New-York tribune., 1873-01-04


BosroN, Dec. 30.-AmOng the new issues OF
J. r. oseood Co. is one which have read with es-
peesl interest 1t being composed of Essays Sketches
and stories Selected Writings OF George Bryant
Woods with a Biographical Memoir" Mr.. Woods, as
doubtless most of your readers know my predeces
cor rs THE TRIBUNEs Boston literary correspondent;
and in getting acquainted, through these remains OF MS
with the character and quality of his mnd ana culture
have experienced something the same pleasure Win
hieh one who had moved into house would come upon
memoranda that should reveal all the tastes ana haots
of its former occupant / knew Mr. Woods but slightly
IN the body; but having read this volume feel that
am well acquainted with HIM I'm the spirit Ana noble
spirit It wasiust generous, and manly He possessed
n liberaliiy OF thought and breadth OF observation
most remarkable when We consider that he dled st 70
and that duriug OF his life he had been an Invalid
His style strong and 'smpe founded ON the pes'
models, yet modelled after none-a style which MS
biographer characterizes transparency cear YET
not inelecant brilliant but not sensational, cultivated
but not pedantic." This memorial volume Is uVlded
into several part After the preface by the editor ana
the brief biography have, first Essays ana sKetches
ON Social and Literary Topics" Among these, where all
are GOOD IL is difficult to parcuarize but have been
especially pleased with the paper Mr. Tenniers Car
toons" and the brilliant analysis OF the power OF
.wonden Philips as anlOrator" Mr. Woods considered
that the "Punch" OF to-day rested mainly upon
the shoulders OF man, and that man Mr..
John Tenuiel; an artist who has for many
years stood at the head Of his department of art
apartment requiring peculiar powers not only OF
execution, but Of Judgment, of wit of command
Of classical auson and OF certain nameess facility in
catching the spirit Of event and presenting IT in
new form which is worth all the other qualities to-
geiher." Mr. Woods gives penplctures of some OF Mr.
Tenniels happy hits for instance, when during the
heat Of the Fenau excitemeDts, the earioonist con
densed more accurately than could volume Of discus
M. EuuliSh viaw of he
picture Of a scene from The Tempest" "Mr. Glad
stone ~ PrOspero stands calm and dignfed, his wand
the Irish land bi Gentle Hibernia, Miranda, cllngs
affrigbted TO the magician. Caliban-an irish
Calihan, the ugest creat1re pencil could devse-ages
before them with frenzied face and furious fists and
the inscription Is:
"'Ths islands mine, by sycorax my mother,
Which thOu tak'si from me-"
In su Froude's many lectures ! doubt If he has
pressed the English sentiment completely. In the
cartoon entitled Critics" have two gentlemen at
book stall, each quite unconscious Of the others
prcaence Mr. Gladstone sterny turning the pages
Of" "LOthar," with HINT Flippant!" and Mr.. Disraeli
siriy skimming through Juventus Mundi," with Ha
Prosy" Nr. Woods describes vvdly the cartoons of
Mr Tennie through the Franco Prussan War; that 1t is
almost as good seeing He says justly: These
pictures much more than ephemeral caricatures
They OF art Of high order. They must often
have been done lu haste and with opportunitS for
finishing tOuehes hui they show no signs OF hurry are
st once maryeloUsy graceful and superbly vigorous,
and very rarely defaced by any defective drawing"
In his discriminating analysis Of the oratorca power
Of Mr. Wendell Phillips. Mr.. Woods speaks OF the Diff
Guilty OF comparing him with anybody He says: "wen
den Philips stands alone. His style is unique 1t is i'm
possible 10 apply TO him even the universal maxim
of DemosheDes. Action action action, is not the first
requisite with him. for IL is by means essential ee-
nent Of his Oratory. We cannot imagine him declam-
ing the Give liberty give me death OF Patrick
Henry ping up the massive perOratiOns OF Daniel
Webster. His intensity of passion unlike the
berant tropical fcryoT Of Rufus Choate as his camness
D. unlike the elaborate and impressive dignity OF Edward
Everett" To describe the oratory OF Mr. Philips Mr..
Woods finds only less difcut than 10 compare it with
that of any else It's first trait is it's simplicity We
can dwell the manifold beauties of picture by
great artist there little 10 be said about GOttOs
o. There 1t stands. IL is without a flaw. 1t com
petey answers the purpose for which IL intended
There is nothing more TO be said about ii. so
d is with the c0quenee Of Mr.. Phillips"
His gestures are OF the very gentlest sort
Heraises neithervoice hand. He culls OF the
flowers OF rhetoric. He has no perorations. But he
never utters a sentence which child might not compre
hend OF Illustration the force Of which the
D0nest group OF listeners about the stove in country
store might not feel. The magnetism Of his presence
like power OF his oratory is too subtle 10 be photo
grapbed ITO say that his toward his audience
cold would he TO wholly Inadequate term. 1T is
ofteuer hostile not seldom defiant" He most brilliant
orator when he is most bitter; and this brilliancy
bitterness hard to anayze the rest of his
qualities. do not remember 10 have seen any article
which gives good an idea of what manner of man and
what Of speakers Wendell Phillips this same
article of Mr. woodss yet he is forced conclude
by conessng that he has said little OF the great orators
elOquence, except that il cannot be described.
In the division Of the book, namely the Essays
aud Sketches Dramatic Subjects" there brief
papers of quite remarkable value. allude TO those
titled respectively. How old Hamleti and The
Time Of Hamlet" In these two papers, Mr. Woods takes
with both Mr. Richard Grant White andiss Kate
Field. Mr. White elaborated theory about the age of
Hamlet which Mr. Woods thinks so prepOsteroUs that
the author himself must abandon II, now that he looks
Mt his words in the cool permanence Of print" This
theory than that Hamlet only 20 years old
when mis- father died, and was 90 when he killed his
uncle having spent the irresolute debsngs
and devices which the theme Of the tragedy. Mr..
Woods proves that this is utter Misrepresentation of
Shakespeare who has not only himself been consistent
but pains TO tell the spectators Of the spses
Of time in the the drama, plainly
dramatsts them down IN the play bills, so that it
would that he who runs through it at railroad
epeed must understand"
Hamlet the elder died; within a month" his widow
married bis murderer; when he two months
dead" his ghost appeared Hamlet, and the Prince
thought himself ready TO sweep TO his revenge with
wings swift meditation the thoughts OF love-"
Bnt he delayed and debated eigned madness devised
pisns and the dramais has very clearly indicated how
much his iresolution thus consumed by opheliss
In the play scene that is now four months
since the King died. That very night Hamlet killed Polo
Mus the next day he sent 10 England and here
the second break in the continuous action ii
long enough for Hamlet two days old at sea- to be
by accident 10 the deck Of pirate, and so
brought home again. arriving the day Of the
death Of ophea, in the madness caused by her |
fathers loss On day of her funeral the drsnatist
that we may he dark nothing necessary TO