New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
90 90 1900 NRW NOVEL.


.haD IN tbe construction of plot His light and
airv imaeinincs. sometimes fantastic, but always
Graceful and often soitened with tender lathos'
give a charm to his pOetcal emissions ana nave
'.,oVyned his name not only with high degree OF
sor,lsr admiration, bat almost with sense OF per
sopel affection. His prose writings exhibit dnier-
emit order of qualities, not usually combined WIN
those which form the warp and wool OF ms poetry
IA this novel especially we met with discussion,
rather than with inspirations subtle even wiredrawn
shcorics take the place of spontaneous imagery; the
characters ere psychological, rather than emotional
or natural betraying turn OF mind addicted to the
researches OF morbid mental anatomy quite as lnueh
"a TO sympathy with the free and healthy pay Oh
human passion The heroine Of the story inherts
certain ancestral traits to the Illustration o. wiz"
the volume il mainly devoted, for the purpose
Implied If not expressed, of throwing nen' oh
tho my stery Of original sin, and the poDie u "vo
will and necessity Bnt this is not What j. So"g"V
Dor nv novel readers in general; or, If they have
taste for theological metaphysics they prefer 10
crafty the odd passion by diving into the profundl-
1;es Of Edwards and Hopkins. instead OF sklmming
she sur,ace in the fancies OF hight literature. We
AsU.ve that DR. Holmes would be more cOnsidera-
Ale novelist il be were less decided doetrinalre'
uis Mot is burdened with eXtraneOus weight. Its
Rsogfess is impeded by the embarrassment OF theory
The interest Of the reader agt, the story moves
sowly along and not al the ingenuity of the writer
ean prevent an occasional nod Nor does the devel-
Opment Of character present any features OF tscna
ting power. The Reverend Mr. Stoker is portrayed
with fhemost elaborate art but hes incomplete even
IN his sentimental yyickedness which is Tathub limited
al than fully brought to light exciting moral
nausea rather than the healthy glow of indignation
which il is good 20 feel at the exploits Of the finished
villain. Nh. Gifted Hopkins, with all his eXtTava-
Vanzas scarcely rises above the level OF common
place and the oaricaturos of literary ambition which
he exhibits al length cease tc be amusing The ven
trable Byles Gridley who turns ont to be the guar
dian angel" Of The story. is, on the whole, ITS most
satisfactory parsonage. always consistent with him.
yeh with no flaw or blemish in his composition end
presenting p cle9r well-dcGned picture OF sturdy
cid humorist whose mingled shrewdnes and good
nature enable him to exercise the function OF spe-
cal providence in the most awkward dilemIaas.
But if Dr. Holmes has not succeeded in evolving
Mot of the most intense interest and which indeed
,npst he acknowledged TO hang fire in frequent in
stances las novel has great incidental merits which
furnish fresh illustration of the polished keenness
ssd AGILE versatility OF bis mind. II ab0unds with
aketehes Of remarkable viyacity and brightness.
collection of cabinet pOriraitures might be made
1reu IT, descriptions equally admirable for vigOr of
conception and deoaey of touch. As in che poetry
Of tie author, choice felicity OF phrase often does
the work of difuSe details in many places. bis style
has juicy crispness which leaves an agreeable flavor
90 the palate even after begins to tire of other in
gradients in his somewhat too artificial cuisine.
Nothing could he bettes for example, than the
"dred-up chiInUng chaises," in which the denizens
Of Oxbow village took their sleepy rounds OF business
NJ pleasure-Or the old, unmarried students' like
Master ByIes GTidley " the double flowers Of college
sultUfe, their stamina al turned to petals, their
stock in The life OF the all funded IN the indi-
vlcnaLn OF this ancient worthy, we have faI-
length sketch, which affords favorable specimen
at the authors skill in that line of composition.
The Old Master of ArS as notable man in his out
siae preeentment as will find among five hundred
seege alumni as they file in procession Ills strong,
Ssad his gray hair his positive and as II were cate
vertical t s nv nSop f smpg IN some
asessi0ns and housekeeping conservatism IN Others
spsncns testy we've and his generous Impulse MS
hard Judgments ana kindly actions, were characteristics
flat We him a very decided individuality.
chad al the aspects Of man OK BOOZE HIS sl9ny
sh vas The best IN NM e aghSs Of T yome
which his literary taste had got togstber RON
sirine his ION life scholar. Classics theology, es-
Ieealy Of The controversial sort statistics politics, sw
medicine, science. occnt and overt general e.
almost very branch Of knowledge was represented HIS
,anas us S new and sncicrs dosmaticai and rational
like his library, IL short for library gathered NE ms
The common people about the village did not know
what % make OF such phenomenon Hedidnot preach,
arTy crsen OF bury like Che ministers nor jog around
with medcines Tor cf folks DOR carry into court
for QuarreOme nelghbOrs What cas he good fori Not
great deal some OF the Tiseacres tbOughts-had al
sOrts Of sense but common sense smart MANI pnt
rot prahctical There were others who read nm more
shrewdy. lie knowed they said, than all she min
sssrs pat together and II hOd stan for Representative
soAkn in the Gsrs oours squire wlbrd was thar
TLey NAV have OyeTdOne the matter IN comparing DIS
hpoSedee with that Of an the ministers together Tor
Priest PenbertOn real scholar IN has special line o.
fVdyas all u. Ds are supposed 20 be- or they Woeld
Dir Byles Gridey not only had more learning than me
aeepsea line Of the bueOe Intelligence could fahOD he
ibose among them who thonslt most Of ms abilities.
In his capacity OF echOOlmsstef he had shaTpened ms
its against those % the lively city boys he had in
shsrse aud made sucb arepuaton az Master" Grdley,
that he kept that title even atSer ne had become cOege
nOr and professor as tutor he had 70 deal with many
AZ these same boys others Ike them In the still more
EivaciOus period Of their early college me- e gotrd OF
bis police duties when he became professor, but he st
1hem and learned read character with skin which
might tted him for governing men Instead OF ado
Seseents But ne loved quiet and he dreaded mingng
with the bTawlerk OF tho msIketplace whose STOCK ~
Trade IL voice and Vocabulary SO 1t mas that he had
sssed his life In tie patient mechanical labor OF nstruc
ion, leaving too many OF his instincts and FACULTIES ~
TRe aiuvium O. AZ tlfs experience bore nearer re.
emblance to worldly wisdom than might have been con,
occurred much nearer indeed tan u does 10 many old
fnptrnoors whose eyes get s Ike their blood grows
eod and who not az to be trusted with any ng more
practical geIund eosne. Master Gridiey not
only knew good deal 81 human nature, but hs knew
how 10 keep his nleN lodge 20 himself upon occasion. lie
Tonfg people he was shreYd 10 the detection Of trick
sy end very confident in those who had once passed the
ordeal OF his well scOOled observing powers lie had no
particular tendency " NEEDLE with the personal relations
II those about him but II they were forced upon him IN
any way he Ike see into them at least ss quickly
any of HE negbors who thought themselves most en-
lowed with practical ektll.
Inleayng the dUtes OF bis ONCE be considered himself
he said little despondenty like Old horse unhsr
messed and turned out 70 pasture lie felt that ho had
forth 10 I've hrs books with the dead until he should
nc numbered with them hunself. He had shcsen this
disturbed and nd peaceful resting place In Its church