New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-13

ine chsrscter-drawlng IL not entirely free fr W
e1aggeration, but is conms1dable for il
pointed de.ail' and general consistency. Sere
raj OF the descriptive passages in he volume
aiso evince no little skill, if NO. familiar prac
tice, in composition.
The scene Of 1.-The Wrinkles" opens in an an.
'lquated village near Philadelphis, rejoicing ia
the musical name of Bab5leton, and in lit. pro al
and Its msersble, its back and its bakers. its
miilionares add its milliners," furnishsg ample
materials for the confused and complicated plot
which is here spun out through dreary waste
OF over four hundred mortal pages 1t wa. a
nunShe tho ht in the writer to present tabu-
lar view Of h.s drarnatis persona; for the un-
assisted light of nature could never have unrav-
tIee the tangled skein OF Their genealogy. flnc-
uoD, ana complexion. But a small proportion of
narrative or description finds place in the
story, and the reader is forced 10 thread his WAY
through wilderness of wordy dialogues. in
which people talk with long-winded solemnity
a. men and angels were the witnesses of their
conTersstion. The work is not improved by the
introduction of counterfeit characters drawn
from real life; nor by the sdious nomenclature
which is probably intended for humor. Tom
snobfon, Biddy Bsggle, Bill Dizzle, Mr. Dawson,
Dr. Mccall. Mr. BOozle, Mrs. Fimble. and a
long list Of similar atrocities, we presume we're
meant to be very funny, but they are only
loyel.yritipg for which Mrs. Southwortn mus
in great measure be held responsible, and
VII n exhibits almost as strong distinctive traits
a. ne grim supernatural terror romances of
Mrs. Radcliffe of the last century. The Pro1uc-
tions of this class are marked by high wrought
intensity Of conception, salient and vivid char
scteriz,tion. a rainbow brilliancy OF epithe's,
and more than common skill in sustaining the
interest Of the plot. Scenes of fiery passion al
ternate with representations of pathetic tender
ness-the action of the story is almost prefer
naturally alive-and scarce al interval of repose
is allowed to the reader, who, if possessing an
excitsble temperament, is kept on the rack
through what seems to be an intermlnable sue
6, ssion of cross-purposes. The characters dis
play strongly marked individuality, although
they rarely win the sympathy of even the most
jmpressible persons. Often, it is true, they
show the 'tOuch of nature which makes the
whole world kin; but oftener they are extrav-
sgaut specimens of improbable types, and to ag-
grayate the difficulty are placed IN situations
which shock the most 0btuse sense OF possibility.
The il cdenis do not grow out OF each other
the plot is developed by conyulsise spasms
rather than by the gradual processes of nftlre-
the events on which the turn OF the story Is
made TO pivot have not the ineyitaeleness OF
fate. bu. appear to have been selected with AL
most delirious ingenuity for the purpose OF CIV
ing anincreased zest to the horrors which form the
principal stock in trade of the writer's. In the
course of the story, people are sayagey muir
dered at the most inoppOrtune moment, aud when
eyerythipgs rushing to ruin on account OF their
absence, some incredible miracle brings them on
the stage again-the funeral black velvet ORA
merry is remoyed-tbe gas lights blaze out once
more with in,olerable splendor-and all Is made
10 90 "merry as marriage bell before We are
fnlly relieved of the nightmare sunoca,ion which
had well nigh forced the breath out of our body,
/ under the monstrous grOwths of an lmaglnati N
ell. waited TO a great degree above fever heat. In
! the "Missing Bride" there is certainly great
deal of gorgeous word. painting, bus it does not
impress US with a feeling OF natural truth
/ fulness. Marian is a very superb person,
doubtless. and if her personal beauty is correctly
portrayed. would be sure to receive the golden
apple at Barnums promised psize exhibition.
But who ear imagine such character IN real
hcel And then her adventures are such tissue
ofincredibilties as would have rejoiced the heart
Of the old deTSotee who believed his articles OF
faith because they we're impossible. Jacque-
lima is phsntasy, and poor little Miriam
ditto. with large conscience and small common
sense. The hero Of the tale, Thurston Wilcox
en-. though set up as paragon OF romantic ex-
ceIlence, is, in our opinion, far from being a
very exemplary parsonage, and We are nall
I. mpted to regret that he ala not suffer on tue
eauoys which was nearly erected for HIN
for the murder of Marian, instead OF becoming
the happy husband of the ethereal " resurrect."
He is a sentimentalist, half voluptuary, more
than half selfsb, and milksop wholly. Inc
old Commodore of Luckenough aud Bis eonsort
Henrietta are good, honest, substantial sPeci-
mems Of character-drawing, aud are not often
beat by any woman's work in that line. But
they are evidently too homespun and rough
Commissioned to be special fsvorites with the
author. With the tendency TO impuisi7e ex-
cesses of fancy, and the prevailing want of bal
ance aud proportion which gise the tone to thus
volume, il would be IDLE to expect any remark
ALL, accuracy or refinement of diction. The
language is certainly kaleido scopc in its brill
iaIey, but often as lawless as 1t Is versatile aud
/ II IN