Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-22


tanned. 1t may not produce the sensation of
brilliant novel; it will make on the reader a
deeper impression in a higher place.
Tuckerman is another of the literary eel
eorltles the visitor meets at Newport. His
numerous friends will be glad to learn that
his health has much improved the present
season, and that he is now devoting his leis-
ure to the preparation of uniform edition of
all his works. Mr.. Tuckerman is a rare ex.
ample of an American giving himself strictly
and wholly to a life of liberal culture and re-
producing the results in literary form for
the entertainment and instruction of his coun.
trymen. He deserves special tribute of re-
spect and gratitude from our people who, in
Their material absorption and social competi-
ton, are too apt to lose sight of the serene
and lofty lures of philosophy, poetry, friend
ship, art, ard faith. His works, some of
which have been very popular, and are now
out Of print, are marked by inyariable strength
and sobriety OF judgment, spirit of gener-
Gus and tender humanity, a fine sensibilty to
every form of beauty, rich vein of anecd0-
tic illustration, constant purity and elevation
of sentiment, and lucid, fOrcible, well-har-
monizrd style. They are works whose gen.
eral circulation would be equally creditable
and profitable to the reading public. They
cater to nothing false, cuaTse, or low; they
would cultivate all those ideal interests of
men that live above til Sordid round of earth
ly and selfish cares. We must add that il is
double pleasure to praise one who has him.
self always been SO ready to recognize the
merits of others, so unwearied and magnani-
nous in encouraging those who deserved and
needed a kind word. He has not merely
been willing to lay fresh flowers on the gar
lands of the illustrious he has been quick to
extend Il friendly hand to the distressed, and
to direct attention to the obscure.
The Rev. Charles L. Brooks has been min
lister of a church in Newport for twenty-six
years, though his pOet-hcart and innocent life
have caused time to touch him so lightly tnat
stranger would not set his birth much fur
ther back than the actual date OF his ordina.
ton, more guileless or a sweeler spirit is
not to be found, Walking amidst the trust
and love OF his united flock performing the
twotold office of pastor and poet, he reminds
those who know him of good George Herbert.
fair transcript Of his creed and OF lis life is
seen in his excellent volume of discuurses on
1.-The Simplicity OF Chfist's Teachings" But
he Is mostly known to the public as IA transla-
tor In this province of literature he h ac-
quired Il high rank. To excel as a translator
may not require faculties so extraordinary as
are necessary tor original composition of the
same grade; but it demands endowments of
no ordinary quality. 1t is so easy, so COM
mon, to spoil Il Thought in putting it into an
other language. The Chinaman, restoring
into English from the Chinese version of the
New Testament, the text ''We have piped
unto you, and ye have not danced; :" rendered
1t thus: I'VE have loot, loot to you; why
you no jump" Mr.. Brooks has made the
best Translation in existence of G0ethe's
Faust. His numerous renderings of German
Lyrics are well known "a marked by exceed
ing accuracy and spirit. His versions of the
poems Of Ana, tasius Grun drew the heartiest
acknowledgements and eulogics from that
distingu shed. author. His translation otJcan
Paufs - Titan" Il task of extreme difficulty
and delcacy, has been received with unquali-
fled praise by the whole chorus OF critics.
headed by Thomas Carlyle. Animated by
the great success of this work, Mr.. Brooks
has been applying his practiSed powers to an
other Of Jean Paul's masterpieces, ''Hespcr-
us" 1t has been completed within the lat
f"' dag, and the rich manuscript now lies
on his taole, il tempting irize foe publish
ers to compete for. In addition to this MIR.
Brooks has on hand finished translation of
The Ahnfrau," famous German tragedy,
by Grillporzer. And he is now in the midst
Of a translation Of the ''Layman's Breviary,"
by Leopold Scheter; series of moral and
religious meditatoEs. This work OF Schefer
has passed rapidly through twelve editions in
Germany. The German critics go SO far as
to rank It's author with Richter Herder, and
even with Goethe. 1t is certainly character
lied by wonderful freshness of feeling and
vIgor of handling. 1t combines phios optical
depth and poetic richness with tender SIM
plcty that is irresistible. We shall be dis
appointed if it does not prove as popular in
America as it has in Germany.
The other authors at Newport Calvert,
James, Greene, Kirkland, we must be content
simply to name, reserving worthier notice
fer some future OCCASION
DIR. Edward Hitch :ock, well known in this
country and abroad as copious writer upon
geological and other subjects-although we
believe he has reached the ripe age of three
score and ten-stilI retains his love of study
and OF writing For ten years prior to 1854
he was president Of Amherst College, and for
several years past he has been engaged in
preparing volume of "reminiscences connect
ed with that institution, which we understand
is in press and nearly ready for publication.
The work, apart from its local interest, will
be of value as containing recOllections of the
authors visit to England, and his IN seting
with Hugh Miller and other geological celeb
rites.