The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-04-19
From the Nashville Tenn, Enterprise
.aEeayfihrfd cumbermede. 81
TIE Erxa sdhiset, brush Or pen,

The hrtisH OF dhiset Brush or pen,
perpetuates memories by employing
them In tangible forms. These forms
often partake as largely of the creative
genius of the artist as of the attributes
of tl1esoris final bjects 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 i'm the Sistine Madonna. No
less quickly will the dullest mind
recognize fine thought, once mo-
mentarily its own, should it aftervard
see it glorified by some mind more
sensitive and active. t' a,r'FF s-a.--
1t is greater pleasure to find lost
treasure thus, bcautifedu than to dis
cover new one. For these reasons
Wiifrid| Cumbermeae. is. one of the
most enjoyable books lately published.
In it the author, has trayersed tie
country between. childhood and man.
hood, and gathered into one volume
the troop. of sladowy visitants we
call thoughts, dreams, aspirations,
giving them form, after his own ina
ges, bat stIIl cut OF the stuff common
10 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 his images come always
eating and drinking--or wanting to-
and the world will say that they have
devil, after his epitaphs sre all writ
ten. Mcdonald is the antitype OF
DickeEs, aud ID is q fitting compenss-
ton that the bation W hich furnished
one should furnish the other. Dick
ems popularized the novel by portray
ing the cOmmcnest and lowest pas
siOns of humanity, with a 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. la describing dreams
and fancies, there is subtility and
minuteness of detail, cunningly wo-
ven but sharply expressed thoughts,
which seem at times unnatural, even
for older heads than Charley's and
Wilip1s. Int the same style. used In
describing objects whose outlines are
distinct in our minds, such as field
or sunset, is as clear aud bright as
the reflection of mirror. To the
author, both descriptions are, doubt
less equally clear. There are no
prodigieslin the book, but Wilfrid is
peculiarly dreamy, and Charley as dis
tinctively doubling for the author
chose them 10 represent all such boys
and the very fact that they develope
these pecnlisrities in manhood, re-
gardless of dramatic effect, makes
them like human beings and not the
shadows of fancy.
That independent, highstrung Char
ley should commit suicide is natural
probability, arising from the constant
and relentless ihculeation, by his
father, of the gospel of damnation.
In the obedience and humble faith of
Mary, the bigotry which murdered
Charley seems almost righteousness.
She does not, however, practically be-
come .Wilfrid's Athanasia until after
she is made some flesh" with the en-
tirely gross nature OF Godfrey, and
is separated therefrom by the spirit
ualizisg hand of death, which kindly
gives her to the world unshackled by
her early education. Her marriage
with Godfrey and his death revealed
TO her what her purity had hitherto
made q secret the real depth and
height of human nature. She came
back from the tomb with as pure &
heart but with sympathies broadened
into harmony with Wilfrid's ideal.
This is by far the noblest conception
of tie book, and for which there are
sublime Suggestions. Clara viii pro-
baby be greatly liked, as in these
days of mendacity a common place
lie docs rot shock many, much less
will Slara'sCapricious regard for the
exact truth. Where there il one heart
ofthecxquisite tone of Wilfrid's, to
shudder, there are hundred who will
forget her percadillos in her healthy
joyousncss and brave brilliancy. The
whole bookTabounds in fine illusions
and high suggestions. There is a
number Of real poems in prose and
verse, and q style that is pleasant
throughout. --.r.- o.. ...