The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-06


characters are characters with a stamp of in
dividuality in each of them, from the first to
the last. The plot of the story is subordi-
mated to the development of the characters, and
it is in her ability to draw intellectual por
traits Of real men and women that we con-
slider Mrs. Davis claims to high rank as
hction-writer mainly rest. The story, how
ever, is deeply interesting on its own account,
albeit we think that the conclusion slightly
savors of the melo-dramatio. We have not
the disposition to quarrel with the author
about point which is after all pretty much a
matter of individual taste, especially where
there is 30 much excellence to be commended;
and we take pleasure in expressing the
opinion that "Dallas Galbraith' is not only
the best of Mrs. Davis works, but that it is
one of the strongest and most vigorous Ame-
rican novels ever written.
RECoLLEcT1oNs OF A Busy LIFE. By Horace
Greeley. Published by J. B. Ford 4 Co.,
New York. Philadelphia agents: Charles s..
Greene Co., No. Alb Chestnut street.
The life of Horace Greeley has been busy
one, and no prominent American of the pre-
sent day has exerted or does exert more
widespread influence than he. Whether right
or wrong, Mr.. Greeley has never hesitated to
express his opinions in the freest and most
decided manner and friends and enemies alike
coneede to him thorough honesty of purpose,
whether they coincide with him on all points
or not. That such a man as Horace Greeley
should make enemies is necessary, and for the
last thirty years he has enjoyed the fortune Of
being the best abused individual in the United
States. Not being as thick-skinned as some
of his contemporaries, Mr.. Greeley is often
stung to the quick by the vituperations of his
opponents, and he does not hesitate to reply
in the same style that he is attacked. Through
all the vicissitudes of fortune, however,
amid all the great political changes
that have passed over the country
during the time that he has been
actively engaged in the hottest of the fight
always battling for what he believes to be the
right-his invincible integrity has obtained
for him the confidence and esteem of the
public, even among those who differ with him
most decidedly.
The papers entitled "Recollections of
Busy Life," now published in book form,
we've originally written for the NeU York
Ledger. When first applied to by Mr.. Bonner
for series of biographical "reminiscences, Mr..
Greeley positively refused to furnish them;
but on mature deliberation he concluded that
he had an opportunity offered him to oommu
nicate to thousands of readers, many of them
young persons, information which would be Of
practical value, and he accordingly recalled his
hasty negative, and commenced writing his
Recollections in the intervals of more pressing
engagements. These papers give the history
Of Mr.. Greeley's struggles for an education,
struggles for living, and struggles and tri-
umphs in his efforts to establish himself in a
position of influence and usefulness. The
volume before us contains some additional
papers, and those previously published have
been revised and amended. A number of in
terestiDg and valuable essays on various sub
jects are also given as an appendix, together
with the entire discussion on the subject of
Marriage and Divorce between Mr.. Greeley
and Robert Dale Owen, which was carried on
in the columns of the Tribune in 1860.
We find many passages of interest in this
volume, which we would like to set before our
readers if our space would admit; and amid
such variety the difficult is TO make selec-
tion. We give as sample, however, the
following sensible remarks from the essay
entitled Literature as Vocation" as worthy
the attention of those who aspire to fame and
position in the republic of letters, and who
think that their genius is unappreciated il
they do not obtain immediate success-
"Inevitable, then, is IL, and by no means to
be lamented, that In an age so eventual and
stirring as ours, an tnnumerable multitude
should aspire to Write-thati is, to teach. Nay, II
is greatly to be desired, and every way To be
encouraged, that the largest possible number
should aspire to sling and shine as enlighteners
and monitors of their fellow. beings. Brother
In the tow frock and ragged unthikablesl have
you an IDEA hummtng in your brain that seems
10 you nlteu 10 cure even the lightest of humR
maladles? Out with 1t, / pray you, in mercy Ia
q benighted, heart sick, and bIindly SUFFERING
race! Sister In linsey- y-woolsey. and wearing 4
red cotton handkerchief by Wav of a diadsnI
have you anght to say, that ii uttered wonId
cheer and bless the weary steps whereby WE re
all measuring Off the little span which divides
us from the grave? For sweet Oharity's sake
do not withhold IL, but let your light shine
even though the darkness be sure not to com
prehend it-a by no means novel nor uncom
mon case. Heed not the croaker's warning tina
30 IL did in Solomon's time; YET how many very
good ones, that mankind could hardly spare
have been written since Truly, the universe
1e full OF light and has been these LhOuaanda q