New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
HAMTHoRNE,s BREssANr.
BRESSAET. A NOVEL BY JULIAN HAWTHORN
limo. PIP $50. ID. Appleton a Co

l..
literature of fiction ID is not easy TO lose sight OF the
fllustrious name which is borne upon its title page
or 70 avoid comparisons with the lofty standard that
Is suggested Dy its origin and antececents'' MT
Julian Hawthorne has evidently inherited the spirit
which won for his father an immortal pace among
modern novel writers If he has not established his
claim 20 hereditary eminence by single effort, IT is
no proof of deficiency of genius, nor an omen that
ms career will fail TO illustrate the ancient fame.
The present work betrays sufficient originality and
power 10 show that he is not unworthy of his high
descent while the faults of its conception and ex
eeution may justly be ascribed to the audacity of
youth which will pass away with the lapse of mel
lowing years If it is not free from the natural
erudoness of vemal production, IT certainly gives
promise of q richer fruitage with the growth Of
ripper experience and more ngid culture.
The plot Of Bressant is purposoy shrouded in
mysterious obscurity which is no less at war with
the soundest principles of literary art, than with
profound effect on the imagination of the reader
Neither the situations nor the characters are pre-
scented in sufficiently lucid perspective to aioIu an
adequate motive for the manner in which they are
introduced upon the stage. The action is caIIeu Vi
by faint shadOwings and never brought INTO tne lun
play Of central light 1t is represented ny sueeeS
tons rather than scenes and deals less with eluclda
tions than with engmas. The obscuTlty Is not 'n"'
of the dim religious light which provokes tne fancy
In the aisles of a cathedral, but OF the gnineiins
tapers which make darkness visible Ih 'he near u
cavern
The evolution of the plot is as incoherent as IT'S
ooncention is obscure. There is little movement,
and no progress the paths perpetualy reEnter upon
themselves we are lost in labyrinth, and scarcely
even approach the goal. The incidents are mostly
of too trivial character to supply dramatic maeri-
ais and the denouement Of the stOryis hurried to an
abrupt and forced conclusion from the sheer want
of resources to conduct il to legitimate close.
Nj Hawthorne exhibits no want of creative I'm
agination His defects arise from feeble sense OF
harmony and proportion. The curious blending oil
events into consecutive recital in which every step
follows the preceding in natural and orderly success
TOn forms the great test of constructive skill IN the
novelist and this 10 be entirely foreign 10 MI
Hawthorne's mental habits. His imagination finds
its most active stimulus in the dissection OF morbid
varieties of character rather than in a lovers com
munion with the poetical aspects of nature But
be must be allowed the credit of singuarly keen
and subtle power of analysis. Ii his work had been
Intended for treatise ON practical psychology
illustrated by examples from real life, it would have
uroved a prominent success. II would have re-
nured but a slight change of form TO adapt II COM
pleely to this purpose. His pOrtraiture OF the Old
Professor who occupies so large space In the fore
ground Of the picture, is rare specimen OF tchcl-
tous character drawing. Cornelia and Sophie are
aeneated with no less admirable skill. calling forth
many exquisite and powerful touches, which, If they
had been uniformly sustained, would have entitled
he sketches to the position of masterpieces Even
Mr. William Reynolds, the rustic clodh0pper, VINO
presumes TO tail in love with of
The ethereal maidens of the story, is made
10 play no contemplate part foil to its prevail
ing high-strung sentiment, Mr., Hawthorne's chief
strength lies in his descriptive power. In this re-
meet be can claim an equality with eminent artists
His drawing is accurate, and HIS cOlOrs no less re-
markabe for delicacy than bOldness. He shows him
self patient of toll never leaving sketch lncom-
plete through want of minute and faithful touches.
We have already referred TO the living picture OF
Professor Valeyon and happily, it is of such ma
ture as to receive no injustice from partial exhibit
ton of some isolated traits.
One warm afternoon in June-the warmest Of the
season thus far-PrOfessOr VseyOn sat smoking black
clay pipe, upon the broad balcony, which extended an
the back Of his house and oyerI0okea hree aet
of garden. lnclOsed By SOLID stone wall All the doors
In the house were Open and most OF INC %l1u4Ms 50
that any passing in the road might nave looked
through the gabed porch and me passaee-Wal, Tnen
divided the house TO speak into two parts, ana seen
The see protecting into view beyond the framework Of
Che balcony door. lndeed-tOr Inc professor was Hu
elderly man, and, I'm many respects creature OF haD
precisely tins same phenomenon c2atu nav ocon ou
served any fine afternoon during the summer even
fight of five six granite steps led up from the garden
TO the balcony and although they were quite as Ola as
the rest the house. they looked nearly as fresh ana
crude when they were first put down Inc balcony IT.
self strongly built OF wood ana laced oy "a broad
smooth by much leaning aud sitting. Overhead
Epread an ample roof, which kept away the blaze Of
tbe nooDday sun, but did not deny tue later and
ruddier beams entrance. On either sl0e me
the window OF the diningrOOm aud OF the pro
fcssors study opened down nearly 10 the floor Every
Thing m the house seemed have reference 20 the
D Srn rt or Above the house aud the read
rose rugged emnence sparey clothed WITH patches OF
grass bramDles aud huckeDeTry bushes the gray hho
81 rock pushing up here ana there between. OH lhe
sturdy forest, paradise OF nuts ana sources inc IOut
road ran between rude stonefences ana stragglng
1ohth-cast About two hundred yards beyond the Par
tonageso Professor ValeyOns house was called he III
S@ made P ba4S turn 10 the 3 around spur Of The bill
bringing into the tall white steeDle OF the village
Vround beyond. They dueu ia the Parsonage AZ two
O'Clock Az the professor was wont TO cross
high wooden antepece M 1t from the brown earhen
obaccObO on the table ana stepping through tht
window on the balcony. take his place IN his chair
Here he would st sometimes t sundOWn, composed III
hodV and mind dreaming, perhaps, the rough
oStbway Of his earlier fe and facilitating the process
by exhaliug long wreaths of tnnnest smOkeayers nom
hIs mouth and ever aud crossing and reerOssing
his IeCs on Che present afternoon ii really veIy
hot Professor ValeyOn occupying ms usuai position
mad nearly finished second pipe. He had thrown Oi
the light hnen buster he usually wore. aud sat with hIs
Vastcoa OPEN displaying sOmew hat rumped but very
swathed in the white neckte which was the only visible
relic OF ministerial career He had covered his bald
head with handkerchief. for the double purpose OF
keeping away the es and creating cooling current OF
mir one OF his dOwntrOddcn slippers had dropped on
and LAID s0leupWard on the noOl. Ihere was 10 ~ ~
tom OF breeze ia STILL valley, nor even on tue
tagged ridges Of the opposing hills The professor wl
al appliances for GOODNESS ana comfort Iet tue heeu
Of one strongly.
The description Of an iAterior which occurs in an
pary part OF the volume remarkable for the grace
with which il so deity hints the character OF the
occupant
Twas singular with how few and how simple means
created the impression or purity ana fepOse INA
DhauIu.r I,r.1nLLnAI hEnIgnI mlmd the eaIy