, 1874-01-11
E!fla{1 BUrrifts


TES-aINUTE TALKS ON ALL SORTS OF TOPICS.
BY EL11u BuaErTT, With Autobiography OF the
Author. Boston: Lee / Shepard. Ch,cago: jan
sen McClurg Co.
Twenty years ago the name OF Elihu Bu.ritt
Was constantly before the public. HIS early Life
had been so remarAab1e,--he having acquired,
while working at the anvil knowledge OF more
languages probably, than any other living man,
that lis example Was constantly held up 10
young men as worthy Of their emulation. And
10 it was and is. His vast knowledge Of the
languages, living and dead. brought him promi~
nently before the public; and, supplemented as
1t was by his strong, active, and effective cup
port Of the leading benevolent movements OF
the day, lie respectively commanded the adm1a-
tion, aud had hcaped upon him the bitter denun-
ciations OF the two great parties into which the
nation was divided. In the end, the principles of
Ehhu Bunritt triumphed; but, for several years
past. lo eeems to have preferred the quiet ho
had earned, and the cordinl esteem Of the wise
and the good, to keeping himself before the
public. Having now passed his three-seore
years-wlloso life was ever more actively or bet
ter employ. i A-he gives us an autobiography as
II written by third person, but with character
lstic modesty, lest, as he says, when lie is no
more. some one might be tiiBpoEed to publish
unwarrented exaggeratious shout him, and with
tho hope that tho facts thoy really are, might
BllHu4ALe 1olArr9 4utA EAfcluH4 10 Eu4LAs atH aue
nobler promptiuss and faculties Of :beir minds.
No better example has eyer been given Of whnt
unbendinE Industry can do for 3 young man
than that Of EIillu Burritt.
TO the biography is addsd q large collection Of
interesting papers,-somo OF them new, but
most Of them heretofore published, princi-
rally in England, where the author resided
for several years. These papers abound
with incdents and stories, all told the beauti-
ful language and claseic style for which the
writings OF Alz. Burritt have ever been distin
guishcd Some OF these facts nny havo been
forgotten, il ever known to onr Intelligent read
erA. For instance, who knows that, while in the
strength OF lis manhood cloud came over the
mind OF Washington Irving, which threatened
for time tho 1noat disastrous consequences?
Flo was then in England. aud Was taken by his
brother-in-law Henry Van Wart, to bis home iu
Birmingham where, after tho most tender care,
Hs:inS's mud resumed its former power by q
mutual recalling OF the curious and quaint In
habitanta Of Sleepy Hollow, their ludicrous his
tory and habits, where, as boys, Irving and Van
Wart spent many happy DAYS together. The
writing Of, nearly the whole of Zip Van Win
kle' N 4 single night 4 brilliant career fol-
lowed tile birth of Strip" in Birmingham,-a
life that will 1--we long as the English language
But who supposed it WAS written at birmingham,
and not in the quiet shades Of 1rvington, or
amid the crags OF the Catskills, where the scene
is laid?
Ali Mr.. Durritts short papers contain matters
OF similar interest; while those On ne.ional aud
questions will furnish the states
MA with motives for broad and liberal action
and effort. We cordially commend tie book to
tha attention of all our readers.