New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-15
I;,ITERAR Y.

& IA
- J.. az u commentator. Here Is poetry
18th waxing az poet worth listening TO. Mr.
vbt;er law po4 ascend any lofty hill of vision, but
be 4. csar,y a sec glceording TO bis range His song
ia smple AID sous sweet and strong. We take up
his hook Is, Lor,f Bacon Liked to take up the bit Of
fresh earth, wet wi morning and fragrant with wine
thss the healthy Eae Of Yankeesoil with the wine Of
fancy poured over J.. We get gush Of the prairie
breeze. weird whisers FROM the dark aud eere belt,
of pine watts of tie salt sea winds wandering inland
superb scents of she starred magnolias and boxtree
blossoning white. We hear the low Of cattle the buzz
zng of bees the Osty song of the huskes brown and
rudy, the drunken laughter of the Jolly bobOink.
Here are green memorials Of the New Worlds spring
of promise, golden memorials of her abundance when
the horn of Autumn poured into the oyerhowing lap
of man; we see the whe-hons tossing over the farm
yard wall: the cock growing in the with his comb
glowing most vital red the brown gable of the old
barn rotes running up TO the caves Of the swallow
haunted homestead, the June sun tanglng his wings
of fire in the network of green leaves tie arons by
the river bgbting up the swsrmng chad tie river full
of sunshine with the bOnny blue above and the bithe
blink of sea in the distance, and mauy eight and
sound Of vernal life and country cheer. No American
poet has more of the homemade and home-brewed
German Helicon; it is spring fresh from New World
nature; and we gladly welcome its sprigbtly trimmings
Our Yankee Bard is among poets what Mr.. Bright
is among the peace He has the soul Of some old
Norseman buttoned up under the Quakers coat, and
the great bursts Of heart will often peril the bold of the
buttons, while the speaker with all bis native energy
and manly mouth is preaching brotherly love and
driving in With BIN, too, the Morse soul is found
fighting for Freedom and he has done good service ia
making III heart Of the North beat quicker for the day
when black slavery shall be no more, and in bringing
about the present movement which the hopeful look
upon as preparatory to the gathering up OF tue slave
forces for final fight.
A new work by Patrick Allan Fraser. entitled
1" An Unpopular View of our Times" discusses the
subject of social reform urging the importance Of the
mora, element as the necessary sabstratum Of all
eral prosperity. He in point Of fact, believes in
that theory which Lord Macauay ascribed TO the Gov
enanters with abundance Of pungeDt rdicue, namely,
that it is mans business TO his soul as much az
to save his country; and he heartily disbeeves in the
view ascribed, in turn, 70 Lord Mscaulay 10y Mr.. EN-
erson, namely, that good means good to eat. Thus,
the first question We should ask ourselves with regard
TO any scientific mechanical discovery If not whether
it will promote our comfort or our commerce, but
whether ii will inure our health or our morals. In
many instances MI Fraser thinks that the substitution
of machinery for manual labor bias proved detrimental
to both, and it cannot therefore in bis judgment, be
conducive to the highest civilization. From similar
point of view he argues that shall get rid Of
quarres between workmen aud employers while their
relations continue to be adjusted by political economy.
Introduce into these relations some moral element:
show the workman that his master values him IA man,
and not merely machine and he viii gradually be
brought into frame Of mind in which he will cease 70
take purely class view Of bis posiison. II is this
neglect of the humanity and individuality Of those be-
meath us which seems 10 Mr. Frssers eyes TO be the
crying evil Of the day. He is friend TO phGan-
thropic institutions or associated benegolence of
any kind which he msinsins has usurped the place Of
true Christian benevolence. This latter virtue shows
itself in kndliness and sympathy between man and
man. not in disbursements of money for The benefit Of
large masses Of whom we know nothing. lie puIsues
this view into every department of social life
conn laing generally that we all act too much upon
the principle described by Juyensthe pr0pter viGm
rircpdi perdcre caV50s: that heap up riches by
processes injurious to health. thawhen we have got
them we have longer the power TO enjoy them
that cram children with knowledge for the sake
of worldly advancement. Which ends only in making
them dissatisfied with their lot and that public
companies and other great trading associations by their
disregard Of high morality and absolute devotion to
noney making imparins the national character Of
England and running greatness at ito roots while
striving to overload its branches.
The Life and Letters Of Captain John Brown"
has recently been published in London, and received
with considerable interest by wider circle than
usually expresses any sympathy in American affairs
TIE Spectator remarks of it "This little book has
many merits a biography. 1t is plain, modest and
carefully put together is written with hearty and in
telgent sympathy for the Of whom it speaks and
the cause for which be lived and died and allows him
to speak As much as possible in his own words, and
tell his own story, without numbering the narrative
with of irrelevant gossip and so-cslled cOten-
porary history. Beside the chief figure, the book
gives slight but vivid and truthful sketch Of group
Of families, Of a type which cannot perhaps now be
paraleled in any other part Of the word; of good
descent and gentle in blood and Manners poor in this
worlds goods and with no desire for wealth, and
living primitive and patriarcha life simple, God
fearing society tlng and subduing the earth quietly,
until they are brought face TO face with the great
question which is tearing their nation in pieces and
then taking their part in spirit Of the nObest herosm
aud sef-saerifce. The whole story carries US back
uear 5000 year and we can almost fancy ourselves
standing by the heIdsman of TekOa and hearing his
answer TO King Amaziah, was no prophet, neither |
was / prophets sOn; but | wac heTdsman, and |
gatherer OF sycamore fruit; and the Lord took ne as
followed the flock, and ssd unto me, Co. prophecy
unto my people Israel The book too is singu. !
aTly well-tmed. We are foil of scOrn aud disgust at
the pancs, the eXaggerston, the coarse bluster and
purposeless action Of the Americans Il is we'll that
we should got this glimpse into tie heart Of New.