The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-21

for me to faint dead away; AND, ~ always
write in room by myself IL has happened
more than onoe thAtI have been found stretched,
miserable and cold, on the hcor, with pen
grasped In my fingers, and the carpet Htterce
with manuscript blotted with tearsp Khe slS;
donian patbos OF this announcement seat . thrin
round the circle; glanoos of admiration and Pity
were thro ~n upon the seltimmolAted Yictin at
the shrine OF letters, and other ing quiries we're
Ventured, which elected equally Impressive
replies, until the psychological throes 81 author.
ship--partculnriy in the female gender-assumed
the aspect 81 an experience comvine1 OF epilepsy
and nightmare The tragic egotism Of these
revelations az length oVercame our patience;
and, leaving ear iair companion to anothers
escort, we slipped oht OF the r0om. hunder-
storm had arisen; the rain wa. po1rlng dovn
in torrents; upoa the door-steps we encountered
a very pale, thin little man, with an umbrella
under his arm and pair OF overshoeS iD his
hands. As we passed, he addressed us Ia very
there party herep Yes! 'Pleas., srs, is the
celebrated Mrs. Jones hereT 'Yes.' Please,
sire, do you think l could step into the e3tryl
Pan Mr.. Jones.'"
The best feature of the work is the authors
little anecdotes, with which we occasionally
meet. The following one, lift is not plagiarism
from Bayard Tsylor's "John Godfrey" which we
think it is, Is remarkably good:-
Zone day i was told gentleman had called
and waited for me In the drawlng-room. As
entered be was gazing IRON the windo in she
shadow of damask curtain, which threw q
warm tint upon as strongly moulded lace as
i remembered 70 have seen In one SO young.
HIS forehead was compactly rounded, his har
curly and raven, and his eye dark and luminous.
As 1 approached he handed me a note of intro
ductien from friend, refused the prohered seat,
and wore so earnest and grave an expression
that almost thought ne was the bearer Of a
challenge. 'Slr,' he began, Il have come to you
for sympathy in great undertaking. wish to
be cheered in miss on, encouraged in a career,
advised In en- eXporimentV There was certain
wildnaaa In the IN annar nf this eAniantiAua Al.
dress which breathed of an excited fancy.
expressed willingness to aid him to the extent
OF my humble ability. He drew thick packet
from his coat, and proceeded: Il am native
OF little village In o neighboring State. Ny
father is an agrcultur1st, and has endeaVored to
render me content with that lot; but there Is
something heTe'-and he laid large red hand
on his capacious breast-'that rebels against the
decree. aspire to the honors of literature. 1
long TO utter myself TO the world. Here Is q
tragedy and some lyrics; and l have come to
town to test my fortune as an author.' saw
that he was an enthusiast, and calmly pointed
| out the obstacles 70 success. He became impa.
tient. enlaI ged on the healthfulness and wisdom
OF country HE, on the precSrious subsistence
| incident to pencraft HIS eye flashed with anger.
| Ursed him to consider well the risk he in.
Cured, the danger of failure the advantages of q
rel able vocation, the comfort of an Independent
| though secluded existence. He advanced o wards
| me with an indignant stride. Sir, he exclaimed
| i have been msinformed; you are not the ~ an
| took you for; fare we'll, foreverp and he rushed
from the house. Six months had elapsed, and
| was sitting over a book in my quiet room one
day, when terrific knock at the door aroused
| me, and an instant after the stranger entered
and mpetuously srasped my hand. 'Sir-my
| dear friend, | mean'-he said, Il have done you
| injustice, ana have como to apologize. For
| month after my former interview 1 passed a
feyerish novitate. hawking my manuscripts
around, deceived by plausible members OF the
trade, snubbed by managers, frozen out OF the
sanctums or editors yawned at by casual audi
ences bafied at every turn, until worn out, m Or
| titled, and despairing, went home The teel
| or the turf, the breath of the wind, the lowing
| OF the kline, the very scent OF hay was refresh
| ing. thought over your counsel and found it
| true. now farm the paternsl acres on shares,
lead the choir on Sundays, am to marry the
| pride OF the village next week, ard am here
to beg your pardon and invite you to my
| wedding"
The whole work abounds in the grossest
egotism. 1t Is written in a selfcomplacent
style, and implies that the author, sure OF his
position In the literary world, can smile with
scoTn upon humber Strlvers after reputation
MIR. Tuckerman, on the contrary, should have
written his work In q style more becoming
his position, and not as Macauley would advise
q schoolboy, or as DR.. Johnson would lecture to
an illiterate, but aspiring Bohemian. We like
the kind Of work which Mr.. Tucksrman has
furnished. Spicy thoughts, well expressed, on
everyday topics, are OF far more interest than
crude theorisms or stolen poetry. The work is
fair sample Of good effort, and will repay
perusAl. 1t Is neatly executed by the tasteful
firm OF Hurd & Houghton.