The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-09
HE EW

author of" The Origin and Progress the Mechanical
Inventions of Watt" Correspondence the Discov
cry of the Composition of Wster,"&c illustrated with
wood cuts. New York: D. Appleton Co, BAG and
3is Broadway. 1889. Foo sale by Taylor Maury
Washington, ID. c.
A valuable memoir of one whose name the
world will not willingly let die, giving an in
teresting but all too brief account of the child
hood, the private and domestic life of the great
engineer and sketch of his various inven-
tons, accompanied with plates and explana-
tons adapted to the understanding of the "gen-
eral reader" We have the old story of genius,
doggedly tenacious of life, struggling up into
success and appreciation, against poverty, OBJ
security, and wrong -headedness. 1t is note
worthy fact, that when the effects of DIR. Roe
buck, Mr. Watts partner, were appraised, the in
choate steam-engine was considered mot worth
farthing !" an appraisal which facilitated its
transfer into the hands Of Mr.. Boulton, and
consequently its completion, if that can be said
to be completed which is subject to continual
Improvement One case can therefore be cited,
in which ignorance redounded to the good of
the world. The modesty, almost amounting to
selfdistrust, that characterized the man whose
genius has changed the face and perhaps the
fate of nations, furnishes an instructive lesson,
which, however, will probably go unlearnt, to
the myriads in the ranks below, of greater pre-
tensions but infinitely less merit.
Another remarkable fact, of which Watts
experience gives an oitrepeated illustration, is,
that no sooner is discovery or invention pnb
lished, than somebody else, and perhaps half
dozen somebodies, are Immediately found to
have discovered or invented the same thing
Philosophers account for it by saying that af
fairs being all in train, it matters not who APP
plies the match-as the old song says, if one
won't, another will, and very likely two or three
Our own private opinion is, that it is quite as
likely to be the same great principle of human
nature that impelS Joan, when Darby has met
a misfortune, to stand with arms akimbo, cry
ing oAt, 81 told you so l told you so
The Tin Trumpet or Heads and Tails for the Wise and
Waggish. American Edition, with Alterations
and Additions. Misct stulitiam eonsiltis brerem y
Horace. New York ID. Appleton Co. 1850. For
sale as above
Oh, pshaw as if we needed a motto from
Horace to apologize for hearty laugh, or even
for the series of ordinations which this vol
ume relentlessly demands. A good, sound, in
voluntary, irrepressible ha ha! hal is, like
beauty, its own excuse for being" and ought
to be appended as a codicil to the Thirty mine
Articles. So we say to the jokes, as the little
boy said to his opponent, Come on, and bring
all your brothers, Some of the good things
here recorded are old acquaintance, but many
are strsngers-at least to US, who are not faml-
lar with Joe Miller. Some are unspeilkaDIy,
though fortunately, not unlaughably, good !;
others are outrageOusly bad but then pecu-
liarity of puns Isl that the very bad are good
as the very good. 1t is only the just toerable
that are intolerable. What power must the
book not have, when even editorial dignity is
scudding along the shores of pun) Besides
the wit, there is a great deal of wisdom, as there
generally is in fact, where there is wit, notwith-
standing what the fools say. Buy it, all ye
dyspeptic in body and ceruean in mind. Buy
the Tin Trumpet, all We who have " a lean and
hungry look" and blow blast like the Hero
Of Roncesvalles-long, loud, and deep. Flock
to the bookstore of Taylor & Maury all ye ca
daverOus-buy, laugh, and grow fat.
The Exploits and Trumphs in Europe of Paul Morphy,
the Chess Champion ! including Historical Aceoun,
ofClubs Biog Sketches o. Famous Players and
various Information and cdoe relating 10 the No
bic Game of Chess. BY Paul Morphy's Late Secretary
New York ID. Appleton Il Co, $40 and 3is Broad
way. 1859. For sale above
With modesty as rare as il is commendabe,
the author Of this work sinks his own individu-
ality in that of the great Paul He himself is
by implication, as the immortal Toots remarks
of no consequence; " but as the Secretary of
the Chess Champion, the conqueror of two
worlds, he rises into comparative importance.
He is content to shine by reflected light
When the Great Western spreads all her canvas
and puts out to sea, he quietly lets
-" His liule bark attendant sail
Pursue the triumph and partake the gale !"
But by so much as he sacrifices self, by so
much does he exalt Paul. The book is tran
script of victories. Veni, uidi, sometimes y
Uici, may be Morphy's motto. Staunton, the
English champion, concluded discretion to be
the better part of valor, and shilly-shalied him.
self out of the appointed contest. Harwitz be-
heved that
g He who fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day."
and obeyed the instinct of selfpreservation.
ANDERSEN suffered himself to be annihilated
with Teutonic nonchalance and Christian resig-
nation; and Paul Morphy and his Squire have
come home, loaded with honors from priest,
and people, and peer, and princess, to receive
silver chess-boards and golden men, and live
in golden houses, and eat from golden dishes,
for aught we know, through the remainder Of
their natural lives. Wherefore, if any one can
show just cause why Paul Morphy should not
forthwith be made President of these United
States, let him now speak, or else hereafter for
ever hold his peace.
Hnts towards Physical Perfection or the Philosophy
Of Human Beauty showing how TO Acquire and Re-
tain Bodily Symmetry, HEALTH aHd VigOr, Secure
Long Life and AVOID the InfTmes and Determines Of
age. By d. H. Jacqu " The Idea of beauty of per
is synonymou. with that of healh and perfect
organization "-P ritha,d New York Fowler & Wells
Publishers, No. 3Os Broadway. 1889.
If the title-page of this book be not a suff-
cient attraction to readers, no comments Of ours
would be. 1t is enough to say that the pre-
cepts contained in it are founded on broad
philosophical principles, and aim at nothing
less than the highest culture and development
physical, mental, and moral, of which the hui
man being is susc eptible. We do not see that
it advances any new views, but men and wo-
men cannot be too often told that the greatest
usefulness demands the most perfect health,