New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-18

THF ATLANTIC MAGALlNf- bS,ootf EAihiF-
The approach Of the brilliant Autumnal days appears
70 have given fresh impulse to this avorite monthly.
For vvacity manliness and sterling literary taste the
present number has not been surpassed by any previ
ous issue while il is superior in the variety Of ts
themes and the popular character Of its contents II
opens with striking article on the " New World and
the New Man. written in quaint but vigorous style,
and remarkable for its originality both Of thought and
expression. Although it deals in predictions, which
are more or less hypothetical and vii be deemed sound
or fancifu according to the temperament OF the read
er shows singulary nice power of observation and
of founding subtle conclusions large matter-oi-iaet
premises. The following paragraph on American cl-
mate is al example:
And first. every breath of American air helps to
make him the American Man. The atmosphere OF
America was early noted wonder-worker. len
wears subsequent 10 the landing At ymouth. the Rev.
Francis Hgginson. an acute observer. wrote 20 the
mother country-"A sup OF NewEnglsnd air is better
than whole hagon of old English ale. Jean Paul says
that the roots of humankind are the lungs, and that
being rooted in air properly children Of the
ather. Truly, children OF the ather-and So chirenoi
fire. Fort oxygen upon which the lungs chiefly feed,
il the fiery principle in Nsturea that We denomlnatc
fire and flame being but the manifestation OF its action.
We are upon frs-eaters. Southern and other;
vet here are We, cool Norherns quafling this very
principle and essence Of fire in large lung drafts every
moment, each OF us carrying perpetual furnace in
his bosom. Now il is doubtless true that We iuhale
oxygen, or at least inhale il less drenched with
damp than the people of Europe, aud are therefore,
more emphatcay children OF fire than they. Be this,
be some other the true theory of the fact the fact
itself nnqnestonaby H. that our climate produces the
highest nervous intensity. As there are conditions Of
atmosphere in which the magnetic telegraph works
well, aud others in which it works i'll, some eondi
tions stimulate while others repress nervous action.
The air of England seems favorable to richness and
abundance Of blood there the life-vesses sit deep
and bring opuent cargoes to the eshshores and the
rotund figure the rnddy solid cheek and the clsurely
! compacent movement all show how well supported
and stored with vital resources the Englishman is.
But to the Americans lip the great foster-m0ther has
profered more pungent and rousing draught-not an
old Saxon sleeping-cup for the night, but waking
end for the bright morning and busy day. II is fore
noon with him. He is up and dressed and at work by
I the job. Bring an Englishman here, and nothing
short Of Egyptian modes representation will keep him
an Englishman long. Soon he cannot digest so much
/ food cannot dispose Of much stmulant his step
becomes quicker, his eye keener his voice rises note
/ on the scale aud grows trihe sharper. In fine the
effects observed in Autumn foliage may be traced
in the people themselves Tightening of coors; and
while this accounts for much that is prurent and bi
zare, il infods also the best promise of America.
| The remarks on American literature very much
/ to the purpose:
/ The Literature of the New World is also worthyof
/ the New Man. We quite aware that large por-
ton Of this literature is trash. So large part in
Shakspeares in Ceryantess in Plato age and place.
But We admit even that the comparison does not hold,
that especial accusation may be brought against
the issues OF the press in this country. Wise men
should have anticipated this and instead O reasoning
from the size of our lakes, praries and mountains,
and demanding epics aud PHILOSOPHERS OF us before
fairy out of our primitive woods, the critics should
have hastened 10 say,-A colony must have time TO
strike root, aud to draw up therefrom new light
before il arrive at valuable and genuine literary
expression. The Life must come before the Thought
Nothing could be more absurd than the expectation
that American literature should spring away into the
air from the top Of European performance. Our first
literature coonal,-that is initiative written for
the appreciation Of European critics course hay-
ing somewhat the empty correctness of good school,
boy composition. Next followed what we may call
tre-weed literature, the first rank raw product OF
new lands. Und-r these two heads vast number Of
books must OF course be reckoned. But beyond these
American literature has already passed, aud now
point to books that spring out of the pure genius the
New Man. And having only these in mind we hesi-
tate not Ia say that there Is sounding upon these
shores deeper, subtier aud universal note than
is heard in any other land touched by the Atlantic Sea-
We have writings in epartments of lera-
ture and in both prose and verse, which character
ized by a breadth and lsrgeness Of suggestion by a
spirituality and prophetic adherence 10 the moral
sentiment which Justify sl that has here been rmed
reasoned. And our deepest thought inds popular
reception which proves not foreign ceptOna.
Wilknson's Human Body the largest piece OF
speculative construction which England has produced
in two centuries has not vet after eight years
believe, exhausted Its hr.t edition. EInerson's
Poems still less adapted would say than the work
Just mentioned TO the taste Of populaces had reached
its fourth edition in about the same period. Learned
works have, Of course, superior reception IN the
moher-country; works of pure thought IN the daugh-
ter. Said Ia u.s. during the past season, the subiest
thinker of Great Britain n must send TO America
whatever wish TO put IN Print, unless pay for It's
publication from my own pocket"
" The Legend OF Dr. Faust, giving exhaust
i've historical account of the popular tradition
which the grea. poem o; Goethe was founded. is an
admirable piece OF criticism and literary discussion
The most unwecom- feature in this number il the
ieavetakng of the Autocrat Of the Breakfast
Table" whose vie comments genial hgmor, ana per-
petual gayety o. spirit have many friends Ia
the magazine, and given MIN place in sphere of
literature which boast. few names, bat among them
hontaigne and Lamb. " Her Grace the Drummer
Daughter and Mis- Wimples Hoop arr
ticeabe stories; and several poems seem 10 Indicate
the hands Of Emerson Lowell, and Whittier. The
number winds up With - II massacre" bor Of the
innocents," IN the Literary Notices"
THE DECIMAL SYSTEM: By JoEy n. sfLroa. iaao.
pr lSe. Why 4 Hsls;rd.
A summary view is here presented OF the sdvanta-
ges of applying the decimal system Of computation to
the various weight ths, used in
mercal and scientific relstions. The author gives
variety Of scales Constructed on the decimal prinpe,
which, in his opinion sdspted to supersede the
tables more generally adopted. lie then furnishes a
sketch of the introduction Of the decimal system in
France, anayzes the philosophy Of the various scales
Of notation, and examines the objections advanced
against the establishment Of complete decimal sys-
tenn in the United Slstes. His volume indicates
familiar segusirisr:: With the suh;ee. and h: ara.