New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS,


YHE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES a no 10
NANCE. By NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE LIMO PIP 0fi'
Boston: TickROr Reeo Fields
A shsdowy New England legend has furnished
Mr.. Hawthorne with the richly suggestive mate
rails for another romance Of powerful and thrilling
interest Connecting the attenuated threads OF
dim tradition with the living realities OF the pres
emit, no has produced a story which In point OF
mystic intensity of conception, vivid portraiture
of character, and quaint originality OF expression
is not unworthy Of the noble creations OF his char
acteristic genius that have given him such an
exalted rank among the modern writers OF prose
fiction. The plot, around which he has gathered
such wealth Of bold and fascinating description,
IA ample almost to baroness in its outlines, and
will scarcely content those readers who require
the evolution of an intricate drama in order to
stimulate their curiosity. Only few personages
are made to figure in the story, and they by their
startling naturalness remind Us constantly OF pro-
totypes whom we have known in actual life. The
events, though surrounded with thin haze OF the
supernatural are derived from everyday exPe-
rience, and tempt the most insatiate lover OF the
marvellous to forget the wizard elements OF the
story in the exquisite beauty and truthfulness OF
its human sympathies Nor does it present the
revelations Of strange and fearful passion which
gave such a breathless interest TO the gradually
pnfolding terrors of the Scarlet Letter" On
this account it is possible tina, some OF the most
Ieryent admirers OF Hawthorne may complain OF
falling of in the construction Of this romance,
and miss the tragic pathos which il exchanged
for an artistic development of the genser alice.
4 Il
lions But this objection will scarcely be felt on
Asecond reading. The comparative meagerness
OF the plot disappears In the miraculous fidelity
and vigor of the descriptions. We are almost
grateful to the author that he allows us TO dwell
serenely on the delicate and graceful loneliness
of his delneations, without transporting as into
scenes of wild excitement and stormy energy Of
passion. If we receive less violent impressions
i. is not the less deep or beautiful.
Whoever has visited the primitive, quiet SOM
bre town of Salem, must have seen the House
of the Seven Gables" standing halfway down an
obscure, old fashioned street, its roof of many
peahs facing toward various points OF the com
pass, its huge, clustered chimny in the midst
and the hospitable elm tree spreading its leay
branches before the door. The site on which this
ia built was obtained by fraud and toroe from the
original owner poor man, who, with his own
toll, had hewn its out Of the primeval forest for
his garden ground and homestead. Gne OF the
Puritan mAgnates was the perperRteE OF this
deed He contaminated bis villany by procuring
the execution of his rival for the crime Of witch
craft. As the victim sat on the gallows, with the
halter about his neck. he addressed his persecu'
Tor In prophetic words, which have been pre-
served in history a. well as treside tradition
"God," said the dying man. pointing his finger
with a ghsstly look, at the undismayed counte
nance of his enemy, who eat on horseback be-
meath the scafold, grimly gazing on the scene
~God will give him blood to drink
This prediction Of the wizard 10 the key note to
the story. Ii was terribly fulfilled In the head Of
the Pypcheon family. to whom it was at srst an
nounced and the spectral vision haunts his de-
soendants forever. Col Pyneheon had entered
upon his Ill gotten estate the House of the Seven
Gables was completed ceremony OF oOnsecrs-
tion was to be performed aud the whole PoPuls
Eon of the town were invited as guests.
A prayer and discourse from the Rev. Mr.. Rig
ginson, and the outPouring Of q psalm from the
general throat of the community, was TO be made
acceptable 70 the grosser sense by ale, cider VINE
and brandy, In copious etfuson, and. as some
authorities aver, py an OK, roasted Nnoies OF ~
least by the weight and substance OF an OK, IN
more manageable joints and sirloias. The car
csss Of q deer, shot within twenty n es had sup
plied material for the vast circumference Of q
pastry A cod,6sh, Of sixty pounds, caught In the
bay. had been dissolved into the rich liquid Of q
chovder The chimney Of the new house in short,
belchipg forth lie kitchen smoke, imprognated the
whole Air with the scent of meats, fowls and
fishes spicily ooncocted with odorifeeous herbs,
and onions in abundance. TAe mere smell Of
such testivisy, making its way to everybody
nos,ris was at once a. invitation and an appetite
hsules lane, or Pynchecn street. IS 10 were
now more decorous 10 call IL, Was thronged az me
appointed hopr, a. with 4 congregation on Its way
60 church. AL u they approached, looked up
ward AZ the imposing etihce which Was hence
forth TO assume its rank among the fluctuations OF
mankind There II rose 4 iittle withdrawn from
she line Of the street. bat IN pride, not mOdesty.
Its whole visible exterior was ornamented with
Quaint figures conceived in the grotesqueness Of
A gothic fancy aad drawn or stamped 10 the gs.
tering plas.er composed Of lme, pebbles, and bi.s
of slssr with which the wood Of the walls
was oyerspresd. On every side the seven ga
Mes pointed sharply toward the sky, and pre-
ssnted TIE aspect OF whole sissernood OF edi-
6ces breathing through the spiracles OF one great
chimney Tie many lAtticeS, with their small,
diamond shaped panes. admitted the sunlight into
Raj and chamber, while, nevertheless the secoad
story. projecting far over the base, and ltseI re-
Siri6s bene ath the third, threw shadow add
shoush,ful gloom into the lower rooms Carved
globes of wood were affixed under the Jattins sto
RES Little spiral rods CT iron beautihed each OF
tie seven peaks. On the triangular portion o'
the gable, that fronIed next the street was