The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-04-26
from thesNashviIle CTenn.,) Enterprise
Hilfrid Cumbermede.


Wilfrid CUmbermede.
The artist of chisel, brush, or pen,
perpetuates memories by embolying
them in tangible forms. These forms
often partake as largely of tile creative
genius of the artist as of the attributes
of the original objects; without, how
ever, losing those features by which
they who knew them recognize them.
The child Of the Roman mother
would quickly recognize the familiar
features in the Sistine Madonna. No
less quickly will the dulIest mind
recognize Il fine thought, once mo-
mentarily its own, should it afterward
see it glori1ied by some mind more
sensitive and active.
1t is q greater pleasure to find a lost
treasure thus beautified than to dis
cover a new one. For these reasons
Wilfrid Cumbcrmede is one of the
most enjoyable books lately published.
In it the author has traversed the
country between childhood and man.
hood, and gathered into one volume
the troop of shadowy visitants we
call thoughts, dreams, aspirations,
giving them form, after his own ina
f5Los Dbb Sun ONb VI LilC b+uLl COullHO1
to all Of us. These forms are not
pressed in the stiff mould of a moral,
but grow into people under the sun
shine and rain-the joy and tears of a
good purpose.
Dickens, too, delighted in develop
ing characters from the first wall OF
existence, but lis images come always
eating and drinking-or wanting to
and the world will say that they have
devil, after his epitaphs are ali writ
ten. Mcdonald is the antitype Of
Dickers, and it is fitting compensa-
ton that the nation which furnished
one should furnish the other. Dick
ems populariZed the novel by portray
ing the commonest and lowest pas
sions of humanity, with tender and
delicate eloquence which tempts men
down to them. Mcdonald, particular
ly in Wilfrid Cumbermede, exalts the
novel into a vehicle of wholesome
spirituality. Ia describing dreams
and faucies, there is subtility and
minuteness of detail, cunniDgly wO-
ven but sharply expressed thoughts,
which seem at times unnatural, even
for older heads than Charley's and
Willrid's; but the same style, used in
describing objects whose outlines are
distinct in our minds, such as a field
or q sunset, is as clear and bright as
the reflection of mirror. To the
author, both descriptions are, doubt
less equally clear. There are no
prodigies in the book, but Wilirid is
peculiarly dreamy, and Charley as dis
tinetively doubling, for the author
chose them to represent all such boys
and the very fact that they develOpC
these pecuiarities in manhood, re.
gardless of dramatic effect, make;
them like human beings and not the
shadows of fancy.
That independent, highstrung Char.
ley should commit suicide is a natura
probability, arising from the constant
and relentless inculcation, by his
father, of the gospel of damnation
In the obedience and humble faith o
Mary, the bigotry which murdered
Charley seems almost righteousness
She does not, however, practically be
come .Wilfrid's Athanasia until aftel
she is made one flesh" with the en-
tirely gross nature of GeOffrey, anC
is separated theretrom by the spirit
ualizing hand of death, which kindly
gives her to the world unshackled b.
her early education. Her marriage
with Godfrey and his death revealed
to her what her purity had hitherto
made secret the real depth ant
height of human nature. She cam
back from the tomb with as pure
heart, but with sympathies broadenet
into harmony with Wilirid's idea
This is by far the noblest conception
of the book, and for which there ar
sublime suggestions. Clara will pro
badly be greatly liked, as in thes
days of mendaeity common plac
lie does not shock many, much les
will Olara's capricious regard for th
exact truth. Where there is one hear
of the exquisite tone of Wilfrid's, I
shudder, there are hundred who vi
forget her peccadillos in her health
joyousness and brave brilIiancy. Th
whole book abounds in fine aliusion
and high suggestions. There is
number of real poems in prose an
verse, and q style that is pleasaT
throughout.
The mortal part of man cannc
give Immortality to any of its work.
Our bodies are perishable, and thei
creations necessar rily partake of the
transient nature. Therefore, til
works of the body perish with th
body, or soon thereafter. The treas
ures that man may heap up, and tn
palaces he may build, together wit
verything else he may do to gratii
his pride and ambition, pass ava,
His friends also die with him, an
he is no more known to earth; viii
future generations look at his nam
on his grave-stone with the same il
difference that the blacksmith dai
sees the letters and figures on Il
guide-post, before his shop door,
the crossroads.
The newest style of neckties are
satin mixed with silk gauze, Il