New-York tribune., 1868-08-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

HESRY POWERS BANKER How H. AGsTynR Eas1L So
pp S5 G. W. Carleton q Co - a..
Tbo rocort novels of Mr.. Kimball are DIS
tipc7,ished for their Datteroffact chaI"o'e' "''o
aiming at apv high flights Of magna'loh' they arc I'M
tied 20 the solid ground OF daiy ou'ino'S ioU' 80,
.i,,,v c,uparatyely little Invention or constructive
- ~. ore remarkable for their keen perception oil
.,,t and the truthfulness and skin with which they
,roluce the currents of ordinary experience Inc ven
=, romaree and sometimes Of subtle speculation Whicl
reeaby coored ms earlier productions is rarely Iou'
I'm these pictures Of actual fe The only specu"toS i
which they indulge relate TO the movements OF the ouS
and bears IN Wall Street The scene Of the present o' "
lald In that celebrated locality II reads almost Ike an
uuvarnshed narrative Of the proceedings OF the TX
change Ar Kmball has sought for starting cnec's
by extravaCant deueatOus He does Wall street 10 noIe
than Justice 10y admitting the exercise "lIlh It's pre-
cincts of the same human qualities "lhch are Iouu ln
other quarters The chief interest OF MS DooK arises
from the fidelity with which ne exhibits the struggles Oh
young man in his pursuit Of fortune amid the compet-
lions Of the metropolis HshcTOiS New Hampshire boy
who thrown upon his resources in the swelling
tides Of city life. There is nothing impossible nothing IN
fact very wonderful I'm his career He falls in love- and
again falls ont but at last winds up with happy mar
race lie has his ups and downs in the world oi wan
srect sometimes gets entauged among the shoals anu
breakers comes within an inch ofrunous shipwrock 0ut
fashion and lands safely in good harbor Henry Powers
is child Of Adam and npracticable angel he is not
set UP I'm any way paragon but his history SHOWS INC
triumph Of honor and integrity the temptations OF
Mammon and crooked craft and thus furnishes morl
lesson no less potent than If il had come from soI'-
cushioned pulpit instead of the green baize to'o Vi
brokers' Office Mr Kimbals style is always fresh ana
spred, often Juicy with natural humor, but not uni
formlv correct such pedestrian expressions as "a man
by the name" che went Thursday" and the Ike come
with an IN grace from ms educated pen but rs he speaks
in the person Of his hero they probably more true to
the life than if they had been good English.
uF,pLAYp HOME. OR A Sous PILGRIMAGE. By Madame DE
LESDbASIEL l2no. pp 80 James Mi'eH
If ANYTHING more than q dramatic fiction is
Intended by the representation Of this story as Heral
autobiography il forms record OF high purposes oaieu
homes and poignant sorrows, which surpass even the
common lot Of humanity OF course, II must be judged
by its merits as literary production like any work OF
art but its exclusively personal character and tone are
not favorable to the free Of criticism II relates
the story of clG who was early claimed by misfortune
for her own whose young life constant tissue OF
suffering occasOned by every cause but that OF her own
misconduct and whose experience in after years was
only an aggravaton Of the misery into which she was
thus premaurely initiated The narrative is one OF in
tense but painful interest We do regard such reye
atons Of private gefs as becoming themes for poetry
Or romance and still less for faithful historical deScr
ton The great public has usually but little sympathy
for personal Affections and the wisest course Is TO bear
the burdens Of life. if possible, with outward cheerful
ness aud certainly silence. II it vas necessary tC
write such book it credabe to the author that she
has not attempted to oyercharge the pictures Of reality
she makes appeals to the pity of the reader by com
plant or tears she does not indulge in sentimental burs
at the remembrance Of her woes; ana leaves the simple
recital of her history work its way imagination anC
Eynpathy Every. one must applaud the courage AM
resolution with which the subject of the volume ha
taken up arms against OF troubles' not TO hav
Euccumbed in such struggle betrays heroic nature, Oh
possession of which is its rewards aud the conscious
ness Of devotion beautiful intellectual art, ami
obstacles before which the stoutes spirit might wehav
beuched is more precious than the warmest public al
pr0yal OF any literary achievements