New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
CURTIS'S TRUMPS.

has evidently aimed at wholesome moral pur.
bose az well as of artistic excellence. Like
Thackeray and Dickens, whom he resembles In
dealing with the world of reality rather than
with purely imaginative creations be empo!s'n
euticement. of fiction to illustrate the odlousnesS
Of vice. and surround with fresh charms "ha1-
ever ia noble, generous, and lovely ID nun'an
character. Not that he ever attempts 70 set lor'u
formal moral; his pages are entirely free from
the dullness of didactic methods; he does not be-
come prosy even in his most earnest moods; and
though no never fails to teach those VINO ares US
ceptble of instruction, he has less the air OF the
pedagcgue or the pedant, than OF the shIewd and
nr,cticed man of the world. But in his delinea.
tons of character. be places the highest motives
in the most favorable light, gives prominence to
the sturdy and substantial qualities which are at
the basis of an honest life, and clothes with
pathetic interest the exercise of homely and
modest virtues. His villains are villains still, In
spite of brapcy Of intellect and seductive
graces of manner aud conversation. No shining
varDsh can conceal their Shiny, snake-like attri-
butes, and they are made to excite as cordial de-
testatiOn as If we had met with them In living
society. Mr.. Curtis handles the weapons of
satire with mastery skil. He Yields light,
nimble blade, makes no flourish in its exercise,
gives no sign Of his intention, but quicker than a
glance Of .he eye strikes its razorke edge directly
to the bone. His victims always deserve the
blow. He finds them among the vulgar and
pirse-proud upstairs of commerce, the scheming
mammas and young ladies Of the fashionable
world, the Dragging windbags Of political H.
trigue, aud the conceted, affected pretenders IN
every walk Of professional and social life. Each
Of these classes has its representative in his
novel; he takes a manifest delight 10 their disco
ton; indeed, we sometimes hear too plainly bis
inward chuchle over their misery but as rule
he Furnishes them with such an airy and graceful
dexterity, that the reader heartily enjoys their
discontinue.
Nor is Mr.. Curtis less successful in portraying
the more delicate traits of character, If we may
apply the term portrature to representations, of
which the dramatic element is the most striking
distinction. The two heroineS of the story, Hope
WAYNE and Amy Waring, are admirable examples
Of feminine dignity and loveluess, each in her
own peculiar style, combining rare force of
character with exquisite wOnanly sentiment; but
gradually developing their peculiar traits in the
action Of the plot, rather than being made the
subjects of elaborate delineation. Uncle Lawrence
has a narrow escape from being little tedious;
but he does escape; and in bis robust, manly
integrity, ged with latent tenderness of
disposition, aud just enough quaintness Of phrase
to give spice to his conversation, lie presents q
curious instance not even met with in real life,
of sagacity Of intellect, with unworldness OF aim,
Of prosperous mercantile energies, with no slight
touch of romance in his feelings and a strong
infusion of genial benevolence. He is clearly
favorite with the author, and after appearing in
various lights, many of which are of the nature
Of a surprise, he commands the sympathy and
admiration of the reader. On Abel Newt,
however, the Jupiter Scapin of the story. Mr..
Curtis has bestowed his greatest strength, and
given to the world a picture Of one of the most
sublmely consistent and thorough-going scamps
that figure in recent fiction. He is introduced to
US as a precccious, accomplished, intriguing devil
of a schooooy, of ready w.t. with an oily tongue,
as subtle in purpose and fertile in resource as
veteran demagogue, knowing beyond bis years,
auda .ious in his plans Of mischief aud ingenious
in their execution, with a cool impudence that
never leaves him, and nimble, slippery alertness
Of manner, with which he subsequently glides
into the highest places Of society, aud the most
coveted political distinctions. We will not I'M
dertake to follow this fascinating worthy through
the various undulations of bis eyentful career,
but the winding up Of his iates aud his fortunes
presents an example Of poetical justice too graft
flying not to be specially commended to the at
tention of our readers.
In disclosing the details Of bis plot, Mr.. Curtis
relies more upon the natural dialogue OF the
situations than upon any regular, artificial nara
tive. AS we have before suggested be makes
great use Of the dramatic element, in managing
which he eyinces not q little artistic fnesse.
His conversations are rapid, racy, and effective,
often sparkling with epgrammatic point, and
though with an occasional tendency to exaggera-
ton, usually in admirable keeping with tine charac
ter of the interocutOrs and the eXigencies Of the
scene. In this respect Mr.. Curtis need not
shrink from comparison with the most successful
modern novelists; and as a whole, although we
do not regard "Trumps" as expressing the full
measure Of bis powers, it certainly more than
redeems the fattering promise Of bis early au-
thorshp.-We ought not to withhold our COM
meDdation from the characteristic piquoDt de-
signs Of Hoppin, with which the volume Is
Illustrated