New-York tribune., 1871-04-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS,
pARroys TOPICS OF THE TIME.

%
a this volume have been the subjects of critical no
tic in our columns at the time Of their original ap
nearance in some of the prominent periodicals. OF the
Sav as 10 render any further comment on our part
almost an act of snpererogaton. We need
only remind our readers that the articles
which have excited such favorable attention
within the last few years as supplement to the
biographical labors Of the author are now collected
in handsome volume of permanent interest, retain
tng the juicy crispness and piquant flavor which are
as natural to Mr. Partons pen to the radishes and
vater-cresses Of early Spring This is q sound test
Of the excellence of any literary composition III IL
continues TO please on perusal even less than the
orthodox number of ten times say even two OF
three we may tAe 1t for granted that it will
always pass muster. Mr. Parton's essays we are
sure, read as well in this volume as they did In
the journals in which they were first printed one
secret Of bis success, doubt, is the oolioqulal
familiarity Of his style. He never makes hs
ltlo fishes try to talk like great whales. With
no Puritanic abstinence from legitimate ornament,
he does not aim at fine writing, His language is
often as homely as William Cobbett's, but without
his coarseness. Ills powers Of perception arc sngu-
lnrlv acute and he is content TO express naturally
what he has seen with his own eyes This gives
perpetual animation TO his sketches, clothing them
with the charm Of lively personal talk. lnths quail
iy among others. they possess q certain savory salt
and places them among the more permanent produc-
t.ons Of good literature.
One OF tho most racy papers In the volume Is en-
titled Uncle Sans Treatment OF His Servants
showing the evil consequences of rotation IN once
.s administered by the Democratic party for pohti-
eal tool. Mr. Partons way Of presenting the arSu'
uent in its favor is rather striking
We have now tired the Jacksan rotation system forty
years and SIX months. How has il woTkodi ,,,
admit that there Is something piasDle 10 ne saa IN
iag cIn r a e coast Of Sassac8usetts Which
i now % sliced yp into wonderfully long pieces OF
intc ports tor building and paving Fish and granite
Jsy long under tho hot summer and in the cutting
Winter winds, the quarrymen swing the great hammer,
O. Mold tho perous horinctool the ponderons
gaenery that lfts apd loads the huge masses or yel
h0e tgaselaus at tie wrilhng oxen The men od care
o.n1y To- jhe co5st OF Labrador to ihe banks OF New
foandard. and elsewhere not shrinking from the cruel
tepests of February and March; they cruise up and
Gown coast n search Of the uncertain maekere com.
without q sh else they court destruction in little
po"e .,e', , o @ y, III te sbcre sunnyIne
HOLSTERS at four cents each for canning and sending fresh
aspect, and is maintained by fierce graphing
Bat here and there on the Care there 4, who
walks serene, listening 20 the musical rngot the hammer
s he never slares IRE whole feet OF Inaekerelnen
.nd cOen may come IN empty but 1t 4 Rs9SGt ,osS TO
Wst granite AID the music OF the Qlarrios may cease
stsr Se h eS long es s the Prssden Of the United
Republican, and the member Of cGngIess CON ss who noi
sl oGlee for some one else, 80 long he remains
amns9u su,h 81 sS sT RE sf & the inspectors
fsos rostla4sters aud & feT l Gthets r, 5do% w
rgtCfd tat the men o. he ClS snouu u'.I-n
g and ten & az nh tReSe ss easy od SSH9SfbB SSESbo
re catching one every year and the rest OF us
80 q hair PLAY they think and there will never be
waning politicians to synpathlEe with them III tAl' view
But very brief experience Of Washington life |
shows another side Of the picture.
Itsru from Cape Ann TO scene which witnessed In
itl Jackson rotation system appears enduIable upon
ihe scacoast. II ID entirely hidcous at Washington
dents house observed great number Of men standing
ont The 'front.' door, and many others walking toward
i as though something going on aud the pubic had
been invited 10 attend joined The throng ana entered
hall The Presideuts family had not yet taken pos
a on and seyeral upholsjerers were making Wild efforts
take up the carpets while parties were waiting ioT
d. key the East Room which they wero desirous OF
,5a apartments stumbling over rolls of carpet, nhal
* Llst aud viewing works OF art But most OF those
ryept mo siaiTs where the President was supposed to
e. Fn"Sis lie stleam ] found myself in one Of the
.e Of rooms Of the east wing adjacent the apart
the Plesdent usually receives peS,Spde pS,pd ,S WIG
c,n on business These large rooms were nlled with
standing n groups takiug eagerly tSgeth&eI & or sit
was Ike that OF the Chicago Exchange
VA vhct coufng ia freely, and the air wasas pesti
,s evening party the giver OF which keeps f0ur
s,H-' opening Champagne but forGets TO let
f. 10 It y Inexpensive atmosphere Tho men here as
q. . os of lott u politics; many had distinguished
t.ie.y,s ia tlo stgOlng about among them, and
p. flo.n room, came at last to the door
COR of doUrs-whCh all of those present desired 10
C4.e Oi them had crossed Continent 10 enter II
tight shut guarded by two ushers, aud
NECESSARY any be told that this door led to the
441tsts OiADe. There was lane OF men, terminating
a. % he dG and efnaF a Of 9asf So into ooS 9S IT ddS RS
door as though 1t beef aud he had tasted moth
ins iof tIte days aud three nights saw then what
tn poet meant who hrst spoke O people decotTng OBJ
iects with their eyes. These had hungry look |
y, CVpe CN
door. 80 were they upon II that they uncon
sciOds of themselves, Of their attitude and expresson
a. when ~ last door opened IL was awful
how they the face OF the messenger and watched
be- movements And 80 they waited hour after hour
Fnnng eet IN day. they would try again the next
toe u those then present had been for four days
admission, and had still expectation Of getting la
very sooD. Many Lad given up attempt to see the
President, and waiting there hopes of speaking
WitA their Senator member who would convey their
wishes 10 aim.
Mr Parton revives an obsolete dream Of romance |
IN the conclusion of the essay.
Nothing will ever this evil short OF restoring TO
the public service that element Of permauenee which it
once had and which all successf private establishments
possess ln the lower grades 2i the persons employed in
Young come and CO. as they onght, trying then-
sevts and tie places they h sometimes the person
sgas the place and some enes uc pace rejects The Per
so1 II Is seldom indeed that man goes On for life
lac begins. Bat in the higher grades there is there
shOd there must be, degree OF perInanenee Twice
yelr for years. have gone 10 certain bank TO
receive dividend for person VINO cannot onvene2ty
~ herself Invariably 1 fnd the same dyngteller,
velIapn0nted seifpossessed, counting ont the money
viii that careful rap1ty that never permits mistake
the .ae excellent cashier who learned his Latin Reader
., ~ side an school no end Of years ago; the
serene agreeable diyidendclerk, and the same nice
yOunR man hoping him Aug0es hKe IKE oioSh%OIR5 az y
Just, work hard, get e, and are not YET certain OF
keeping their place. but they know that II they nnay
ehoose their TO that bank there are places
Ia II for the deserving which will give them decent
livelihood AID al the security needfu for peace snc dlg