New-York tribune., 1867-03-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
pXoNs NEW AMERICA.

mo
.rong English books Of travel III tnls county,
~. ,rosorts a singular contrast to ther Ple'"it"S
80 and ipteotion Nh. Dixon, IN viewing INC NV
,,o,s Of lie and society IN strange lailu' "Oos -,
- AZ everything With English eyes ana thIo"e" -!
S5;rm Of English prciudices. No colored gasS'S' ~
.laed az any kind seem TO have lmpaireu 'n' -.
xess and accuracy of his vision Ills V'''uVi ~ W
,xamiuaton aud the description OF iaCtS' .h'~ "eie
.1~ovs peohl;ar and often gTotesque, udcrous' OF
Ss. - l,,ost without a parallcl Few traces
fTl;sL ,, eeave TO his feet as he tTeads the VIZ
=. s.og.s ~ opr Western mountsins lie foige's
a. ssoations of home of artificial lie el cohNen
tional efiuuette in view OF new forms OF our Hi"i
ella humanity. He is not seduced Oy >he iiSV -
..mnarison He is one of the few who can see wa,
ahev never saw before without applying ,i'o O'S
standard 10 another system OF sociai "e'sn'' '"'
measures a.. same
,w,ound which has been described to satle'S ~ P'
Sious travellers. He seldom touches the oeateu u"''
,f foreieo, tourists g this country HIS atteh',o"
s;oo.d in intolerance 10 whatever is out Oh 'F0
.,snot ront;ne His book might properly enough ~
aIIed treatise on the anomalies OF clNhi@''ion -
American society. lie seeks out with the g'td'e''
,aviditv those manifestations which are ies"i"0' "
.xcrescences on the social body, poftehtS oi mon
,rops growth facts of strange perhaps OF h'"t"'S
s-.oort 1ybicb . scarcely spoken of TO ears polne
auHn
.erve. In spite of their abnormal aspects he o"es
20, er,n,t his wonder to overcome his sense ~ ms
,oical fidelity He evidently cndeavors 10 see aeon
,ot.lv and 10 represent Justly. He reproduceS the
most extraordinary customs, the most is'"nn"l"S
theories in his Photographic camera WIN ' "'''"
soolness as il he were taking the likeness u ." 4
archbishop or a chancellor OF the excheque'' J"
view of practices which are at war "llh INC HV'H
foundation of modern society he does not holai'ze
e.cfx xfpfrIn
,,on. utters no CITY of warning against then con
taQiop has no word of reproach or wrath against
tbeir followers does not even bewal Their preVa-
i.noe but sets himself down TO the Work OF des'llp
s;or with asfnperturbable nonchalance as AgaSSh
,.ould do in giving an aceAnt of an odd tish OF q
uondescript monkey in the Valley OF the Amazon
with sncb n field for the exercise of mirth and nd
Icrle Mr. Dixon maintains a remarkable seli-restan'
An making such infequent appeals to the sense vi '
samic There are few travellers who would no' IeNel
IN explosions of laughter at the exhibition on scenes
which being so.faT out OF the common co'us'' "''
necessarily ludicrous to the thoughtess observer
The sounds Of strange language usually provoke
emile and the most solemn rltes OF rehs'on 'ie
an, 10 be the subjects Of vulgar wit to those VINO see
tn them only a departure from the forms WIN Whleh
they are familiar Mr.. Dixon is entirely free from
this narrow and frivolous spirit or If the temptation
sr sometimes little too strong for human nature ne
never laughs very loud, but is content with qdie'
and very rapid side thrust, his face preserving the
demurest gravity, while the smile gently nipples
throurh his sleeve almost without attracting notice
instead of wasting his pen sarical sketches and
pleasant caricatures he tries 10 gain the point OF
view in which unusual phenomena may he seen IN
their true perspective TO comprehend the vital idea
by which they have been quickened into their eX-
ceptonsl mode of existence. He strives to penetrate
The secret of their foundation not TO paint udierous
pictures of their surface.
Mr. Dixon impresses us with constant respect for
his mental integrity. He makes no attempt to dis
guise the convictions which have been forced
upon him by the study of the novel conditions
of American life. He certainly finds more
profound significance in the moyements re-
ferred to, than is usual with observers who
peeard them either with indifference or con
tempt and from whom their very familiarity conceals
Ihe magnitude of their proportions. MOrmonlSm
Bible Communism, Shakerisnl, and other facts which
are generally regarded as the Vagaries of distem
pered fancy if not something worse, in his eyes be-
come the subjects of curious study and philosophe
exposition. He approaches them in the spirit of sin
research not at the point of the bayOnet, but
bending an earnest and respectful 70 all the
prophets of new dspensatioDs, listening with SYM
pathy, if not with approval 70 she story OF their pre-
tensions never wOundlng their selflOve by rmtimely
eavs and treating their defects with the tenderness
Few travellers have shown wiser spirit of OBJ
servatiOn than Mr. Dixon. His perceptive faculties
are acute and nlmbe. He knows what TO look at and
how to see it, Without losing his kindlness OF tenn
per be has quick eye for the ludicrous, always de-
tects the point Of joke, and enters gally into the
unof the comic situations which he describes though
he is not enticed into holding them up to rdicule.
His powers Of expression fully equal to his talent
Cor observation. His rapid sketches must necessarily
have been thrown off at heat, but they seldom
SHOW either OOseness Of statement negligence of
dsetion His style is crisp, juicy, aromatic remind
Ing Of the freshness and spicy flavor of some
fragrant plant For a writer whose vocation is liter
ature il is remarkably free from all scholastic forms
partaking of the easy, Offhand familiarity Of
common life, than of the stately dignity of books
But IT is time to relieve the mpaence Of readers
and INTRODUCES them personally to the volume TO
which we have given such large cOnmendation.
The following passage presents of the pTOne-
nent religions institutions of the Latter Day Saints
IN light that may edify the freqnenters of Wal
lacks and the Winter Garden.
MORMON THEATER.
The play house has office and service In this Nor
city higher than the churches would allow 10 IL In
IODdon, Paris, and New-YOrk Brigham Young is an
original In many ways ne is the high priest OF what
claims 10 he new dspensatOn; yet he has got his thea
Ter into perfect order before he has raised his Temple
That the drama had religious origin, and that the
has been called school OF every one is
aware Young feels inclined to 20 back upon ali first
principles; IN family life 20 those Of Abraham social
Ife 10 those of Thesps Priests invented both the an
cieRt aud the modern stages and experience shows as
strongly In Salt Lake City as in NcwYOrk that people
love 10 be light and nIcr1y-to laugh aud glow-ghy
should their teachers neglect tho thousand opportunities
offered by play OF getting them % laugh Tie right
places to glow at the proper tngsi Why should Young
not train his actors and actresses to be models good
he A eliuOf