The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-04
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- -.,,. TOO LATE Tale. BY George Wood, author
Peter Scblemihl in America" and Modern Pill
.,m.- New York D. Appleton & Co. 1857. For
ale BY Taylor x Msury, Washington, d. c.
4 taking title has not a little to do with the
e.. rsception of book. In this respect, Mr..
Wood mas been fortunate in his selection. The
viisdom of his having stepped out from behind
the curtain Peter Schlemihl hung before him,
and lifted his vizor to meet the ordeal OF the
public, may perhaps be doubted. There is a
certain charm about mystery and the anony-
,ous, which often causes the interest in an au-
,,r 10 be lessened when he is known. The
ut nomliniS umbra of Junius does more now
70 keep the hold of that volume upon readers,
than even its bold language and scathing elo-
ouence of words and thought. The mighty
Wizard of the North, though suspected, yet
maintained the sway of his magic wand, till he
came forth acknowledged as Walter Scott, the
sa.hOr of Waverley and those other mastery
r,sations of his genius. Never after that was
!, what he had been in his power to control
lie minds and hearts of men. The form that
loomed up through the mist, the broad sunlight
reduced to less gigantic proportions; and when
conjecture could no longer play with the imagi-
nation, to find a name for the hieroglyphics
that we're wrought in with the title, the volume,
though welcomed and praised, somehow seem
el Lot instinct with the same inspiration that
Irao boI
b-oidery that hid the rougher dress, and hung
lie a sort Of light network, concealing but not
wholly enveloping the object on which the eye
rested, dropped away, and with it seemed to
pass away too the spell that had been inter-
woven with it. We believe this will be found
70 BE The case, almost, even in such instances as
Peer Schlemihl. Mr.. Wood was left at liberty
% be as sketchy as he chose, and could indulge
hs satiric vein with here hit and there a
thrust at the fashions and follies of the day, in
tie various departments of life and society.
The nature of the work, too, it is true, favored
hin in so doing. His next work-the Modern
Hlsrims-labored under the difficulty of being
so far seriously meant, that by its very title it
WAS brought alongside of the inimitable allie
CORY Of Bunyan, as we'll as also suggestive to
the reader of Hawthorne's Celestial Railroad.
The incongruity could not but be felt, of carry.
ing such persons into the scenes where they
must mingle, and did so far sympathize and
Jet sustain for them the readers esteem, as
real pilgrims to the Celestial city. Still. it was
IN degree legitimate to use the lash to
scourge the vices and infdel PHILOSOPHERS of
the age; and i'll respect to its general artistic
character, it was n work more finished than the
i1rmer-'hough, on the whole, VIC somewhat
question if it did not fail in the freshness of
Peer SchIemihl
The present volume is written with differ.
eHt aim. 1t is strictly a novel-a love story.
The title suggests the view with which the
reAder Is expected to enter upon its perusal.
We must say, however, at the outset, that the
lille Is unfortunately chosen, so far as regards
he actual demonstration which is made of the
real error the story illustrates. The mistake
o. the parties mainly concerned is. not that
they married TOO late, or rather that the hero of
Inc 'aie did so, but that they married so soon
married each other at all. Want of congenial-
n.y. not of age, forms the difficulty, as is evil
Gent Difference Of education, of national char
ae'e7sllcs, lay the foundation for an unhappy
'Trminatlon; and, as it seems at the winding
up to use hOmely phrase, truer title would
nave been, " The Devil to Pay; or, the Mis-
eFies OF an lllassorted Pair"
oae o: the parties is Mr.. Argyle. a gentle.
man brought up by father who is represented
Is "a flsid Presbyterian, a money-loving man
0o' and exercising thus such an influence
o.sr ms son as, in the hope of his marrying to
us '@tAers own mind, to prevent him from
embracing more than one opportunity of settling
.''n happily in life. His father dies, and he
raves New \ ork for the arrangement of affairs
A EnSland-travels with friend recently mar
Hei' and visits the Continent. Here he falls
|" WIN the heroine, Media, the daughter of an
'."''AA Count, brought up in luxury, and de-
p'''ed as young, artless, impulsive girl. She,
0'' mas had her thoughts previously turned to-
'NuS marriage; suitors have paid their ad-
'esSes, and one poor fellow is q monk and in
''e' ana oil course cannot bear the thought
nat any other should tear away the prize at
'nlch ne had grasped. He would gladly see
er become nun; but there seems to he a Lind
y fatality for him, and he attempts assass;na.
lon' Mr.. Argyle and Media, uncongenial a.
hey Ind themselves afterwards, easily fall in
O'ei and this passion, favored by their being
companions in sightseeing in Switzerland and
l''y soon results in mutual acknowledgements
ne count consents, and they are married AE
ef spending short time in Paris, and longer
"a England, they embark for New York, where
-ney are settled down in their home. Up to
'HiS point, the course of love has run smooth
' "a Abroad, and mingling in fashionable
''e together, the contrasts of their feelings in
many respects have not come into view. But
HOW more directly come on the stage Mr.. Ar
Fl'es relatives. We feel the position he must
'''upy where, known as formerly religious
i4-ih-and her habits and education in Italian
'''e' mat begin to clash. They go on in strong.
" - COLLISION, till at last they separate. Her fa
,'er has come out to New York, determined to
''eaA her from her husband, and take her
'A'A 10 Europe again, and ally her to some
'4e Oh noble blood. Inscriptions as to the
means, those he employs are of the most ques-
,'0haole kind, and he cares not if even his
: l1ugh'ers reputation is put in jeopardy. She
-'NfS more than loves her father, and, strangely
'"ough' sets herself counter to her loved Ar
eyes wishes, even to daring his declared deter
, If she opposes, to exclude her from
--'' mousse The tie is broken, and, for aught
"s can see, mainly by her own folly. They
"'e divorced; she goes back with her father,
md