, 1863-01-10

tue5 cdhAoL I'LL 10 falee lauEa. Inc hum0r
which Richter is sud to possess In such IN ou,-
l. inent degree, is Of quito another aud higher
quality. It is not a talent for making fun of
all things, however old, high or sacred; it docs
not turn all Of life into jest md ridicu1e, ban.
ish respect and reverence, point the finger
with scorD, curl the lip with sncers, and make
all the world pay tribute to jolly laughter,
holding, both his sides. The humor here
meant not only consists with: the finest
humanity, real earnestness and pathos.
and profound reverence, but cannot be found
without these great qualities. It is Of kind,
genial and attectionate nature; Is quick in
sympathy and pity, and has warm and ten
der fellow feeling with all that is mortal. It
has no stinging point, and no enYenomed edge
| for human ffailty or folly, but its blows arc
the 1aithfu1 wounds of friend, and there fs
healing IN Its stripes. It feels reverence for
| all forms OF being, however low or common,
and cannot ecoru or dcspise any Of the works
Of the infinite Father. tt disccrns soul Of
| goodness in things evil, md finds beauty In
all that has existence. It has been called the
highest gift'o Of genius, because by it all life,
however mean, is seen under the light Of
t sportfulness and love, and thus bchcld be-
comes poetic and ideal. Through its trana-
| forming and cleyating power, the dreary Eo"-
tine Of every dny grows beautiful and eacteo'
and it.giycs to the common duties, ana uae''o
| events Of the most ordinary life divine
beauty and stgnldcanoo It msy be said to
rlcallze the poets longing, and
- j. "Bring back the hour
"of glory in the grass, Of splendor In the flower;
'The time when ocean, grove and stream,
The earth and every common sight,
DO seem appafclcd in celestial light,
1.-THE glory and the freshness Of dream"
Jean Paul does not, however, lack humor
or wit In the more common sense Of these
words. De Quincy says Of him, 'in fact, SO
eSuberdnt is this perilous gas Of wit in Jean
Paul, that If his works do not explode-at any.
rate, I think Jean Paul himself will blow up
one Of these days. One Of his books Is abso-
lutely so o1erchnrgcd with quicksilver that +
expect to see it leap off the table as often as 1t
is Laid there; and therefore, to prevent accl-
/ dents, usually load it with the works Of our
good friend - Esq, and T. R. 81
Richter is also distinguished for clearness,
force, and activity of understanding; for IN
| Imagination of:the Tarest splendor and power;
and, for an uncqualed exuberance Of fancy,
which, one has said, "knows no limits, hang
ing like the sun, jewel on every blade Of
grass, and sowing the earth at large with orr
cnt pearl" Of all these great qualities
and gifts We find in the Titan wonderful
display, and it is regarded as the best Of Jean
Paul's many romances. Still we are prepared
to believe that many will lay it down in de-
spur, finding it impossible to read it through;
though VIC feel sure that those who perseyerc
until they become familiar with its style and
manner, will often be found returning to read
again its strange and powerful story. Car.
lyle, indeed, compares Richter's romances to
Il tropical wilderness with faircst flowers and
fountains; deep shades and gorgeous yistas,
but full Of sendless tortuosIties ~ and it Il to
be expected that many readers will gladly es-
cape from the depth and gloom Of these big
words, to the more open fields of every day
books, where tie common herd find pastur-
age, and the paths are all beaten hard.
We are told in the preface, by French
critic, that tho design Of Titan, is to repre-
sent pure man, great and noble, In the midst
Of struggles and temptations, and so subduing
himself and the evil By which he is surround
cd, as to end in attaining the loftiest position
Which the ambition Of man can desire. The
hero, Is moral Titan, resisting the iniquity
which moved Garth and hell to ruin him. And
willie all readers will join with the French, in
admiration Of al artist who has "placcd six
female pcrsonagcs On the stage, who hare
not shadow of resemblance TO each other.
and who never deyiatc single minute from
the character the author has given them:
there will be some filed with wonder ut the
good fortune Of Albano, who never has one
lovely woman snatched away from linn by
enyious fate, but the kind Heavens send him
another etill faircr and more lovely. To have
loved and lost, is truly with the hero, not only
better than not to lave loved at all, but the
only way to tho last and best lore. Mr..
Brooks tells us that the fate Of Linda created
loud remonstrance In Germany, and We OK
pect to hear It repeated in this country, Many
will think that the closing scenes in her
strange destiny, might hare been painted with
less detail, and with not so much warmth of
co1oring and glow Of passion. The work is
filled with high moral aud religious feel
ing, though entirely free from all set rclig-
ious phrase, or anything like pious cant. Tie
same deep and reyeren!fal spirit breathes
through It that mnde Jean Paul shrink from
all skcpticis1n as from Il thing accursed. It Is
full Of an abiding fifth in the lofty dignity Of
human nature, and its immortality; and with
love Of this glorious world and ali that dwell |
in it, beneath the care and infinite love of a |
heavenly father.
TRIPS IN THE LIFE OF 4 LOCOMOTIVE
.kNGlNEER-New York, j. Bradbuu,.
This Is one Of the most attractive little vol
umes that has been issued from the press this
many day. The work IL written By q loco
tive engineer, who has been running his "iron
horse'' for quarter Of century. In his
work he gives many interesting sketches of |
the exciting scenes through which be has
passed in prosecuting his dangerous vocation.
Also, interesting and truthful pen portraits of |
his companions on the train-thc conductor.
the fireman and the brakeman. We hare made |
liberal extracts from this work in another
column. For sale by J. r. Walsh, No, l
Custom House: Place. =
ROMANCE OF THE MuMblY-From the F1cncb |
Of IheOphllt GattfeF nv WYn +, Prime, MAJ. /