Daily gazette and comet., 1860-11-28
laiIu 6a3ttte mo Comet.
Supernaturalism.

been little other than an accident
of exertion directed to practical
aud unselfisb purposes-s wsyside
flower, which he has hardly spared
the time to gather. In the dedica-
tion of the little volume to his sis
ter, he well expresses the feeling of
relief, and almost selfreproachful
enjoyment, with which he turns
aside from his ''long, harsh strife
with strong willed men," tcconverse
with ghosts and witches, and all
such Legendary shadows. We
doubt not. he will return to the bat
tie of his life with so much the
more vigor, for this brief relaxation;
but we arc bound to say that, if be
could have more entirely thrown
off the mental habit of a man writ.
ing under a stern sense of duty, he
might have succeeded better in such
% labor Of love and idlencss, as the
present. In spite Of himself, Mr.,
Whittier stOops to the theme with
the austere dignity of sChoOlmas-
ter at his amusernents coDdes-
cension that may seem eIaggera-
ted, when we consider that the sub
ject will probably retain a human
interest, long after bis more earnest
efforts shall have lost their impor-
tance, in the progress Of society.
In the first chapter of the book,
there are some good remarks on
the spiritual tendencies that lie be-
meath the earthly surface of the
Yankee character. Such spiritual
ity certainly does exist but we
cannot perceive that its indications
are, or ever have been, so peculiar
as to form any system that may
come fairly under the title of New
England Supernaturalism. The
contrary is rather remarkably the
fact /; the forest like of the first set
tiers, and their intercourse with
the Indians, have really grated
nothing upon the mythology which
they brought with them from Eng
land--at least we know of nothing,
although Mr.. Whittier intimates
that these circumstances did mod.
fy their English supersitions. We
should naturally look Cor something
duskier and grander in the gbostly
legends Of wild country, than
could be expected in state of So
ciety where even dreams are COW
cred with the dust Of old conven-
tionalisms. But, if there be any pc
culiarity, it is, that our supersitions
have a more sordid, grimy, and
material aspect, than they bore in
the cline from which they we're
transplated. A New England ghost
does not elevate us into q spiritual
region be hints at no mysteries
beyond the grave, nor seems to pos
sess any valuable information on
subjects of that nature. He throws
aside even his shroud, puts on the
coat and breecbes Of the times, and
takes up the 1esb-and blood busin-
mes of life, at the very point where
he dropt il at his dccease. lie 30
mipgles with daily life, that we
scarcely perceive him 10 be
ghost at all. If he indeed comes
from the spiritual world, it is be-
cause he has been elected with dis
grace, on account Of the essential
and inveterate eartbiness of his
substance.
This char. cteristic Of q New En-
gland ghost story should by all
means be retained else the legend
will loose its truth. Mr.. Whittier
has sometimes caught the just ef-
feet, but occasionally allows it to
escape, by aiming at effects which
are inconsistent with the one allu.
ded to. He has made fine ballad
Of the New Wife and the Old;"--
its only defect is, indeed, that he
has made it too fine, at the sacrifice
of the LONELINESS which was its es-
sence. His style, in fact, through
out the volume, has not quite the
simplicity that the theme requires;
it sparkles a little to much. The
proper tone for these legends is, Of
course, that of the fireside narrative,
refined and clarified to whatever
degree the writer pleases, but still
as simple as the Bible--as simple
"A the babble of an old woman to