bareheaded, was
assembled in front of wooden ediice, the door OF
which was heavily tmbered with oak, and studded
with iron spikes. The door OF the jail was flung
open, and the town.bcadle stalked forth. Ike
black shadow emerging into the sunshine with
sword by his side, aud lis staff Of Office in his
hand. He was followed by young woman, bear
ing in her arms a child, baby Of some three
months old, who wiuked and turned aside its little
face from the too vivid light of day, because 1t had
hitherto been acquainted only with the gray twi
light of a dungeon, or other darksome apartment
Of the prison. On the breast OF her gown, in fine
red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroid
cry and fantastic fourshes Of gold thread, appear
ed the letter A. This woman, tail, with n figure
Of perfect elegance. ON large scale, her dark and
abundant hair glossy that IT threw OIL the sun
shine with CLEAN. and her face, beautiful from
regularity Of feature and richness of complexion
made still more impressive by her deep black eyes
aud commanding brow, was Hester Prynnc. Her
appearance was unmist akeably laSy like, according
TO the standard of female genulty in those days
characterized by certain stately dignity rather
than by the delicate and evanescent grace OF more
recent times. Never did she appear more lady.
Ike, in the antique sense of the term, than as she
came from the prison. Those who expected 20 see
her dimmed aud obscured by a disastrous cloud,
were as,onished to perceive how her beauty shone
out and made halo Of the misfortune ana igno
mny IN which she was enveloped. Her attire
which she bad wrought for the occasion in prison.
seemed to express the desperate recklessness Of
her spirit by its wild and picturesque popularity
The point which drew all eyes aud 1t were
transdgured the weorer, was that SCARLET LEI
TER 90 Enthusiastically embroidered and illuminated
upon her bosom. Il had the effect OF spell.
taking her out Of the ordinary relations with hu
mainly and inelosiug her in sphere OF herself
Preceded by the beadlo. and attended by an
irregular procession of men aud women Hester
Prynne set forth toward the place appointed for
her punishment IL was 10 great distance from
the prison door to the market place With a Sc
rene depor tment Hester Pynne passed throusl
the crowd of stern and gazing spectators. and
came to . sort of scsffold, erected beneath the
caves OF Boston's earliest church This was the
platform Of this piuorG above which rose the
framework Of that instrument OF discipline, SC
fashioned as TO conhne the human head in its tight
grasp aud thus hold it NJ to public gaze. Know
ing well her part Heste. assembled flight Of wood
On steps and was thus displayed TO the surround
ing multitude at about the hight OF 8 mans shoul
ders above the street
Had there been PspS among he crowd % FariSns, ne
rghs IN THE eeauufs womsn picturesque II
hsF ste AID nien and with The infant o. her bosom
object remind him 81 The image II Divine Maternity
Wneh many NlUsGa peinvfs have Vir1 with oae
AnoAsf TO represents s0nleAug which should reipd him
tadsed h0t 0n by contrast % thAi sacred age " s,nes
mo hehcod, whose inanI 10 Teceem The word Here
there was the isin o1 ttepes sin In fScre Qua
OF human lte> working sOeb effect thai the world ork
the darker Tor This wcmsns beauty. and ihe lcst
rss inf.nt che had bSrneA
The scafeld OF the plory point 81 view that re-
veSlcd 10 hssef fpnus The entire track slone bch she
st miserable emirence STE sgsiN her rave ViAe,
t OA England and her psegnSl home dscay Is honss
OF srsy sone With poverty sseAea aspect but reair as
hsloblef slrd shed OF sGs the y1ItA Ia ,oken q
salsas gtnuy. Sac sSw hes iath%ys lace with ia hA
k-o~ and reveicud white beard hat Howvd over he od
SAsAonea EuEabciAan ruff hes beers. too With The lcol
al heean aud anNiOas love which always IN he