Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-12
5Ql0rtester Daily Spp.



VIM. d. O'Connor's romance, "Harrington.
the Lover" has not failed to get attention.
The book is too remarkable, too much alive
with the inspiration of genius, to be renoticed.
The following criticism is from the Providence
Journal -
We opened this book with a feeling of live
ly curiosity, eager 10 know what was that
dangerous virtue in which has called out the
hostile artillery OF so many adverse presses.
The New York Express tells us that it incul.
Gates the raukest abolition sentiments in pro-
fqne language. The witty and audaciOus or
gan OF the New York Bohemians-the wiltiest
and wckedest of Saturday presses-rt cog.
nlzes in the closing scenes an uncommon aud
admirable power, admits its vlgor OF moral
enthusiasm, its arge assertion OF HUMANE
tartan principles, its talent, pathos, power and
brlliancy, but thinks its ethics absmdly quiX
otto, and sirguarIy enough, doubts if il has
"any moral tendency" The phiantrophic,
conservative aud rrticcnt New York World
whose motto, the New York Saturday Press
tells us, is "There shall he no more cakes and
ale, either on Sundays or other days, the
retcent World says that the book is morbid in
its ethics, rabid in its politics aud generally
'dempralizing' the hero being "a model young
New Englander, with Il tendency TO philanlhro-
L
Nightingale and the Benccia Boy in short
one OF Kingsleys muscular chris ans, mod.
ern race Of gentlemen whose acquaintance is
by no means desirable in a well-rcgulated tam
Ily." The heroine, Muriel, the World tells
US, is a christian OF the same stamp-''a SUI
perb gorgeous, queeny, and SO FORTH crea-
ture, devoted TO charity and gymnastics"
With the exception of ''the ccvcrly drawn
Tugmulton," the World finds all the charac-
tiers false and unnatural, yet accOrdS to the
author descriptive power and a sympathy
with passion which, judicously exercised,
might raise him from melodrama to tragedy.
Harrington is, in truth, a book whose singular
merits and den erlts cannot well he summed
up in Il newspaper criticism. So many faults
OF eXapgeratlOn and excess crowd the earlier
pages of this work. lis satire so often sinks
into caricature, and its lavish luxury of words
so often everciarges the picture, that the most
candid reviewer is tempted TO sharpen his pen
ell for a Scathing criticism; but as the reader
proceeds, the deepening interest Of the story
hurries him along until he surrenders himself
TO the irregular and immature yet command
ing genius OF the author.
1t is not through its scholarly and beautiful
elocution, its pomp Of rhetoric and stamp of
elegant culture-nOt through its finely touched
and telling pOrtraitureS OF the living orators
and thinkers and actors Of our Gay-nOt tor lis
rare verbal opulence, which far cXcels that of
the author Of Charles Auchester or that of
our own Harriet Prescott-but it is through
the tender human sympathes, the noble hero
ic passions evoked in the heart of the reader,
that Harrington cnthraIs the imagination and
disarms criticism. Open TO censure on so many
points that we have not space even to touch
upon them, we have in Harrington an earnest,
high toned, inspired book--a book profoundly
Interesting as a romanCe---nOble III conception
and design as a grand heroic poem, superb in
scenic effect as a gorgeous tragic drama.
The book is anti slavery in the fullest and
broadcast sense, and alive with the heroic pas
sion of national and personal liberty Among
the cautious and conservative portion OF the
community this aggressive and imprisoned
book can hardly be expected to find favor;
but among artists and poets, and the large
class whose hearts are nntrammeled by con
sideratlons of commercial prosperity or poiti-
. cal cXpediency, the author will be sure to fnd
appreciative and admirng readers. We have
before HIS an old old number OF Backwood,
in which the critic admonshes "Mr. Shelley"
that being a gentleman and a scholar he
might, if he would only select hetter compan.
ions and prOaenS than Leigh Hunt and John
ny Keats, find abundance OF better praise.
We venture TO predict that like chr Shell
ley" the young author of Harrington, Douglas
O'Connor, will keep his companions, and not
lose the better praise.