The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-09

BEHIND THE SCENES By LADY BULwKR RHn
THoRu Co.-Lady Bulwer belongs TO the new
school Of romance writer's founded by Sue, and
which, from ts peculiar pm losophy, may be sppro-
prately termed the humantaia, school. II delights
In laying bare ali the moral and rangrenes that
lie fostering under the conventional proprieties and
artificial restraints Of what is called modera cvili-
zation but the remedies that it suggests are, gene
rally speaking, more theoretical than practical and,
in many instances, more likely to aggravate than
alleviate the evils Indicated The opportunities that
this class Of fcions presents for strong writing.
have, curious to say, attracted more female than
male pens, some Of whch-as in the case OF Mrs.
Trollope, Currer Bell, and several other female
authors we could name-have had a certain share
of popularity from the novelty and eccentricity OF
their style. There is however, a vein of cynicism
and bitterness pervading the pi oductions Of these
writer's that is not quite consistent with the ideal
beauty and ami sblty that we love to attribute to
the female mind and that In its vehemence some
times degeuerates into coarseness. One does not
like to find all the worst passions and vices that dis
figure humanity so wildly depicted by woman's
pen. It destroys, in some MEASURE our own cher
shed Illusions, and although cannot but admit
the truth and force of the picture would rather
that it had been drawn by masculine hand.
There objections were evidently anticipated by
the auhoress herself for she tells us in her preface
that il originally intended to publish the work
under psuedonym. In its progress through the
press, however circumstances which she does not
think proper 10 explain, induced her to alter her
mind and to ackuo Wedge the authorship. As far
literary smartness pungent SATIRE and reinorseless
warfare against the follies and vices Of fashionable
society can make up the elements Of an amusing
book, we have them here. AS regards the mere
mechanism Of authorship, putting aside some pecu-
liarities of style, such the emphasizing by italics
of every second third word in sentence and the
display of a little excusable womanly pedantry,
marked improvement will be found in this over Lady
Bulwers former literary efforts. There is also
higher moral purpose in her present subject than
desire to make the world confdant Of her private
wrongs, or party to the qualification of her vim
dictiveness. There is, in short, more philosophy.
more charity, more tenderness of feeling towards
Others and greater disregard of herself than cha
racterize her earlier Efforts. Lady Bulwer would be
charming writer if she were natural-as it is,
she is an amusing compound Of half qualities and
imperfectly developed gifts.
The following, although not quite logical, will
pass current with some as the result Of more
profound reflection than we suspect it cost its
author. is fair illustration of the correctness of
our observations :
SECULAR sBcTARrANIsM
As there is nothing higher, broader, and at the
same time, more profound, than CHRISTIANITY, 80
is there nothing lower, shaower a1d narrower than
sectaIiaDism: while the former, emanatng from
God approaches us to Him. the latter drags us ever
earfhward into that fear u abyss Of stubborn PRIDE
relentless cruelty remorseless ambition, and Janus
faced treachery, gIoating avarce complex intrigue
and petrifying aefshness under which pestiIentiai
influences the world has become hoary with vice
and wrinkled with sin. But let me not be msunder.
which appcrtans 70 the doctrinal opinions either Of
the Pharasaical High Church, or the PuritanicaI
Low Churchman, nor of the thousand ties, fi$hts, /
iSns, and schsnS, branching therefrom; for Of this
conscience, coinage Of mems hearts, as God givcth
the stamp, so He alone warrant the issue. No;
speak OF secular sectarianism to which every
soul amongst us is more or less addicted; setting
up and wcrshiping of false-yea, verify most false
| -gOds which has made social idolatry universal.
| Who can deny that they are to certain extent,
the slave of some particular passion each Of which
becomes an idoli With one, it is pride, with an
other soth, or anger avarce, ambition lust, coyet
ousness intemperance, lying, envy, hatred, or re-
venge but to each and all Of these, there are but
| two great High Priests, MAMMoN, and his elder
brother SELFIsHNEss. 1t Ia true, that these idols
are never worshipped under these ugly names. No;
they have all to be gracefully draped and brightly
gilt before they are bowed down to; therefore is it.
| that the miscr Astounding in gold, but lacking all
things else calls his pet vice prudence! The coward
boasts of his peaceful disposon!the siothtul man
of his content the spendthrt of his generosity! the
wine bibber OF his sociality and good fellowshipl-
and he whose "vaulting ambition oerieaps ITSELF"
of his indomita5le courage and perseverance Thus,
all these ugly vices go disappearing through the
world in the costume Of the virtues, and long
they take care not to drop their Masks few are so
bred as to question their identity for the fear Of
reprisals is the safety-valve Of social SYSTEM
and not throwing stones when we ourselves live in
| QIAs1 hOuscs Ia the Iisnlov
| for Christian charity! And 10 it will ever be, as
long as each OF rs have sect or dominant passion
Of our own accompanied, 1t invariably u.s. by the
most bgoted intolerance against our neigbbors sect
ruling passion. 1t is truly and tersely remarked
in q charming little book, called Friends in Coun.
ci," abounding, as writer in the Leader aptly
that ait takes away much of the savor of
| life to live amongst those with whom one
has not anything like ones fair value. 1t may not
be mortified vanity, but unsatisded sympathy,
! which causes this discomfort" True; most true;
for, although the world, more especially in the
present day. abounds with philanthropy and bcnevo-
leDce. it Is melancholy fact, that every day sym
pathy seen1s on the decrease. phrenologist would
account for this on the principle of the duality Of
the brain, and would tell us that there many per-
sons who yet have abundant benevolcnce, who yet
have not an atom Of sympathy; true, again. and yet
how often are they confounded and, for that reason
many may ask in what consists their difference? II
consists in very wide one, that of saying and doing
BENEvoLENcE Is passive, SYMPATHY active benevo-
renee Phtes, Dut sympathy nRlpS: Denevoence pro-
fesses to feel for those who suffer in mind, body
or estate ~ but sympathy feels ,ritA them and
such being the case, puts ts shoulder to the wheel
of its neghbor's fonndered load, and struggles
bravely to extrcate it. Sympathy in short, is prac
ticni Christianity; AID bcnevolence theoretical
piety. Sympathy is the wayfaring Samaritan, who
though stranger, and unknown, does not pass over
on the other si6e but pours oil and wine into our
wounds, and ministers to our necessities. Benevo
lence is the selfrghteous Pharscc ever boasting Of
the good has done and the evil it has left undone
AND as all qualities descend from one generation to
anothern tribes or races-it is for this reason that
relatives or friends may be benerolen,, and compass
sionate our mifortunes, as far irordS go; even
abound in works Of supcrerogation as Offering
our Incidence seventh carriage il we already pos
sess six but should We be penniless, and chance to
break our leg, and the sixpence has to be sought