New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-14

ated title-pagc, and handsome covers, ana dcvoted
10 the praises of the host of Southern women whose
contributions to the periodical literature OF their
native land are the pride OF America and the ooast
Of the Southern press. few OF the names on lua
Raymond'5 roll of fame I've believe Ida Raymond
is n nom de planc are known to the booksellers ana
the general public; but the great majority are en-
tirely new 10 us, as they doubtless VIII DC 10 our
readers Although nearly all the most distinguished
Southern poetesses and female noyests receive here
their fu measure of praise il is chiefly to the anony
nous writers for newspapers and magazines that the
attention of the curious reader invited or to quote
tn, much finer language of Mr.. Charles Dimitry, in
the Introduction: From this book the reader will
learn something of the personal history and attri-
lutcs of many of our cultured countrywomen who
lave heretofore like the tapestry weaverbehnd his
warp, dexterousy vailed themselves to the general
public in the gaTb of assumed names, while giving
10 that same public, for its admiration and applause
the results in poetry and prose of their bright fancy
and cultivated minds" OF one well-known
Southern writer we consequently learn That
she has calm, gracious, matronly fig
ure, with a well-poised, naughty head" and a
beautiful white hand;' of another, that she has
"healthy nerves." and is "reticent in department"
as well as immaculate and companionable, and that
in early womanhoOd her hair was very abundant
Another is youthful in appearance and in reality
and possesses face almost perfect US Greek bas
relief and full OF power and passion" One lady is
highly strung, yet calm| one inherited poetic
talent from her uncle; in one, :" a strong though
golden chain of solid English sense ever gracefully
rens in those Of the sum- lrlh wit and pas
sion; and the real and IDEAL whether they ascend
alternately, like the celestial twins or rule together
like Joye and Juno, reign in harmonious
duality each retaining its proper limits,
and one ever preserving the other from deficiency
excess" One is "a child Of nature and of flowers"
but also exceedingly domestic" and a certain IA
nous novelist is Of medium size, sma-waisted,
neck fair, and perfect model for a sculptor. Her
hands and feet are those of n Southern lady, very
small and tidy. She looks as if she would weigh
about one hundred and fifteen pounds, and to the
eye Of IN artist resembles POwers's Greek Slave
more than the Venus deAiedici or the Venus of
Canova" There is one lady in the presence of whose
charms Ida Raymond is entirely unable to contain
herself: 1T is no ordinary iacc-that which rises
before me as write-the sweet, peculiar smile, one
of the chief charms of the changeful countenance;
the dark blue deep eyes, full Of vivid eX-
preston andmellowed by long brown lashcs; the
white forehead high and broad" &c, &c. No por-
trait could DO her justice. she has noble intel
lectual discomfort Her social talent is Of the high
est order Ono lady is highly prcpossessing in per-
sonal appearance and her manner SO gifted with re-
pose as to be usually tranqulizng in its social in
fucnce :" while of another on the contrary, we are
told that her fucncy Of speech is sometimes mat
ter of legitimate establishment" Mrs - writes
tales and essays, loves the beautiful and true"
lis possessed Of q fine person, indeed
exceedingly handsome and is "plucly'
while her hand and arm were copied
as a model by the artist Barber Of Virginia for the
statue of the Fisher Girl" 1t is hardly necessary
to add that all the ladies are gifted" and most Of
them in early life have had "yearninrs"
Our readers will not look for criticism in a volume
of which these little extracts are specimens When
the Demon of Gush takes possession of a woman,
Judgment and common sense are driven out. The
comments are therefore not discriminating and the
selection of specimens is by no means wise. We do
not believe that healthy Southern literature viii
be fostered by books Ike these Their only effect
will be the Qualification of mediOcrity the cncour-
agcmeut of a vicious taste for impertnent personal
description and a tanning Of the ombers Of sectional
animosity, which fills Ida Raymond every few mo-
ments with a sacred rage. We should rejoice at
any well-considered attempt to encourage and de-
yelop the literature of what IS abSurdly called
Southland; - but the very thing which Southern
literature does not need is the stimulus of Wild adu-
aton and such application of patriotic plaSters
as Ida Raymond gives it every opportunity.
The South wants a little commercial enterprise
among its publishers and booksellers, and little
enlargement Of view among its writer's but what it
wants most Of all is little kind but just and thor
ough criticism Ii is 700 old and too vigorous TO be
codded. We think it is quite time for it now to be
corrected.
MY ENENfY'S DAUGHTER. A Novel. ~ JUSTIN
MCCARTHY. $40, PIP. IGl, swd. Harper Brothers.
The great difference between literary men in En-
gland and literary men in America is that the former
can turn their hands to so many more kinds Of intel
lecual labor than the latter and do most of them
much better. We are not speaking of the eminent
authors Of either country but of tho average writers
of both Here one is a journalist, and another
macazinst third tells shortsto and fourth at
telnpts novel; there the novelist, the story-teller,
the magaznist and the journalist frequently one
and the same person, and very clever person he is
ant to be. man of this stamp is Mr. Mccarthy,
whose work, whatever it be- is always good. We
have not discovered his speciality yet if he has one
il is not merely the writing of magazine papers, his
novel conyinces us, and it is not yet the writing
of novels My Enemy's Daughter is clever, but
it is not satsfactOry-we hardly know why.
In the matter of plot, for instance not sure
that we fully apprehend 3Ir. McCarthys intentions.
1t seems to us at one time as if he meant TO have
Christina marry Emanuel in the end but the dscov-
cry of her marriage soon dispels that illusion We
may be satisfied to have him disappointed, but we
are not satisfied TO be disappointed ourselves We
see no reason why Christina should have married
Count Salaris-not in the unconstant, artistic