New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-22


the instructive lectures Of the compiler they cannot fail
20 command the interest OF his hearers In reproducing
with the charms Of many Of the great natural
features of tho earth which have been illustrated IN his
eloquent prose.
The Riverside Magazine, which commenced the
new year with an increased Of attractions shows
great spirit and freshness the number on our Ia
ble 1t is edited with untirng diligence and teXceent
Judgment and numbers its list Of contributors several
of the most successful writer's for the younger folk in the
country The present number has contributions by Mrs
Helen c. Weeks, Phebe Cary, Abby Sage, and charac
terstie story by Hans Christian Andersen The embel
hshments OF superior order, and both tho costume
and contents Of the Riverside commend il to well
come greeting from the household circle
--~--
In Putnam, the first article by II. T. Tucker
man on "The ASS in Life and Letters" treats some
what grotesque theme with amusing hyelness and uno-
ton. What Is said about Asses" in this paper Is
certanlyno worth saying and what's said demonstrates
che fertility Of the subject and the ingenuity OF the writer
We testify that the portrait OF the longsuhering
donkey whose grave face was familiar to the Harvard
students of past generation is as true to the life as
photograph.
The most exemplary beast familiar to my childhood
neiRhborhood aud the only creature quite given M TO
Juvenile control may have Quckened observation; but
mails around that deemed The stories, recorded in
our play DOCKS OF the u9nheg IaVA "a ~ 40 ~
hindlegs Whenever he heard the discharge OF gun 10
the extreme terror the ladies of family the
SHE'D at every sheep and wheelbaOw the dogs yelped
nj night. and IN serapes all day; the turkeycoek
away from but Jack minded his own business let us
M m Tap9 S. OF taTc WAS S SSr paen
companion, servant and pastime, ana only by az
occasional rush after an impairment chcken or pro
ties lie born in one OF tho West lndia islans, anu
brother to ride from coege-a he faithfully
performed until the academic course was O
the White MOunains-a recreation otherwise Impossible
this donkey was his imperubabe good-nsture he
used teeth or hooi Extensively; sometimes he slipped rom
under US gave little leap in fun, and then stood
quietly 70 let mount again; he seemed absolutely III
eIeited a moani The only way to reach his nervous
system and stimulate him 10 accelerated motion was to
Perhaps this absence Of senstveness the secret OF
his equanimy; but to US he seemed born phl.o0phsI
sn6 90 & seemed to have attained the acme
OF pOcociTaahSIg his indifference to the appeals OF
vanity sublime; his superiority TO the trials OF life,
sSEne M me nS Sq 81 te s be- dap
pointed. selfpossessed demure above tho wounds OF
seove, and devoid OF epcurean tastes frugal ana SUD
nssiye, went through his task amusement with an
equal temper. Blood and judgment were rarely com
mingled in him; no gave trouble except when the bars
left down the gate open, when perhaps he wan
merely, as II were, in abstract mood We took linn
with US to the woods, on uo summer days carrying our
lunch Ia basket and rode home, sometimes three at
time his strong back, The whacks we gave him re-
Sneoncern me- lot i ns have our WAY With nagnanimoHs
doeity, aud took the good and i'll Of life with q dnG OF
vcissudes Of weather the caprce OF poor bpeds and
exhibiting special zest for heritage, bran, or apples;
bntinunching each II the fasdiOus indulgence OF ap-
petite was beneath his consideration He absolutely
pride him and aspiration but there was neekness
and hdsy and an ~ 9sTda09a qgags
ratified innOeuOus IL vas sad day when me grover
called 70 take JaoA away 20 the eaG nSDoe ne
town to which his Muster had gone To practice law on
whose services he longer needed JACK MADE no dls
play q SENTIMENT the not Gyen Ehs9 1e MS o
lived ,r 70 M as isIry M tSe e1iu
contained in and quaint tract, published nearly
three centuries ago ard entitled 1.-The Nobenesse OF the
rr 30 5ses he Te. whittier he sent without any
fss nor %soas sssoieG NJ doth al ding. ia goo sort
bis hkisg thar bah 10 employ him.
mr. Tuckeunans explanation Of the personal use OF the
epithet Ass" by late brilliant and pugnacious Polish
Count Is full Of sweet Christian charity, and suggests
tain wise ethical comments.
sclavonIo exe-one Of those anomalous incarnatons
OF savaCery and eruditiOn which the ncOngruiucs OF
modern civilization sometimes producod-was accus-
soTgq for fe f T Of those Who opp5sed MIN
In argument, by exciaimmg, Z" fou are ron oss =! HIS
venen aud those ultimate enough with lis habits Of
Thought to understand Se precise meaning be attached
thereto. that it in piled not normal but
eT1s fo or no tdit r IL a S @ H
OF sense but atenpor8ry lapse OF understanding he de-
Signed 10 suggest There was more philosophy than
polteness in the repr9ach; he qnply recognized the
the wsest men win under exceptional circumstances,
acknowledge they talked acted, "a 1st on certain unfor
tunae OCCASIONS ike Thus BauDe af the AMI
ma itself though identified with silly Obstinacy. implies
Is the common recognition Of partial asshood; the duh
sess u perception " special phase q the mindqwte
OF aa, sentimental coneeited pedante critical, bgoed
and Orcuar ass each Of whom outside Of this !Tn Ut
tran OF character may have more than average good
ielSe u Is on lS account because Of the eoeSsenee
u mo @slio Win INC iailonal uat the former main ia
va humorous Zes Consider the relish which folly gives
70 NE now Pqu&htly s9hea4es, u serves " !oh 10
sect and the conventional; and wat resource II thus
becomes 70 witt Half the vitality OF English bumOr
Whctn- IcaI1aed II ch3raeter ~ Dickens, evolved IN
metaphor by Sidney Smith sparkling in pm Of HoOds
sFjcat,ire by P,eh--spfBgs directly from the subtle
Iuxtapostion Of sense aud nonsense,
The obstacles to 10 the cooperative
Of the day pointed out in "WOrk, Wages, COmbina
tions" worthy the attention Of sanRuiue social
formers, although think the writer estimates their
inueDce too high rate and that they can be made to
pass away by well e0nEdercd course OF energetic
action Mr. Gedneys chapter Of adventure I'm the
Saddle On the Plains 10 fresh and readable, re-
hearsing several lively stories Of frontier life
"Men's Rights" by Mrs. r. Harding Davis, presents
old question in light Mr.. f. G. steGSian exposes
1he h5rof of the galows Instrument for presery
ing social order enforcing his appeals for It's abolition by
aseres OF terrible facts and Mr. Sinclair Tousey relates
the impressions Of Hew.York Business Man In Rome"
inAhighy graphic letter. Mr.. r. H. stoddard's "Invo
cation" h tle poem In "mournfu numbers clothing
tne mystery Of life sad impressive imagery andtaking
every ray OF light certainty of death Mr. Kim
balls story To-day" well sustans its vigorous move
Inent and now story is by Mrs. stoddard
entitled Violin Stop" blending natural bit Of ro
nance with subtle discoursings the secret OF music
me number closes with the usual ganees literature
and art Of The day. both at home and abroad which, with
the wise and rscy Table Talk" form attractive por