New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-28

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sugusge Of daily life, add when he came 70 speak OF
,he and arts Of other ages 10 indulge IN the
genial exercise of e,eaton, he had already caught IN
large sbere OF tte characteristics Of bis own age ~
was suited to the and bent of his mind His
fayore sudies at the time, served 10 moderate
the effect Of these contemporary Influences and 10 aid
him in forming lyle In which the gesius Of the Ian
gusee 10 preserved without sacrificing the genius Of
the age lie bad conceived an early passion for the
old poets and moralists and had taken special deli ht
In those exquisite ballads into which fresh from
the people poured all the poetry Of common life. He
had made himself familiar with popular traditions,
had studied the antique DRAMA and, living In daily in
tercoure with men Of polite conversation, had gath
cred around himself atmosphere Of pure literature,
in which The best elements Of the old and the were
naturally and barmoniously blended.
Mr. Ifvings language genuine English, with Re "
words that Addison or Goldsmith would not have used,
and few that would moi have been readily understood
a hundred years ago in the same sense IN which he
employs them. The arts and inventions Of the age
have left just traces enough in his style to show that
he belongs 10 a period in which great 'hsDges have
been wrought in society by the progress of natura
and social science he is fond OF idoms, with which
he ia copousy supplied by extensive reading, directed
and enlivened by the habits Of good society. lie .
usually very happy in the choice both OF his words
change either without jeoparding the thought u.
evidently feels the power OF word In its place. and
ofbs pictures half their beauty to ellciious
selection Of terms. There is richness and splendor
OIL 0lctl0n IN hk essays ana ties, WHICH, III nib nleto
ries il sobered down 70 calm afnence always AIDE
quas 20 the OCCASION but never overiowng ia those
brilliant periods which are the legitimate ornament o
imaginative composition.
IL the structure of bis sentences there is pleasing
variety although, like most modens, he prefers short
ones Their hytbm is sipguarly rich and sweet free
from every faint of monotony and always gratifying
the ear by spontaneous adaptation to the thought
Indeed, they leave uIon the mind the same knd OF I'M
preston which poetry does when it has once become
associated with sweet muse; one never recalls the
verses without fancying that he hears the aeeompan
meDt. go
Ike mirrors to his thoughts, rejecting every idea so
truthfully that you feel while reading him, if you
were looking directly into bis mind And this arises ia
great easure from his never at emptng style Of
writing that il not In harmony with his habits OF
thoughts that bis words become the natural express
lion Of his conceptions. Without any ambitious en-
deavos 10 appear strong, he always leaves strong i'm
pressioDs The image that has found its way TO the
mind through the medium of his words is sure 10 re-
main there IN all its freshness.
We call his style simple; for is too rich for
absolute simplicity. And yet it is natural, the
naments are so chaste, the words seem TO drop 80
readily into their places the epthets seem TO rise 80
spontaneously rom the subject the periods seem TO
so easily into another, that you never think OF
pausng to reflect the labor which must have cost
10 lean how 10 use language so skillfay. There is
high tone Of caltnIe about it which cannot be mis-
taken, but which, while il shows how converssnt he
must have been with the best writers, is free from all
tDtDre Of pedanty. One may read his sentences eff
fectiveIy, hut cannot declaim them. He has more
movement than Hr. Prescott, more hudity than Mr..
Bancroft. If we called upon TO name the lead
ing characteristics of his style, should say that
they were rhythm, artistic conception, add constant
play OF fancy. IL is 10 his delicate perception Of
rhytbmical beauty that HE sentences their just
and harmonious prop ortOns. Ii is by his rare power
of artistic conception that he eches them with pic
lures full of life and movement And the vivid play
of his fancy gathers for him. from the wide realms of
amin md lpa To nat Qaff
eptheis which eliminates them with a perpetual
glow of soft and rosy light You never willingly lay
down q volume Of bis till you have finished IL; and
when you take II mp anew you still feel the pleasure
grow upon you az you read. Fascinating" is the
word hat we should most readily apply 10 him as
wIiier, 80 irresistible is the influence which he gains
us and 40 serene a sense OF secret satisfaction
does he difhse through the mind by the graceful flow
of his periods.
The volume closes with two or three poetical
pieces, which show that the literary talent Of the
author is not confined to the composition of prose-
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY. February Tcknor Fields.
This number Of the atlantic" contains the usual
variety of readable matter including monthly install
of The Professors Story" Ii viii be no easy
ta.k for the "Autocrat OF the BreakfastTabe 10 sus
tain his brilliant popularity but this new production
Of bis pen betrays no falling of In racy humor, ap
delineation OF New. England manners. Orr reader
will find some natural uetes in the following sketch
A YANKEE sCHOOLMAsTER AND A " YALLAH DOG"
The advent of Mater Lanedon TO Pigwacket Centre
created much lively sensation than Rad attended
that Of either of his predecessors. Looks go good
Ways all the world over, and though there were see-
erhl goodooking people in the place. and Major Bush
was shat the natives VI the called habDsone
man, that is big, fat and red yet the sight Of really
elegant young fellow with the ura air which grows
up with carefully bred young persons, was novelty.
The Brabmn blood which came hom bis grandfather
ss well az from his mother direct descendant Of the
old Elyut family, well known by the famous tutor,
Henry Flint Zee Cat. Hsrv Ammo $685. had been en-
veIed and enriched by that Of the Wenlworhs, which
had had good deal of ripe old Madeira and other gen
erOus elements mingled with il, that il ran 10 govt
sometimes in the old folks, and to high spirit, warm
complexion and curly hair in some of the younger
ones. The soft curling hair Mr. Bernard bad inherited
something, perhaps, Of .be high spirit but That
slall have chance Of finding out byand-by But the
long sermons and the frugal board Of his Brahmin an
cestTy, with his own habits Of study, had told npon his
color which was subdued TO something Of deli
cacy than would care TO in young fellow with
rough work before BIN. Tbis, however made him
look interesting, Or the young ladies at Major
BushB said, "interestn'."
When Mr.. Bernard showed himself at meeting ON
the fist Sunday after his arrival it may be supposed
that a good many eyes were Turned upon the young
scboolmstter There something heroic in his IN.
ing forward readily to take place which called for
strong hand, and prompt, steady will 70 gnide IL.
In fact, HE position that of military chieftain
the eve of battle Everybody knew every thing in
Pgwacket Centre; and t an understood thing that
NE young rebels meant 10 put down the new master il
they could. Ii was naiu al that the two pretliest girls
in the village. called il the local dialect nearly 90
orr limited alphabet will represent it, Aminy Cutter,
and Arvily Braogne should feel and express an inter-
EFT ia the goodlookipg stranger, and that when their
faueIiDg comments were repeated in the hearing Of
their Indigenous admirerr, among whom some Of
the older "boys" OF the school, u should not add 10
the amiable dispositions of the turbulent youth.
Monday came, and the new schoolmaster was in he
chan at tbe upper end of the school-house, on tho