The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-07-10
A Genial Humorist.

The NORTH British Recietg has an appreci.
alive criticism of DIR. John Browns gossip
ing book, Hone SubsecirQ, the second series,
which has Just been published in Edin-
burgh. The ReUies0 says:
THE DocToR's PrcULIARTiEs.
The preface TO the first series OF the Hore
Subeecive contains a very unnecessary
apology :for what tie author describes as
'sihe tendency in him OF the merely Iudi-
crous TO intrude, and 10 insist on being al
tended 10 and expressed" This is a very
inadequate account of rich and penera-
ting hdmor, not unworthy of so enthusiastic
an admirer OF Charles Lamb. He has not
indeed-who ever had l-the wild YET ten-
der imaginative wit of Ella, so subtle and
wonderful that even Scotchmen adore him
when he is "bleaiiug libeIs against their
native land" But he has the genuine ku-
NOR, which, in his own words, is ''lhe very
favor of the spirit, Its rich and fragrant oz-
mazoms, having in its aroma something of
everything in the man, his expressed juice.n
Dr.. Browns humor illustrates admirably
the definition OF ihoughtful writer, whose
own wit, by The xay, was rather Ieathery
--Archdeacon Hare-who explains humor
as s'sense of The ridiculous, soflened and
melioraied by human feeling"
This is true but hardly an adequate de-
finiiiou Tor il fails TO express how thor
oughly the humor and The feeling inierpen-
etraies each olher. The two elements can
not be separated by the most searching
analysis. Nor is the result, though always
humiliaiine, so invariably gentle as one
might suppose. Dean Swift, at least, is an
illusi1ous example TO show that some slight
Infusion Of gall is bJ no meaus inconsistent
with the humor and it might not be inn
possible 10 name another instance almost
as striking among our great living authors.
Bat we have q1oted Archdeacon Hare
chiefly 10 show how broad distinction
there is between siach humor as DR.. Browns
and the mere tendency TO be always joking,
with which he seems modestly afraid that il
may be coEfounded. There is great deal
of fun in DR.. Brown; bis gravely comic
power is inimitabIe but is hardly ever, as
IL seems 10 US, the purely Iudricrous, which
gives occasion for It's exercise. The incon-
gruiiy which moves him is that of ideas,
and not OF words.
THE DOCTOR ON DOGS.
His descriptions, or rather characters OF
dogs, for example, are really like nothing
50 much, either in the result or in the mode
of treatment, as the Ellisions and the Cap
tain Jacksons of Ella. We do not put Toby
on par with Captain Jackson but the
peculiarities of his mental organization are
made known 10 rs in much the sane way.
The most impalpable nicelies of the char
sctsr are seized with the same firm and del
ieate touch, and brought ont, one after an
other, with the same gradual ari, till the
picture is complete. And we know moth
ing anywhere, except IN Charles Lamb,
which in the least degree resembles the
grave fun with which the whole dog is then
presented 10 us.
STORY or DOG
There are two characteristic anecdotes
which We cannoi resist. Our readers must
understand that Dr. Brown, when boy,
had brought shepherds dog from Tweed.
side 10 Edinburgh
s.She came, and was at oaee taken to all
our hearis-eFen grandmother like her aud
lhcueh she was often pensi5e, as if think.
ing Of her master and her w5rk on the hills,
che made herself Al home snd behaved in
all respects ike q lady. when ont with
ma. II she saw sheep il the streets or road