New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-02
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES


PALMETTO LEAVES AN ENAsPllAlIN" hAhH
OF SUNSHINE AND FLOWERS
trEou A RrcurAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRinukhl
RoSroS. March 2S-One begins TO read me
Memoir of q Brother" by Thomas Hughes whi'h D. H.
osgood Co are about 10 publish, with SORT o mei
protest In the preface Mr. Hughes tells us 'ha' 'ne
Memoir was written aud at the request OF the near
relatives and friends Of the homeovmg country geho
man whose unlookedfor death had made them a'i
tonruersr II seemed al first that the author told only
the trnth when he said the public had concern with
The life of this retiring man, who was engaged III
no public undertaking, who wrote no DOCKS,
who preached sermons, but Just did
his own duty and held his own tongue
A. one goes on, however, learning TO know what MI
George Hughes really was through his brothers per
ecty simple unvarnrhed narrative, one presently sees
good reason why hook should have been given To the
public IL is small privilege to make the acquaint
hnee Of an absolutely true George Hughes was not
tf the worldI worldly; though he certainly cNoSed
thoroughly all the uses of the world. Through the
temptations of life he preserved his honor and his H.
tegrity unstained by worldly ambitious his wholesome
taste for simple pleasures his keen rest for intellectual
achievements and heart dutful and tender and LOVING
b. a chds yet strong with the strength oil an unsuheu
manhood such certainly rare IN the hurry
tumuI this breahess century but the more ihey
are uncommon the they worthy OF our study
The details OF early youth which at first seem nsgm
rant aconire retrospective importance as we go on
for they show what OF training led ny to the hne
uanness which its result. The face OF MI George
Hughes which engraved as ronlispiece To the voume
a. uncommonly attractive. II is refined reticen pure
t.ce sensitive and delicate. yet with wonderful strength
n a certain kind-the strength which made this man
always master himself, able to control his own inn
tulses ready 10 do and dare for Others and nnselish
with that rare unseshness which is so natural as to be
unconscious All this the pictured face; and
ue book follows H. like the proof of sum IN arithmetic
You are sure you have OWNED the cOnntenance cor
rectly but is pleasant find your inGitons con
0rned by every page.
That George Hughes should have been noble man
seems inevitable when you by what influence he was
tDolded II. herseh who has felt 80 keeny the wrongs
Of childhood. and written of them with such gracious
sympathy such wise sagacity, would have seen In the
father OF George and Tom Hughes pater famias equal
10 highest ideal A thousand sage Ueatises on
the up bringing OF boys would not help puzzled and
thoughtful parent much the single perusal of this
book Hughes senior never forgot that he had been
10y aud in his unfsilng sympathy with his sons was
the secret OF his influence over them He understood
their tastes and needs, and their perfectly limo
cent smavaniIies For instance,,be writes TO George
Chat re applauds and claps him the back for rowing;
and says "row, boy fence and walk with all possible
sturdness." And then, GPropos TO the aforesaid SINAI
vanities he adds:
Asother thing believe an idea prevails that IL is
necessary ride sometimes 10 show yourself OF eques
irian rank II you have any mind TINS way, VINE me 10
a
lew weeks aud will allow you - note 10 assert your
equestrian dignity, now or az any other time rms IS
eocky-horses like Jacky Popkin and all such half meas
ares The only objection such dOngs is that you GER
are f for nothing But this is only per dcodcnS.
And you have fancy for an occasional freak this way
present opinions may be from longer experience can
tally enter into your ideas"
The father was also his boys coach" university
nan himself, he able judlciousy to direct their
reading, and sillfuy 10 aid them in their work. No
tuure honor wOnd bring to their hearts warmer
glow Of pride than his " well done" Georges triumphs
boating met with hearty sympathy at home as his
Greek verses; and he never TO have done any
thing Of which the kindly fresde ceDsOrs were
cot informed. Sometimes they eritcised-mOre
Dften they commended-but they always knew.
10 the chapters upon the school and uni
Rersity life of the subject Of the Memoir are
the interesting The rest OF his career followed as
naturally upon these, as the nOOn-sun and nightfal
follow the dawning. Only, for George Hughes the
aiGhtfall never came. He loved purely and married
wisely. He studied law; but presently gave up his
profession, because the failing health Of his wife's
adopted mother made II desirable that she should spend
the Winter months abroad and that her daughter and
sOnnlaw should be always with her. This remuneration
OF his profession great tral ana disappointment,
but most cheerfully borne Nor did he become an
idle man. He took to farming when he in
England, and raised turnps with proud enthusiasm. He
played golf whatever that may be-with as much
hearuness as he had bOated in his boy
hood Colt" he said was :" the mddle-aged
mans game" He was wise and tender
and entirely sympathetic father to his boys his
father had been him. And May 2. 1872, he died
this just generous Christian gentleman. He was only
81 years old For him, said, were the JOY OF the
young dawn the glow and glory Of the MONDAY sum- and
then before the afternoon shadows had begun to
lengthen bis day Of life ended. He had gone mp 20
Rugby 10 take part in a golf tournament He had
bad cold when he left home, which rapidly worse
and terminated a violent and fatal inflammation OF
the lungs. He met death with the same calm courage
with which be had met all the events OF life. He had
done his duty the station TO which God had called
him and, when the gate Of new life was opened, he
passed through it without fear, and with Christians
faith would we might oftener see his like.
Palmetto Leaves" pleasant book about Florida'
by Nr Harriet Beecher Stowe. Florida is the south
eastern Of the United States celebrated the
place where Mrs Stowe bestOws herself when the winds
OF Winter wildly rage 10 the cold North Having read
her hook, have made up my mind that If were Mrs.
Stowe would go. she dates letter January "A,
and then she says:
Yes it is done. The Winter is and past and the
time Of the singing Of birds is They at it, beak
and eaw-the red-brds and the cst-birds, ana the
ehaterng jays, and the twitterng sparr0ws busy and
funny and bright Down in the swamp-and fronting
cottage four csa-y buds are Just unfolding them
selves and in the little gardenplot side stand
folding. Right opposite the window, through which
the morning Gun pouring stands stately orange-tree
Dished green leaves fun Of golden fruit These the
yeritable golden apples OF the Hesperides-the apples
that Atlanta threw in the famous and they
good enough 10 be after. The things that fill the
EewYOrk market, called by courtesy oranges-pithy,
wnted, and sOur-have not even suggestion OF what
those golden balls are that weigh down the great glossy
green branches OF yOnder tree"
Observe you please the gratUtous malicOusness of
setting the NEWCOMERS against their oraBges Mrs.
Stowe says that the great charm OF Florida life is its
OntdOOrness To be able to spend your Winter out Of
doors though some days be cold; TO be able sit
with windows open hear birds daily; 10 ent fruit