New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-11-10
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
HIGGNsoNs ATLANTIC ESSAYS.


by the name Of the Magazine in which its contents
were originally published, but it may also be re-
gnrded os an ant symbol Of the highest literary cu
ture of New-England which has here found elo-
euent expression. 1t Ia now more than half CEN
tnrv since the Brahminical caste Of the capital OF
Massachusetts received the form aud proportions
which have made it 30 significant feature In the
mental development Of the country. The morning
star Of the remarkable movement, which has not yet
reached its zenith was Joseph Stevens Bnckminster'
the Youthful pulpit orator of precOcious brllancy
dead ere his prime" but who did not pass away
before he had given the impulse to the pursuit OIL
elegant letters, which a few years after was re-
heated by Edward Everett. DR.. William Enery
Claiming William Prescott, the late Professor
Tcknor and other scholars of kindred taste anu en-
thusiaSm, the impress of whose genius is stamped
mon the mental habits of the generation now on
the stage Their names are connected by trne MS
torica genesis with the revival of learning in Massa-
cbusctts of which the chief opponents are to be
found in H. w. Emerson Theodore Parker, Margaret
Fuller and their associates and disciples, who If few
in number have been potent in influence and still
exert an authority in the realm OF culture ana
Thought which was scarcely dreamed of at the COM
menccment of their career The pedigree OF Mr.
Higpinson in the peerage of literature may be thus
traced to a conspicuous ancestry. lie has renewed
the spirit of his Puritan name in connection with
the ripcst fruits of modern refinement His admir-
able volume is in the direct line of descent from the
inspiring productions which yet stir the souls OF
thoughtful readers around the firesides of New
England. But if its fragrant OdOrs betray subtle
efluence from Emerson and Thoreau, as representa-
tives of peculiar style of insight and express
sion, it does not follow that the author is an
imitatOr of the enticing masters, whose claim
upon his loyalty is not disputed. He is by no
means mere cleaner in the fields of other
men, but the cultivatOr of original domain
on his own account In many respects indeed, Mr.
Higgnson may be considered more fully rounded as
a writer, with a greater symmetry Of culture, OF
wider sympathies with real life, Of more just and
generous views of different phases of character aud
with stronger infusion of the sentiment of human
ity than some of the leaders of the school to which
it may be said he belongs He has the freshness OF
original thought and if many of his ideas may DE
traced in previous writer's, it is a coincidence ana
not a reproduction, similar crops must needs grow
on similar soils With an aluence of classical learn
ing he is never the slave of erudition. His large
experience in practical life gives elasticity to his
acquisitions, adapting them to the eXigenccs of the
day and the hour and preserving them from all APP
pcIrance Of rigidity and Journalism. He presents
noble example of fine scholarship in union with hui
man sympathicS. tcmperng fastidious taste in lit
craturc with the radical spirit Of modern thought
The first essay in the volume. entitled " A Plea for
Culture, affords anticipation of the general type
of It's contents though not Of the miscellaneous char
actcr OF its themes. In this paper, Mr.. HiggnSon
places the question of classical study on sound
basis. He is not fanatic for ancient learning. lie
regards the compulsory study of Latin and Greek In
the American colleges error. But he attaches
high value to its influence protest against the
tendency in this country to make education hasty
and superficial These languages stand for "a learn
ing which makes money, but helps to make men,"
They furnish the most powerful aids to accurate lin
Ruistc training and to the study of form in itera-
tuTe, No young can faithfully learn the SIM
pltst manual of Latin or Greek grammar without
preparing the way for certain knowledge of sys-
tcInatic philology Mr.. Higginson has some striking
remarks on the peculiar educational value of the
Greek literature. He deems 1t 80 unequaled among
the memorials of human culture as to differ from al
others in kind rather than in degree. The study OF
other literatures cannot depreciate the Greek We
value that the most i'll proportion to our knowledge
Of the others. There could not be list of the doZcI
masterpieces Of the worlds literature, of which al
least onc-half should not be Greek. There is uC
more arbitrary choice in languages than IN stones
the hest is The hest and Greek the native tongue OF
scuptors is the only language that has the texture
~ marble
Nj HggineOn might have qualified his earnest de-
fcr of classical learning by the concession that
personal know ledge Of the ancient languages is not
essential 10 high degree of culture. The reception
Of their spirit is important than the study of
jhiolog1 Some If the most thorough Greek gs9Ql-
ms That we have ever known have been remaTka-
bic for their lack Of force and elegance of expression
in their native tongue for their acquaintance with
the nicei of the ancient language. Indeed eX-
elusive devotion to verbal TetncmcntS is as nnfavora-
blc 10 freedom AID graCefulncSS of style, as to
Nigur OF thought, and creative power. The mos
COnsuIuinatc master Of the mechanism of language
may De uIsl ful in the art of composition, the
most learned anatOmst of the vocal organs may be
ignorant of the accom- lishmcnts of music. The
example of DR.. Franklin is often quoted as proof
Of the useessmess of classical learning for the fora-
ton Of style. 1t is said that the charming ease and
beautiful simplicity of his language was not the
fruit of classical study But should rather refer
to the experience of DIR. Franklin proof that
the influence of the ancient classics may be
enjoyed without an actual acquaintance with
the languages Although he ignorant of
Greek and Latin, he devoted himself to the pages
of Addison with profound assiduity, imbibing a
pure classical spirit from writer whose tastes were
formed on classical models. In like manner it will
be found, we imagine, that the success of English
aud American poets in the admirable treatment of
classical themes is by means in proportion to their
accurate knowledge Of classical lore But it none
the less true that the foundation Of aesthetic culture
the present day is laid in the remains of the learn
ing of the past It's influence however is 80 subtle
and ,Otent that its efficacy is not lost when con-
yeyed through modern aqueducts, instead of being
tasted at the original spring
The next two papers on Literature as an Art "
and Americanism in Literature" are conceived in
similar spirit. and present the high standard
Of cultivation. The author fOrcibly illustrates the