The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-21
what 4 KNOW OF BEN EocLEs.y
BT ABRAHAM PAGE, ESQ.
Published by LippineOtt4 Co.. PHILOSOPHICAL

Published by LippincOtt 4 Co.. Philadelphia
An author of sensibility prints his second book
with less courage than his irst especially if the
first has been successful. The author has some.
thing to risk IN venturing before the public, his
iaurels in their freshness, and his very fame makes
him timid. Edgar A. Poe says there are two kinds
of fame for D writer-one popular the other
Literary" That is, one seized upon and crowned
instantly by the mass of the peopls-books that
SELL and make fortunes for the writers and their
printers; and one which consists solely in the
recognition and appreciation of o few higher
minds when the books do not sell much, or very
slowly, but gradually make their way upwards and
outwards, until they become at last perennial few
orites with themssses. Sensational books, such as
"Ouida" and that school write, are samples of the
first or popular class; and Hawthorne, Irving and
Jean Paul are samples Of the second or literary
class. Hawthorne isnow one of the most popular
American writers, but he struggled for years to
get hearing from the world before he attained
it (; and 80 did Irving, and Jean Paul's beautiful
"Hesperus" was rejected by booksellers for ten
years. One has to make ones choice between the
flames, for Fortune holds her gifts on her right
hand and on her left" We can rarely combine
the two. An author whose style is characteristic
and unique labors under another disadvantage
he has biuntei the edge of curiosity, and his sryie
is no longer novel, even if still inimitable by
others. The delight with which one recognizes
new mental individuality Is over or moderated.
No sensation lasts long with us poor changeful
mortals. We weary of everything short OF eternal
perfection, which includes, of course, eternal va
riety Therefore it is dangerous for an author to
gepeat himself. Mr.. Hollis books belong certainly
to the second class of publications. They are
books which will have their circle Of warm sd.
mirers, and will gradually grow out OF it, per
baps, into public favoritism. But popularity VIII
not come to him at first. His style is too quiet too
pure, too simple, too tender to command instan-
tapeous applause. There are no incidents worth
speaking of in HIS plots. There is no pretentious.
ness in his characters. Even the easy. tranquil,
unaffected dction of his books, with the delicate
strain OF exquisite humor running throughout, will
be fatiguing to many accustomed to fash and flare
and volcanic color in their usual reading. But one
fact is certain Mr.. Holt is undoubtedly original
Abraham Page, Esq, is now as surely creation
as Sir Roger de Coverly was Ibis day. The sub
iect of this second work Is very peculiar. Mr..
Holt quietly analyses the psychological phenome'
ma of " Ben Eccles,n who will be pronounced une.
quivocally insane idiot by English and Ameri'
cans, simply FROM the fact that his religion has be.
come so simplifed, and he lives so constantly in
the thought of the ever-surrounding presence OF
Our Father, that everywhere, and at all and any
time he falls on his knees and worships in Joy.
full singieness Of heart. This would not be con-
sidered strange in q Mussulman! He prays any,
where and everywhere, with his face turned
toward Mecca. 1t would not look strange to q
Hiudoc-he absorbs himself as much as possible
in the thought of Brahma. 1t would scarcely be
peculiar in a Romanist or ssint-they make the
sign of the cross and worship anywhere and every
where. But il seems peculiar lowell, to what DR..
Ever would call Protestant Christianity-and we
will every one Of us declare "Ben Eccles" to be
"crazy.u Was he? Mr.. Holt leaves every one
to answer the question for himself. Was Ben
Eccles right or wrong, after he escaped from the
fearful Damocles thought of election and repro
baton out into the chid-like belief into the love
and continual presence of God, into this region of
ioy and life and immortality? Was Ben Eccles
1'crazyn to live in it! Swedenborg lived in it, and
the world said he was "crszy." This is a singular
book of Mr. Hollis, with very strange hero-if
ssBen Ecclesr is the hero. To our mind Abraham
Page, who tells the story, ia the most interesting
character in it. We are always delighted when the
old gentleman takes word or so for himself. This
character is wonderfully well sustained. Not even
in this book is there line expression TO break
the charm of the dear quaint, whimsical, gallant
shrewd, intelligent old mans personality. he
proses lttle-a very little-as an old man would
do; and there is an occasional LONELINESS oil
phrase which is characteristic even amidst the
evidences so profusely scattered everywhere Of
very enlarged and general scholarship. The
yrai.semblance of Abraham Page is admirable
All the characters are sketched with masterfu
hand. Everyday characters as they are, Mr.
Holt outlines firmly, then graduates. As We said
once before, his books are genre pictures-fresh
fair, sweet; almost idylc-f they were not Sc
shrewd and caustic this book ia nothing more
than psychological stady of few people. W.
doubt whether it will be widely popular. 1t ha
the same traits as its predecessors delightful
freshness and purity of tone-with bits of Lowell!
description and much common sense throughout
1t book that must be read and quietly di
gested, and has no polypic vitality, SO we vii
not attempt to MAKE extracts. FELICI.