New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-24
NEVER AGAIN by W. s. MAYO NJ D. l2no rp 7Oa G. P Pot
mans

NEVER AGAIN .By ". s. MAYO D. l2mo. % 7O3 g. p Pat
mans Sous
In the fictitious productions which gave
certain celebrity TO the author of tins volume in the
earlier periods of his literary career there was remark
able blending of the suggestions OF fancy with portrait
ures of actual life. Reality and romance were combined
in harmonious proportions TO east pleasing Illusion over
the senses and the maginaOn The singular descriptive
power betrayed in "Kaloolah" was admirably matched
by the quaint simplicity Of its narrative STYLE when
gave to the composition the charm of rehearsal Of
personal adventure The readers of that work who can
recall the impression which produced at the time OF its
original publication will hardly find the hand Of the
favorite author the present story will those who
now make acquaintance with his name for the first time
be able to Justify the enthusiasm with which he was
suddenly installed in high place OF our native ltera-
turc. In Never Again." the satire predominates over
the plot. The incidents of the narrative are meager and
serve no other purpose than the illustration of character
The writer has attempted to exhibit some of the con
sncuous features OF American society and the person
ages OF the story are introduced chiefly az layhgures
to indicate the outlines and proportions OF his sketches
which are too strongly nged with earcature TO be re-
ceved kenesses from nature Some OF his pictures
of life in this country, doubtless have basis in truth
but even these presented through such distorted
medium as 10 shock the sense Of probability, and
their lack of perspective destroys their merit as
artistic creations Others appear TO be the mere
fruit OF a wild invention, representing persons and
scenes with as little regard correctness Of conception
good taste IN description One Of the characters OF
this stamp Uncle Shipper, who in dress and manners
is brought forward a gentleman of the old school,
but in speculation and opinion is neoOgst" of the
most advanced views. His short stout person
clothed In blue broadclOth and white wastcOat OF
extreme antique pattern. broad black ribbon, which
might be taken for some foreign order, dag
onalized" across his breast serving merely TO
support a pair of tOrtoise-shell eyeglasses. His
stiff shirt-collar, which extended both cheeks till
1t nearly cut of his and inclosed great part Of his
bald head was encircled by thick padded neckcloh.
His costume completed by lustrous shirt-rufle
crmped in the highest style OF art and brass buttons
the back of his coat reaching nearly to the shoulders
But this intense specimen Of antiquity who spOrted only
the fashions of fifty years ago. demanded the latest cut
in the matter of ideas. The correlation of forces and
the doctrine Of evolution had already become an
old story, but the theory of spontaneous gen
Grafton opened q new and most attractive field.
He had wandered over and again from Pas
teur 10 Bastian with infinite delight, and under the
disclosures Of telescope and specroscopc research had
changed his opinion Of the constitution Of the sun half
a-dOzen times. One of the hobbies Of this ancient ABB
surdity theory with regard TO the signs of long
life and whenever he could get hold OF innocent
tim would pull huge pair of calipers from his coat
pocket and begin 10 his head, in
spite OF the fear OF surgical operation the
part OF the subject "Sir," said he, on one oc-
cason 10 q meekeyed listener at dancing
party, lay this down fundamental test of Ion
gevity-that II book which has given great delight
at its first appearance, say twenty years ago. upon
second reading after that a longer interval still con-
tnues to give much delight that book has
the principle Of longevity in high state OF concentration
upon the second reading find that il alsfar short
OF my first c0ncepOns-f find the characters not
what had supposed them to be-that they absurd
and rather coarse exaRgerations; in a word If find
that hon ala ha 1naa
the idea had at first formed then Sir, doubt whether
that book has that principle OF longevity that will carry
much beyond It's generation into the coming ages
You the lapse Of twenty years as a base
line, and having the angle OF my first concep.
tions take the angle OF my last conceptions and
the indicates the probable longevity of the book"
We submit this is not the current style OF CONVEX
sation at NewYork ball. aud that no one could indulge
in it, however broad his phyacteres shining his shirt
rue without being sent the insane hospital the next
morning.-The authors own dlcton, although he fire.
quenty shows his accustomed power of word-painting
we are to say, has greatly degenerated from
early forcbe simplicity, and cannot be taken model
OF pure English chsste rhetoric. His description
for instance, o. the music at Baden Baden az the
" Dectared aud subtle vocings Of an exquisite
and intensified cOnventionality that foated
on the golden and odorous air." must be con-
sdered as more ambitious than instructive. profound
moral is doubtless conveyed In the passage which emu
merates among the temptations OF American girls "the
pretentous and demoralzing spslop or worse OF the
bOardingschoo or the depuderising freedoms OF the
watering place hotel" but US 1t Ia written In the
yernacular meaning s not obvious In the mecban
cal execution OF volume the author has fallen into