The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-04-29
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nlcucr, D.n., translated under the express
sanction OF the author, hy Rev. NJ; q. Ia .ton,
NJ, A, Published by Harper h Bros, New
York For sale by French & Richardson,
No, 3SI Pennsylvania avenue.
A striking resemblance may be traced be.
tween the work OF an horticulturist, and that
Of an author. The plant whose growth 10 un.
dertakcn by the one, and the theme whose
merits are to be Investigated and discussed by
the other, each require the same analysis OF
constitution, the same careful ministrstions.
The rhododendron possesses superior elements
Of beauty yet, II Its culture 10 Undertaken
By an unskilled hand, untutored in its wsots
and necessities, excluding light, refusing air,
Withholding water when they they are re.
quired, the rich loveliness OF Its bloom will
never delight the eye. SO, an author may un.
dertake the rendition Of a subject teeming
with powers to interest and instruct. Yet J.,
without adaptability; without a thorough
study and undertaking Of the task; without q
knowledge that perspicuity must be bestowed
here, yivacity sprinklod there, superhuous
branches pruned away, a faded, lifeless work
is the result. No subject OF the Old Tes &.
lament rejoices In so rich drapery OF
beauty, as the history OF David, King of
Israel. Prolific In incident, exalted In
bearing, full of moral instruction, 1t
seems ever ready for p,raphrase or recapitu-
lation. Yet the book before US we And as
weak and languishing as plant subjected to a
novice's training, or an invalid under the
charge OF an indexterous nurse. The beauti.
full reindeer owns no more formidable foe than
the insgnihcant glutton. So the sublime sub.
ject OF the present volume Is attacked, In q
way which can end but In death, by that
seemingly small fault, inanimatlon. In the
structure of the sentences, a strong antipathy
10 manifested to the use ofthe period Seldom,
until the colon and semlcolon has been thrice
repeated, or an exclamation or interrogation
point Is no longer admissible does that much.
abused mark receive acceptance. Coupled
with this bresth-exhsusting warfare 10 the
pleonastic obscurity with which the author
clothes his Ideas. An Undine In a fountain, =
Niobe In q statue, could scarcely be safer from
detection. II biblical truths here and there
CLEAN forth like the spires and mln,rets OF the
distant city, home reflections, like mists from
the sea, rise up and shroud distinctness In
an encircling fog. Translation may be re.
spousible for prominent faults. But we
| much doubt whether any English version
could relieve this teutonic otf.Shoot of the
weight OF he,yiness and spIrltlessness which,
like the old man Of the sea, clings to its
shoulders. As fearful as 1t must be to watch
the uniform flow OF the Dead Sea, with never
aripple to RUNE its surface-aever an o'cr.
hanging branch mirrored in its waters-acver
bird to hutter along its banks, so wcarying
is 1t to follow, in David, King OF Israeli" the
dull, onotonous dow Of words. with never q
flower OF fancy or hover of pletstntry to por-
tend animate life. The experience of most
readers, in the perus,l of this book, will,
doubtless, be similar to ours, viz: the betrayal
of the first chapter into yawn, pursuit of the
second generating a nod, defiant persistence of
the third reducing to n state of unconscious
| ness, ycleped sleep.