Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-20


dams "f"uth of Jefferson" &C.; with illustr..
toms and designs, by Strothcr. "a. Morris, Pub.
| Usher, Richmond.l
This last production OF Mr.. Cookies pen differs "a.
tcrialy from any Of The books which preceded it,
Without exception, his former efforts have treated Of
Virginia society us it existed at an earlier day. Thus
IN the "|IrgmIa CoInedans," an.revoIutionary per.
sonn"cs were the actors; IN the Youth Of Jefcr.
son, yoil'is who attended lectures at William and
Mary when Williamsburg wns the capitol of the pro-
vince and in"L"ather Stockings" rude, primal state
of society, in the Wiley Of Virginia, long years before
the snort "i the steam horse had disturbed its soIi-
tudeS' h"e, on the contrary, treats Of the present,
deals "'h society H. constituted and existing now,
ana win men and women lis they appear before lis
every dny.
| But while Ellie" differs thu. from all former pro-
ducts of the authors pen hns many OF the exccc:.-
cics and some of the faults which are common to all
the books emanatimg from the same source, which We
| have scrn There is the same keen appreciation of
character, the same bolness and vi.or OF cinea,on
the same warm sympathy for all thnt is lovely and
| pur" ana oi good report the genial good humor
and the like unnlsake traces of exalted genius
And there is the same absence of the Hmnr lny0r,
which is so essential to the perfection of good writing
We have to complain of Ellie" as we hnvc COM
planned OF other works by Mr. Cooke that here was
too much haste in IFS composition. The hurry and
haste oi the writing lead 10 mistakes and incnngrui
ties which seriously mar the merit of the producton
To this we attribute the inconsistency OF representing
i'll one part OF the book Joe Iackettcr as turned in.
to the street by his landlord while in another part
the contrary Is expressly stated and to the same
cause tho unusual quantity Of snow, which seems to
have fallen in the vicinity Of Richmond during tie
winter of lS-.
Apart from this defect, ELLIE is worthy Of all COM
m"ndation. The writer says in his introduction:
"Ihe chief niln Of this book has been To show the
| beauty aud lovcincsS Of kndncss-thc reward which
'hsrity not seldom, in this world rcaIs: the in
huencc OF purity nmi Scli-SaCrltcc, even when thcy
arc eSempied in the character and actions of Il
child; finally, the supreme truth which undercs all
true philosophy, that human nature, in its worst mani
fcstatons aud under its most repulsive FORMS does
never, and can never lose wholly the good impulses
| given TO il by God Surely these were noble aims
Genius could prescribe for itself higher and holcr
cndcavor. Mr.. Cook hns succeeded in accomplishing
all that he purposed. "Eic, that pure, gentle, low
ing child, to;ling day aud night for Uncle Joe and
Charley wearing that eternal smile of innocence and
kindiness, teaches in her life how kind words and
sympathetic glanccs can win the heart from sorrow
and from crime. Uncle Joe forgcts the fever when
she southcs; Lucia the flower Of another CLINE, is
back to life and saved from suicide; Doctor Fos-
syl learns from her that his cynicsm and scepticsn
are alike SINFUL and ali who in contuc with her
are elevated, refined and hunanzrd. Ellie" is a
| glorious creation, fiji 10 walk hand in hand with Paul
and Nell, through English literature, 10 the end OF
time. Nor we less pleased with the other children
who appear in this Human Comedy; especially COM
mend Us 10 that prince OF va"abonds, Wide Awake,
with his devotion To fun and mischief, and his intense
love for the poor orphan girl Lucia How the rascal
drops :ll his rudencss when he comes where Lucia
is, and becomes anos, refined in his courtcses and
compliments! There is touch %: nature here which
demands our warmcst admiration. Sansoucy, the
generous, benevolent; journalist and gentleman, rtnp
the rc'rard Of his charitable deeds while the pen:.
f,,her. shows that there reInuincth somewhat o!
good with humanity, however it may be blurred and
dcfnced by sin
Taken altogether Ellie sustuins the previously
ACQUIRED reputation OF the author, md as NirSninns.
we freely acknowledge our Indebtedness to him for
the enviabe distinction acquired for his State through
his triumplls And, in this instance, our qualification
il enhanced by the consideration, that the book is
written, illustrated and published by Nirsinlaus.-
Each has done his part we'll S;rutIrr has genius OF
| brh order in his walk. and Mr.. Morris has worthily
set the gems coniidcd 10 his care. The book looks
more like an English work, than any volume we have
seen .or years Hereafter, VIC trust that a NIrgi-
mans wind it to their interest to print their books
at home, ilsI lead Of putting them into the hands OF
Northern publishers.
! We commend Ellie" to the attention Of our read
crs. They can derive as much pleasure and profit
from the perrau of this volume and from the study
OF its philosophy, as from any book with whic! we
are acquainted. It's spirit is admirably shadowcd
forth in the motto selected from Tcnnyson:
| Thrice bl-s, whnse lives arc faithful prayers.
Whose loves il: hy cher love endure;
Whit souls nos srs- themselves 70 pure,