The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-04-04
Lever and Marryat COMPARED.

Both Lever and Marryat have keen
satirical vein running through their
writings yet they can neither of them
be called satirists. Theirs is the satire
of Horace and of Sterne, not the ruth
less invective of Juvenal, or the sevis-
sima indignatio of Swift. They shoot
folly as it flies, but the echo of each
shot is drowned in a peal of ringing
laughter and good-humored merriment.
Over and above this innate kindliness
of heart, equally conspicuous in Lever
and Marryat, their novels are stamped
by an individuality which serves to
make the writer personally known to the
reader. Hence the feeling, elected by
each successive work of the authors of
Harry Lorrequer and "Midshipman
Easy, that it was but fresh opportu-
nifty offered to the public of improving
an acquaintance which had begun years
since and hence, too, it was that, when
Lever died, last year, and Marryat died
"a years ago, a sentiment of keenly per-
sonal loss and sorrow went through the
country; such sentiment as that which
followed the death of Thackeray and of
Dickens, and which it is one of the
truest tests of genius to create. Again,
Marryat and Lever possessed the same
insight to human character and human
motives-the same happy faculty of in
vesting typical personages with a varie-
ty of development and a diversity of
color. Neither Marryat nor Lever re-
peat themselves. Inferior artists are
only able to shadow forth the same type
in one individual Lever and Marryat
have legion of characters for one and
the same type. A comparison between
the dramatis persona of Peter Sim
pie" and g Midshipman Easy" will IL
lustrate the Justice of this view in the
case of Marryat while we have but to
place in mental juxtaposition the actors
in =" Harry Lorrequer and Jack
Hinton to verify it as regards Lever.
As the two men arc alike in their high
est excellences, so are they in their de-
fects. Neither can produce zeal or eff
fective sketch of natural scenery unless
there is human presence In the fore
ground. Both are wanting in pathetic
powers, and both fail artistically when
they attempt the portrayal of feminine
character. The women of Lever and
Marryat remind one of what may be
witnessed on the stage of half dozen
London theatres. just as most COM
panies possess an actress whose special
mission is to play one particular part,
and who seldom ventures beyond the
limits of the familiar role, and just as
the habitue knows perfectly well before
hand that the delineatiOn OF character,
though the name be altered, will be on
each successive occasion identical, so
the reader of Marryat and Lever, i'm
mediately understands the place which
a heroine is destined to fill in the action
and development of the story, is able
to identify her with some one or other
of the few feminine varieties he has pre-
viOusly encountered. Close upon
quarter of a century has passed since
Marryat died; more than a quarter of
century passed since the first of Levers
novels appeared, and the books of each
writer continue to hold their own; more
than this, those who read these books
first as boys, can turn to them again,
now that they are men of middle age,
with all the zest and pleasure that at
tended their first perusal. This one
simple fact is the highest test of truth
to nature and fidelity to life to which
writer of fiction can be submitted. In
his 60 Diary to America" Marryat tells
the following charming story: 81
made, this morning, a purchase at q
store, which an intelligent little boy
brought home for me. As he walked by
my side, he amused me very much by
putting the following questions: &C Pray
captain, has Mr.. Easy left the king of
England's service ?" CT think he has"
replied I !; eff you recollect, he married
and went on shore. "Have you seen
Mr.. Japhet lately p was the next query.
" Not very lately" replied I I" the last
time 1 saw him was at the publishers"
The little fellow went away perfectly
satisfied that they were both alive and
well. Such power as these questions
of the small American implies, is a
heavy responsibility for the author who
possesses it and no author could have
exercised it with an effect more uni
formly beneficent than Marryat, and, it
may. be added, Lever. The tone and
temper of Marryat's novels are those
with which English parents would like
to see their sons imbued-the lessons
imbedded in the midst of alItheir pleas
antry, who would steer straight course
through life-lessons of constancy to
purpose, loyalty to duty, loyalty to
friends. And the same thing is true of
Lever. Is the devil to have all>the good
tunes to himself? Is virtue to be per-
petually condemned to wear the mien of
dullness? Marryat and Lever are,
above all things, national writer's, and
of two national writer's such boast as
this is a mighty one to be able to make.
SABBATH DAY SUGGEsTIoNs.-A con-
of Gods works, a generous
concern for the good of mankind, and
the unfeigned exercise of humility only,
denominate men great and glorious
addison
It is anold saying and one of fearful
and fathomless import, that we are
forming characters for eternity. Form
ing characters /! Whose? Our own or
others? Both, and in that momentous
fact lies the peril and the responsible
ty of our existence.-EyihW BlETT'ttt.
A just man does Justice to every man
and to everything; and then, if he be
also wise, he knows there is a debt of
mercy and compassion due to the in
of mans nature, that is to be
paid; and he that Is cruel and ungentle
to SHINING person, and does the worst
to him, dies In his debt and is unjust.
Taylor.
All the beauty and glory of Christ
lights 70 dwell; His visits there are fire.
quent. His condescention amazing. His
CONVEX alton sweet, His comforts re-
freshine, and the peace that He brings
passeth all understanding Thomas A.
RenapiS.
Of him that hopes to be forgiven it is
indispensably required that he forgive.
It is therefore superfuous to urge any
other motive ON this great duty. Eter-
nifty is suspended; and to him that re-
fuses to practice it, the throne of mer-
cy is inaccessible and the Savior of the
world has been born in vain.-JoIta-
son.
MIR. WandeIl, In a recent lecture at
Salt Lake City, speaking of little girl
who was rescued from death at the !
Mountain Meadow massacre, but whose |
mother was killed in that fearful slaugh- !
Ter, said: "She had recognized her /
mothers dress on a Mormon woman at |
Cedar City. The child was at once sus-
Oected of knowing too much to be per-
nitted to live. A council of the priest