New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-11-10

prominent popular writer's. For instance Buckle
Darwin and Huxley are thus brought into juxtapo-
sition "IshOud say that Buckles History OF CIV
ization, with all it's wealth and vigOr, is exceedhe
IL loose ointed in all it's logical structure ana aiso
very detective in ts literary structure atnouen
happens to have an element Of freshness when iS
rare in such work, and carries the reaaef "'o"s
Darwin's Origin Of Species is better; that mas W
the bottom q strong logic, whether conclusive vi
otherwise, but is rambling and confused III l''
merely literary statement, that 1T does lsen no JUS
tice. A third book Huxley's Lectures, coilpihcS
with its logic power of clear and symmerr'oal sVe
ment that gives it n charm, and makes II q con-
tribution. not to science alone but to literature"
OF Emerson he remarks: In Emerson, again. one
observes similar defect his unit of structure is the
sentence and the periods seem combined merely by
the accident of juxtaposition. Each sentence is n
pearl, and the whole essay is much clipped from
the necklace but it is fastened at neither end and
the beads slip off whom you try to replace them you
find that they belong in one place rs well i'll an
other" His estimate of Hawthorne, we think,
scarcely does justice to that accomplished master of
English prose. "The only American authors, per-
haps whose style is elastic garment that fits all
the uses of the body, are Irving and Hawthorne.
This has reference to the quality of their thought
as to which in Irving we feel slight mediOcry; no
matter there is the agreeable STYLE and it does him
all the service he needs. By it's aid he reached his
limit of execution and we can hardly imagine him,
with his organization, accomplishing more. But
in Hawthorne we see astonishing power, always
easily expressed, and capable of indefinite expansion
within certain lateral limits. His early solitude mar
rowed his afinltes, and gave kind of boodessneSs
to his style clear in hue fine in texture IT Is apt 10
want the mellow tinge which indicates o robust and
: ;o dnriOi
respect to anything so beautiful; and can conceive
| of no other defect in the style Of Hawthorne"
This criticism seems to be more applicable to Eer-
son than to Hawthorne as most readers Il the for
mer have found fault with the predOminance of the
head over the heart which shows defect in the cir
culation, while the style of Hawthorne blends the
ruddv glow of health with the delcacy of maiden
| blush.
| The directions for the attainment of a good En-
clish style in the Letter to a Young Contributor"
arc more to the purpose than all the rules in DR..
| Blair's Lectures on Rhetoric" and Lord kamesS
Elements of Criticism" They sum up the essence
of wisdom as far literary art is concerned, in
| few pointed words. The upshot of his advice is
somewhat as follows. Take time for your compost
ton Never dream that any flow of style can come
from writing rapidly. Your scrupulousncss will not
be wasted upon the public. Make your style at
tractivc. No man living has a right to be tedious
| But YOU may be agreeable without being amusing.
An essay may be delightful without single With
| cism, while monotone Of jokes soon becomes in
toerable Charge your style withjlifc, and no one
will ask for cOnundrums. Make your statement
clear, as if your life at stake, no matter how
| profound the thought which you wish to express.
| Among the remaining papers in the volume we
can only refer to "a Charge with Prince Rupert" as
o striking piece of historical narrative, in which
real events are gracefully embellshed with the COL
ors of fancy without losing their identity; "Fayal
and the Portuguese an admirable descriptive
! essay; and On an Old Latin Text Book" Teviving
an early Renaissance of school-boy days in fine
vein of sentiment but without trace Of atectation
| OF cfieminacy.
| In rendering q sincere welcome to this volume we
ought not to forget that it holds original indeed
| it may almost be sad q unique, place in American
literature. With the exception of Mr.. Emerson, and
perhaps one OF two Others our native writer's have
shown preference for history, poetry, fiction, and
travels to the comparative neglect Of the essay. In
that branch of literary effort, few of them have at
tanned any considerable eminence, and the appear
ance of work with such signal merits in this kind
betokens new stage in our intellectual progress
Its maturity of thought and choice feces Of style
entile it to companonship with the productions il
other depar tments which have been the pride Of
youthful literature.