The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-03

snoi pen anu iulcnstiy tut aHectlOn-nOW logic
the most severe can comport with love the most
tender.
The individualism of the book is rich, and
full, and glowing. The characters are no mar
BILE statues, elegantly described. They have
breath and life. You do not so much see the
cheek glow and pale, as you feel the heart throb
and faint. There are warm flesh tints in all,
from the fair Saxon sweetness of little Mary, to
the tropical lnxuriance Of the great Candace.
Many of them could have taken root. only in
New England soil. They live, and move, and
have their being, only on her hill-sides. They
are formed by her rugged rocks and her clear
blue skies-by her long months of sheeted
snow, and her short, palpitatng summers. You
win not find them in Newport now, but they
"still live among the mountains and in the
heart of many valley.
Of the nuggets of golden thought wherein
the book abounds; of the throbs of genuine
eloquence, born of sorrow and baptized in love !;
Of the wit that CLEANS with lambert light of
the flowers that spring, the airs that breathe,
the birds that sing, through all these perfumed
pages, we have no space to speak.
The publishers deserve the thanks of the
public for the inviting, eye-refreshing style in
which the book is printed.
Memoirs of Robert Houdin Ambassador, Author, and
Conurer. Written by Himself Edited by Dr. Shell
ton Mackenzie. Philadelphia: George G. Evaus, Pub
Usher, No. 43s Chestnut street. 1889.
Life of Col. David Crockett Written by Himself Com
prising his Early Life, Hunting Adveniures, Services
Under General Jackson in the Creek War, Election
eerng Speeches, Career in Congress- Trumphsl Tour
in the Northern States, and Services the Texan War
To which is added Account of Col. Crockeu's Glo
rous Death at The Alamo, while fighting in defence of
Texan independence. By the Editor. Philadelphia:
Published by George G. Evans No 439 Chestnut street
1859.
We have placed these two books together on
the same principle which should guide men
and women in making matrimonial arrange
ments, viz: likeness in generals, unlkeness in
particulars. Each has the same end in view,
but there is an intense individuality in the mode
which each takes to accomplish it. Nationality
is Individually stamped on the faces of both.
One is exceedingly French, the other extrava-
gantly American both have struck their roots
deep down in their native soil, and both furnish
incontestable proc, if proof were needed, that
not only the poet, but the conjurer and adven
turer, are born, not made.
For, to be courteous, and give precedence
to the foreigner, NJ. Robert Houdin, from the
time when his schoolboy experiment in hydrau-
lies was at a stand-still, on account of the mus
cular weakness in the legs of the motive mouse
and his
Whole soul exhaled into want"
and that want was-a rat-till the time when,
a successful ambassador, full of years and
honors, he returned from his triumphant Afri
can tour, and sought the quiet of St. Gervais-
from first to last, he discovered not merely bent
but an acute-angled crook to the science and
art of which he is the brightest ornament.
M. Robert Houdin is thoroughly in earnest
Jugglery is no juggle to him. 1t was provi-
dental interposition, not booksellers mistake,
that placed in his hands two volumes of Sci
entifc Amusements instead of the {" Treatise on
Clockmaking," for which he had inquired. 1t
was a president CLEAN of coming glory that
chased sleep from his eyes, set his brain on fire,
and, after his candle had burned out, drove
him. sans culottes, into the street. to try his first
experiment at sleight-of hand by spiriting away
the municipal lamp for his own personal and
party" ends. An experimers which, by the
by, resulted in disastrous failure, and the de-
struction of his best Sunday hat into the bar
gain. 1t was the same providential interposi-
ton that nearly killed him with verdigris at
Tours, sent him burning and frienzied with
fever to Blois, and pitched him out of the stage
coach on the way, head foremost and insensible,
into the arms and travelling show-house Of
Torrini, alias Count de Grisy. From beginning
to end, Providence was continually interposing
to prevent M. Robert Houdin from vegetating
in watch making obscurity, and to set him on
the pedestal of fame, the great High Priest of
White Magic.
And providential interposition was success
full for assuredly, if lying can by any means
be separated from moral obliquity and elevated
into fine art, M. Robert Houdin has done it.
81 was fortunately born with an honest and up
right heart, or this peculiar talent might have
led me too far, "he naivsly remarks, and we
feel inclined to say ditto to Mr.. Burke" In.
deed, throughout the book his naivete and ear
nestness are readily amusing. Whether lying
or stealing, it is all in the interests of that snb
lime science to which his life is devoted, never
for sordid or selfish purposes for M. Robert
Houdin is no mean and petty soul. A generous
hearted fellow is he, thrilled to the highest pitch
Of Gallo eloquence at the diamonds and Ouch.
esses that fash into his dazzled eyes at Fulham,
but not disdaining to do his best before an au-
dience of three in Hartford, and regale them
with punch supper afterwards. 1t was his art,
his mistress, his love, at whose shrine he wor.
shipped, and not the crowned heads that chose
to survey her.
Once, indeed, M. Roberts astonishing
powers were turned to good account. (If he
were on this side of the water, we should not
dare to say so, as the implication would draw
down upon US we know not what wrath of dia-
blerie.) The French Government, finding that
the clumsy tricks of the Marabouts gave them
too much influence over the Arabs, had the
good sense to waive the DR.. Sangrado method
of treatment, and adopt the simiAima similli-
bus cmantm principle. &c. instead of cutting
off Maraboutic heads, right and left, they sent
NJ. RobertHoudin among them, who soon took
the wind out of their sails far more effectualy.
The proprietor of an idle hour will find this
book very entertaining.
But an idle hour is thing which seems
never to have been in the possession of Col.
David Crockett, of Tennessee--nor, if we may
Judge from his opinion of and advice to Thin
blerig, would he have devoted it to NJ. Robert
uonJ;n &c II had hoon prt tb,,ch bo oor1d