New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-26

vourer whose Atlantean thighs leaked away In bran
Fisher had his head cnt of Is somehat miugaed 20 me
by the circumstance that the Pope should have sent nn
OF all things in the world, cardinals hat ater that III
expectation.
The best of the essays is that on Shakespeare
Mr.. Lowell here keeps ont of the mazes OF VerDai
criticism lie has ingenious new readings 10 sug-
ges and no pet theories to enforce We cannot say,
indeed that the scheme of his essay is very ais
tinct one but it Is much pleasaner and much uster
than if its structure had been more formal lie
shows how fortunate it was for the world that
Shakespeare appeared at period when the Enghsh
language had reached its fullest perfection, and
when a division had not yet been made between the
sneech of the people and the literary dialect. He
points out some of Shakespeare's characteristics as
poet and master Of language he draws parallel
between him and the dramatists of Greece he hints
at the qualifications of a good commentator and
critic and he concludes with few admirable pages
on the play of Hamlet" in which he makes the
following adroit use of a remark of Drydons about
thoughts which "are secretly in poet, or may be
fairly deduced from him."
Whether have fancied anything into Hamlet which
the author never dreamed OF putting there do not
greatly concern myself TO inquire Poets are always en-
for these fine creations truly build themselves up IN
the brain as they are built up win deliberate orSs tS dd
not mean to put into his work. but which louhd lIseI
neS ey soe fSG rof Tsr m rhyme with tho
blue sky has somewhat in 1t that into sym
patty with higher things than those which come by plot
ana observation
Like all criticisms which are sound as well rs
graceful the fruit of deep thought as well as pol
ished pen, Mr. Lowels essays may be read again and
again with ever increasing satisfaction, IL is not
the least of their qualifications for impartng perma-
nent pleasure that they are utterly unartfcial and
betray no effort at brilliancy.
UP BROADWAY and its Sequel. Life Story BY
ELEANOR KIRK. l2mo. PIP 27l. Carleton
We have no sympathy with the chief purpose which
inspired Mrs Kirk story and little to say in praise OF
the manner in which she tells il; but believe it
may do good and shall be glad if it reaches wide
circulation. ado you ask why Eleanor Xiii; wrote
Up Broadwayf"s she inquiries in the Sequel: ITO do
away, as far possible with tho oldestabshed idea
that marriage by priest or minister, is God-ordaned
rite" She is no free-lover that is to say. she holds
that woman ought to be the wife of one man at
time She believes in marriage; but q marriage.
which shall last only as long as both parties love
each other. She recognizes the oOnjugal contract;
but regards il Just like contract between n land
lord and tenant terminable by mutual consent and
void if either party deceiyes the other in the
matter Of the agreement. If the roof leaks and the
chimneys smoke. the tenant may go away and hire
another house. Our readers know very wei that
such sentiments are not ours. The axity of divorce
laws is the shame of American society. We are
drifting towards horrible gulf of corruption. In it
the family institution whichlies at the basis Of social
morality threatens to be overwhelmed, and nothing
can save us but a moro deyout recognition OF the
sacredness Of the marriage tie 1t is one of the worst
indications of downward course that good, true
hearted women are tho most conspicuous adj
vocates of o relaxation of the last remain
ing ties which bind the community TO-
gether. Mrs Kirk is undoubtedly persuaded that no
plan but hers can elevate the condition of her sex.
She has seen many Of the evils Of unhappy mar
riages she has suffered many Of them herself She
writes, consequently with deep feeling, and with
womanly blindness to all aspects of the question
but one-with o conviction, so to speak, that tho
only cure for corns is TO cut off the leg Her book,
therefore in lis primary purpose is a mistake, which
is not miscLevous mistake only because sho is not
enough Of sophist to hide its errors.
"Up Broadway" has, however, a secondary pur-
pose for the sake Of which we hope it may DO read.
81 felt ii TO be duty" says Mrs, Kirk that owed
to the thousands of women who. through cold and
hunger heart and soul starvation. have been driven
to desperation and prostitution, TO show them what
one woman, by the aid of kindness and rightly-di
rected sympathy. has been able 10 accomplish" The
story, We are assured is literally true though it is
of o highly sensational character. 1t is |
tho story of accomplished girl ruined |
by fictitious marriage with man |
who has wife already. After discovering her posi-
ton she is driven step by step 10 the last resort Of
starving women. Mrs. Kirk found and reclaimed |
her; and in an hour of good fortune which n novelist
would hardly have dared TO imagine, her betrayer |
who had always loved her. and was now q wdower |
came upon the scene. and the twain were legally |
made ono flesh. Now the moral which Mrs. Kirk |
draws from the narrative is this: II the man had
been permitted at the first to put away the wife he
disiked and marry the girl he loved all this misery
might bayel been avoided; which is equivalent TO
saying, IL there were no law there could be no
transgession /; if God would only give US leave TO
do whatever please there would be sin. Any
child the fallacy Of such conclusions. As a
support of Mrs. Kinks social theories the touching
story Of Up Broadway" has force: it's use and
Significance, for which hope it will be read. lie in
the lesson it teaches Of kindness and sympathy
towards the most unfortunate OF all classes Of sinners
The Sequel" is partly al expansion Of the senti-
ments outlined in the story. and partly history Of
Mrs. Kinks own life with portrait Of her husband
which cannot be called fatterlng. man who had
the misfortune TO have a hole shot In his side
used once to exhibit himself before medical classes
with his internal organs visible in full activity
1t was an improving spectacle 10 students Of the
human frame but this laying yourself open to the
gaze of the world always seemed to highly disa-
greeabe operation either to perform TO Witness.
The History Of Tie Public School Society of the
City Of Ee,o. York. by wM. GLAND BOURNE (wm. Wood
Col, appears OPPORTUNITY at moment when the disr
button of public money TO sectaran schools is
subject of earnest discussion. The Public School So
cety was the direct ancestor Of the present Common
School System. IL originated IN 1895. when meeting OF
twelve prominent gentlemen was held at the house Of
Mr. John Murray, Pearst to provide for the eduea
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