New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-15


ctenert OF the chase All these traits derive from bis
caTnvorous character. and Ills sccoun. call II his
essential character.
Let US now consider more difficult case that Of an
entire country, with its innumersbe details Of struc-
ture aspect and cultivation s plants animals inhsb-
itanis and towns as for example. the Low Countries
TIE essential character Of tins region 10 ts GSrid1
formations that Is TO say formation due 20 vast quen-
titles q earth brought down by streams and deposited
about their mouths From this single term sprHg an
intry Of peculaTites summing ny the entire nature
Of the cOuntiy aud not clone rs phy steal exterior
What the country is in itself but agnin the Intellectual
moral and physical qualities Of its inhabitants AID Oh
their works. Flint, IN the inanimate world come It's
moist 0nd ieste palms. the necessary Consequence oi
num<ous broad rivers and vast deposits OF productive
soil These plains always green. because ORC a.
Tranquil. and indolent streams. and the innumeTaD'e
canals 20 easily constructed IN soft fat Prouno MAN
Tam perennial verduTe. You can readIJ imagine anu
on purely Rational principles. what must be the sspec,
OF such couuuy-a dull rainy SKY constantly cFostel
with showers end even on f1e days vailed as u y!
cauze with light yapofy clouds rising nom the wei sur
face and forming transparent dome OF AIRY deHca.e'
snowy feeces. DDderDesth which the eye ranges hnul9
tufbed the boundess vedant expanse to TIE distant
horizon. In the animated kingdom these numerous
xuIant pastures attract countless herds OF oate VINO
iecne TRANQUILITY IN the gTes or Illuminate over lHeii
Cnd. and dot the nat green s"ard win lnbumei1Dio
spots Of white, yellow. and black. Fence the iicn
stores Of mix meat which. added 10 the grams ana
vegetables raised this pohc SOIL fuInish is i3nag
itants with cheap and abundant supplies OF 1000. IL
might well be said that in this country water makes
gross grass makes cattle. cattle make CHEESE Dulel'
nd meat; and all these, with beer. make the inhaoit
ant Indeed. ont of this fat Ivlng ana al organization
saturated with moisture spring phlegmstic tempera-
Dent the regular habits the Tranquil mind and nerves.
a capacity ~ take life easily Gnd prudeutiy un0rOken
contentment and love OF wellbelng and consequently
the reign of cleanliness and the rule Of comfort These
influences extend far even 10 affect the aspect OF
In alluyial country there is no stone bulc-
material consists Of terra-cOta, bricks and tiles
Rains being frequent aLd heavy the houses are built
with steep roofs and damp1ess lasts for long time
their fdcades are painted and vanished A Flemish
town. therefore, is maze OF brown and red gable
rooted eGfces always neat md occasionally glIterng.
with here and there old church Of sbiDg
of rubbe aud with streets IN the beet Of order run
ming between two sepulOusy clean lines Cf side walk.
In Holland the sidewalks are laid 10 brick frequently
Btelmlnged with coarse porcelain: dOnestics may be
at early honr in the morning on their knees
cleaning them off with cloths Cast yoqr eyes through
the bright window -panes; enter club room decked
with green branches and with is floor powdered With
Sand constantly 1enewed visit the taYefns brightly
paGtec and filed with rows OF casks. displaying their
brown IOtund sides, and where the rich yellow beer
Oams up Of glasses covered with quaint devices In
ali these details Of COMMON life. IN all these signs Of in
ward contentment andcenduring prosperity you detect
The effects of the great underlying Characteristic which
is stamped upon the climate the s0i upon the veg
etable kingdom and the an NAL Kingdom. upon and
his works upon society and the individual.
Through ITS inpGmeraDe effects you Judge OF the m
portance Of this essential character IL ID this which
art must bring forward into proper light. and If tits
task deyOlYes upon art it is because nature fails
mplish it, In nature this essential character simply
domnant IL is the aim OF art to render 1t predominant
IL mOds real objects but II does not mold them COM
petey It's action is restricted mpeded by the inter
yenuon OF other causes It's impression on objects
bearing its stamp is not sufficiently stroug to be clearly
visible. Man Is sensible OF this deficiency. aud 10
move II he has invented art
We have no space TO follow NJ. Taine in lis
discussions Of the subject, and his
interesting historical applications of the principles
which he defends. Nor arc we prepared to give
our assent to the conclusions which he sets forth
with such impressive earnestness and eloquence.
When such eminent masters Of artistic criticism as
Leasing and Ruskin arrive at opposite results, it is
lnwise TO indulge in premature dogmatic asser-
hons. NJ Tame is inspired by strong convictions,
MS reasoning is generally ingenious and subtle and
his suggestions seldom fail Of being to the purposes
'ut in these days of positive inquiry and analysis
lis work can be regarded only as a provisional
contribution to the philosophy of Art.
history OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JAMES
MADISON. BY WILLIAM c: RIvEs Vol ii. evo PIP
657. Boston; Little, Brown Co.
In this volume of the biography of the fourth
President of the United States the author relates
he political events of most important period of
American history. The topics which it embraces
re of more than common interest at the present
moment, and challenge alike the attention of the
iudent and the statesman. 1t covers the space OF
line from the close of the Revolutionary War to
he adoption Of the Federal Constitution, and gives
copious summary of the proceedings and debates
# the Convention by which that instrument was
ormed. Great use has been made of Mr.. Madison's
papers and correspondence in the preparation of the
work, and his opinions the leading points of dis
usson among the statesmen Of his day, and the
arguments by which they arc sustained, will be
ound especially instructive and interesting. The
uthor presents in an impressive light the opposi
ion of Mr. Madison to the doctrine of secession.
I has been supposed that Virginia by the language
4 her ratification Of the Constitution reserved TO
ersof the right of seeding from the compact, &C.
ording to her own judgement. Mr.. Madisons let
ers as cited by the author are significant, and de-
sive this point. In his view, no right of secs
ion was conceded by the founders of tho Constitu
ion but having provided every security against the
buse and perversion of power they left the result
o the supreme law of nature,-the right of resist
nee to oppression, paramount to all written consti-
utons, the appeal from the constitutional compact
o original right, and the instinct of self-preserva
ion, which is the final arbiter of all Governments,
whether consolidated. confederated or a compound
# both.-The work of Mr.. Rives owes its chief in
crest to the political Importance of its subject,
ather than TO any peculiar attractions in its execu
ion 1t reads more like acolection Of state papers
han finished historical composition,--a defect,
loweyer, which it shares with another standard BIZ
,graphcal production Of Virginia pen, Marshall's
L.ifecf Washington.