New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-14
THE GALAXY.
EARL RUssELI-THE MIssIoNARY's DAUGHTER
NRoLoGIsM-FRENCH PEOPLE.


cling superruous on tne political stage. The old age
which he STAYED of long has come down upon MN
suddenly with crash aud from the palniui picture vi
a feeble and wearisome old man. 1t is relief TO
turn 10 the Lord John Russell who sat In
his youth at the feet OF Fox; who knew
Metternieh and Talleyrand Moore aud Byron and bad
even talked 10 great Napoleon in little Elba. MI NC
Carthy credits him with tastes for things fine and hgh
for art literature philosophy history politics. out not
with great capacity for culture in most or these neus
He was experimental, but he was also apprecoNeo OF
what truly great in genius. Some Of his friends re-
earded tho young cadet of noble family. rs being OF
dazzling promise but his Essay on the History OF tne
English Government and Constitution "uu "''
tragedy Of Don Carlos" did not get success
which was anything than compmentto the au'horsho
Die birth When he entered public life he was very younN
and devoted adherent OF the Wing party lie made mo-
tion after motion in the House OF Commons in favor OF
reform but not until he nearly 40 years old ana nc
have position and triumphant success IL was ID 1871
that be prepared and proposed the Reform Bill "hien
raised up 10 compete with the Of the peer IN Par
hament the power OF the middle classes Ii prevented
revolution and made of Lord John hero, who, cold
repeant and formal, had lnothiug Of the popular dar
ling about HIM. But ne never liked In the lower
House, where he seemed to respect only two things
llgh birth and great intellect.
Lord John was said to he mseraby parsimonious He
only formal bioodess, and nshy sort OF little
He is very little man, and ne has or had a way
offoldng and expanding his chest aud deepen
physical dignity which oddly but inevitably rem ndcd
watched with keen eyes FOR any Jaw in the reasoning
Inconsistency in the statement Of an adversary, and he
made cruel work with anything Of the kind lie was
fluent and raya kind OF slow fuency, sort OF forced
readiness; but however achieved the result was there
IN capacity 70 reply on the spur OF the moment ana 70
fpeaK for as long time as was necessary IDS language
emphasis about IL which impressed ii on the listeners
attention like the steady dropping OF chilly Mater
aud was sure remember something which his antas
onst had forgotten or did not know, and which came IA
"a amnG
cold shSrp inelhccnce and had Ho pity Tor the enihn,
siasm or the crochets OF anybody He had the great
advantage many OF his contemporaries that lac an
derstood the spirit politics to he principle and their
from a higher intellectual platform than Palmerston or
Imam Derby, and even erOtchet eXp0uudei by m had
an appearance Of calm dignity aud wisdom. He often
said sharp and bitter things IN debate He had not
CLEAN Of huDor, put he had sort oi ghtterlhg ana
frozen sarcasm. that seemed like pointed leele'
His career displays almost as strange series 81 contra
ocuons OF parado1es as that which Macauiay hnds III
Tic career Of Pitt Russell, who began LIE with repu-
tatiJn heat Of temperament worthy OF Achilles, has
and boOdless politician. He started as friend aud
Catholics; and than 20 years no man has been
ersay detested as he is among Irish Catholics
compromising leader Of the Reform party; and he has
been Tor long time looked down upon by nearly AL
formers as utterly behind the time feeble, aud timid
riena of America In bis early days he gave
more cause Of ofense America during her civil war
than was given by the worst OF her Tory enemies. one
Of the strongest purposes Of his political career was to
AID IN the emancipation Of the Italians from the Austr
aus, the BouIDons and the Pope; ana yet be con
aud even the good feeling of the Italians.
His professions OF friendship encouraged the Danes
expect the armed assistance Of England against Ger
many and IN the end when the Danes had, IN great
part 10y their own hoIheadedness and obstnaoy rem
and the Germans blamed Earl Russell, the former
accusing him OF having broken the promises which led
them the latter OF having made the promises Earl
Russell s generally described as man devoid OF any
my recollection has shed tears during debate
the House OF Commons If You 10 ak ordinary
EngishDan Of to-day his opinion of Earl Russell the
about equal whether he would describe HIM
a stanch and fearless friend Of liberty mean
and mid opponent OF everything free. Much OF this
and pepexed position Is OF course due to the
fact that the greater part Of Earl Russell's long
career has been game OF between Office
and opposition ana that naturally he received when out
whose expectations when nc returned 10 power he was
compelled TO disaPpont.
Mr.. j. W. De Forests story Of "The wethnel Affair"
s continued In this iustament, the mssiOnarys little
daughter loved BY the young wording finds in the
home OF the old New-Bnglaod Judge most bunctual
pious and solemn atmospherc y L house on whose
dressngtables assemble Mr. De Forest tells little
congregations Of tracts with Bible officiating clergy
man and a hymn-boOk as chorister where, II anybody
Is sleepy and dilatory o. mornings, the maid serv
ant puts her mouth 10 the key-hole and mo-
Dotonously and by express order OF her master
admonishes tke sinner 10 go TO the ant and
consider her ways and be wise; aud where the daily
dinners absorbed by the light OF fervent aud sincere
theological dispositions. The quaint formal little Pur
tan likes ALL and keeps-tho pretty puss !-her IRE
lgious young hero in her gentle heart and fresh imag
nation and longs for his coming TO the nest of theology
Such is woman-even when she is the child OF mission
aries and devoted to heather instruction.
j. Durand in talking OF French Scenes, Customs, and
Characters" gives several pleasant pictures Of French
households which go 10 prove that their lives are not
the selfish and frivolous aEairs that many good peo-
Die think them. For the wickedness Of Paris, the
Parans that foreigners responsible, and Mr.
Durand echoes the assertion. PeculaOn OF officials
I'm political life is very the weakness
OF the French is not gain. Mr.. r. G.
White comes back more to The GaiGzy and
Language" lie defends neologlsm, and says that
there nothing weaker than that pursm which shrnks
FROM a word or phrase merely because 1t s new. lie
declares that and the ensnence Of writers
which makes their grammar authoritative and that
writers judged by their general practice and
not by the occasional lapses tO which they
are subject. Nor is continuous use by writer's
OF repute and people OF culture ncces
ssry 10 the recognition OF word or a
phrase as good English OF the word disDrvaeied in
Mr. Iowell's Cathedral" which occasOned many
sneers Mr. White says that it is good Engsh-but not
because 1t came from Mr.. LOwells pen. II is English
because its meaning clear aud its formation normal
and would be conceded, English the writer thinks had
been introduced in the reporting columns OF penny
newspaper. instead OF In poem wherein the soul Is
"BJ thrODGI Of stranEsu undi'phvsded"
Mr.. White eoncudesithus;
IT, then novelty is not tenable ground Of objection 20
word phrase and long usage Is not IN itself full
Justification IL the example OF writers eminent for the
when they disregard reason and analogy, what Is the
rule standard by which Language may be tested and
IN the putting OF IT, There Is such absolute rule
Usage gives immunity 10 use bat the court that pro
of the common and the critical, before whom precedent
and good usage have presumptive authority, on The
condition that they bear the test OF CRITICISM that is
of reason 10 which they continually subjected and