The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-01
LITE r AT RE.


SUCCESS AND Irs Ss-LITsRAruRE AND
LIFE by Z. T. whpple. James X. Osgood 4 Co.,
Boston.
Among the foremost OF our lftierateurs Edwin p.
men. One must dig him out OF his shell to fnd the
rich kernel OF head and heart that are always true
20 principles and friends, always generous brother
authors, always just to political adversares. None
but true man could have written his fine prose
poem on "Jeanne Dore.n None but man OF con-
vcton could deliver 1t so to draw tears from eyes
not given TO much weeping, and we do
not blame spiritualists for claiming that
the spirit OF this beautiful martyr, 'the
greatest poet France ever produced" 1.-The wlsest
puresl anlest intelligence OF her time,n to borrow
Whpple's own words-is before him while he speaks.
Thoroughly imbued with his subject Whlpple makes
you feel that a woman If not France, can fight for
an idea, ave- and die for IT, as did the Master egh-
teen hundred and seventy-one years ago. This ad-
mrabe man. lecturer and author, once more ap-
pears before the public IN two volumes OF essays,
written various periods during the past twenty
i've years, and originally contributed TO magazine
literature. The leading idea OF the greater part OF
these essa, is that nothing really succeeds which
Is not based reality;' idea fuly demonstrated
by Whipple himself, whose public is a grow
ing one. Possessing a tsrse, vigorous style,
critical acumen. richly stored mind anu
competent to handle any subject he touches.
lie is alive, and OF the best papers In success
and Its Conditions is that In which he pays just
tribute 10 Young Men III History" IL is the divine
fire Of youths enthusiasm that Eliminates the
world, and he is right In declaring that ''wherever
we marx q great movement OF humanity we COM
monty detect young man at its head or at Its
heart And II wicked Institutions, lapori-
ously organized by dominant tyranny and priest
craft and strong with the might not merely of bad
passions but OF perverted learning and prostituted
logic-n these have been swept away In the worlds
advancing movement 1t has been by the gradual TIL
umph OF ndestructlble sentiments OF freedom and
humanity kept fresh and bright in the souls OF the
young" His ''Ethics of Popularity are not such
as are pracuced at Washington; but more'S the pity
for our country.
'Tell the truth to the people," writes whpples
''give them fair statements, consecutive reasoning,
honest advice; give them wit that is not personality,
humor that Is not bunoonery eloquence that Is not
rhodomontade, before you assert that they can ap-
preciate nothing In argument but falacies, and
nothing in language but balderdash. 1t can hardly
be said that our people disregard refinement, when
the most popular orator OF the country, the man
who drew the greatest crowds was Mr.. Everett,
who was almost prudish In his elaborated elegance
and studied grace. 1t can hardly be said that any
people lack the instincts OF conscience and the in
taitions OF reason, while history proves that In
every controversy with their oppressors, they have
had the right OF and the right OF reason
on their side.n
Acknowledging however the existence OF per-
sonality that Is not wit, Whipple INDUCES In no
small amount OF quiet sarcasm when treating or
"The Economy OF lnvective,n maintaining that at
s OF the first Importance that Chair of Invectlve
established in all our colleges, filed by professor
who combines practical experience OF the subject
with knowledge OF all the eloquence from Demos
thenese to Burke; and perhaps the most appropriate
subject on which the stuoents should first air their
vocabulary, and the most worthy OF such an honor,
would be the college ITSELF i.s professors Its govern
ment and Its prescribed course OF studies.n
Looking at lie through clear spectaces whipple
henounces the asceticism OF Puritansm, breaches
the gospel Of cheerfulness insisting that Is as dan
gerous TO morality as 1t Is destructive to cheerful
ness to make virtue the husky and haggard thing it
y 80 often held up TO be: and accordingly, in the
formation OF harmonious character, great stress Is
to be land on the education OF the or beauty
The contemplation OF beauty in nature in arr, in
literature, in luman character dfiuses through our
being soothing and subtle joy by which the hearts
ANXIOUS and aching cares softly ''smlled away
Authors too, find champion in this excellent repre-
sentatlve OF the noblest OF all professions.
the best and worst, hence what wonder THAT
poverty has been the most fertile sources OF liter
airy crimes. Men OF letters have ever displayed the
same strange indispostion to starve, common 10
Dther descendants OF Adam. ii is a sense
less and disgracelu contempt for the power OF au-
thors which much OF the perversion OF talent
80 common In our day. 1t seems mpossi-
Die for men to realize the importance and influences
Of authors as purifiers or PRISONERS OF the public
taste and morals For evil or good they exercise
vast and momentous dominion. But they are not
generally men distinguished from other men by SUI
per.or strength OF principle. II neglected and de-
spised they teach the lesson that II virtue and truth
decline paying wages to talent, falsehood and pro-
ngacy are not so parsimonious wnen virtue pays
the same wages as vice the devil will be obliged 10
seek his literature in the past.
Individualizlng as well as generalizing Whipple
pays fine tribute to John A. Andrews, Bryant and
Wordsworth, while his two papers on Dickens are
the clearest analysis Of this marvellous genius that
we have read; and how well whipple can analyze
Is seen IN the following extracts from his Essay
Genius:-"Genlus Is not single power but combi-
nation OF great powers. II reasons. but it is not
reasoning; II judges but 1t is judgments 1t i'm.
AGNES but il is not maginaton; 1t feels deeply and
tercely but It is not passion 1t is neither, because
IT is all II Is another name for the perfection or
human nature for genius is not fact but ideal.
III nothing less than the possession Of all the pow
er and impulses OF humanity, In their greatest pos
sble strength and most harmonious combinations
Talent repeats genius creates Talent is a
cistern, genius fountain. Talent deals with the
actual, with discovered and realized trIGhs-ana-
lying, arranging, combining, applying positive
knowledge, aud in action looking 10 presidents.
Genus deals with the possible, creates new com
soinations, discovers new laws, and acts from an
insight into principles. Talent joys TO conclusions
TO which genius takes giant Leaps. Talent accumu-
lates knowledge, and has II packed up in the
memory; genius assimilates It with Its own sub
stance, grows with every accession and con-
'Verts knowledge into power. Talent gives out
what il has taken IN; genius what has risen from
lit unsoundel wells OF living thought. Talent, IN
dihcult situations strives to unite snots, which
genius instantly cuts with one swift decision Talent