, 1874-04-25
THEODORE PARKER.

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BnooKs FRo1HNGHAA- 8vo., pp. 688. Boston
james Z. OEgpod Co.
few months before the death Of Theodore
Parker, he remarked to friend. II any one
writes my life, think it will bo George Ripley;
he. better than any one, understands my philos-
ophy, and what meant to do" 'But the per-
sonal life," said the friend "who will write
that? When one has achieved such + character
as yours. we long to know what elements have
been wrought into it." ''That Life. " he answer-
cd with deep emotion, 'cannor be written.
have been asked to employ these few remaining
months in preparing an autobiography. But it
must be written in tears Of blood, II At au." It
WAS never written.
In answer to the eager demands OF friends,
biography was brought out, as soon after his
death Is practicable, BY John Weiss. It WEB pub
lished at Al untavorable time in 1868, when
mems minds were distracted over the fate Of the
country, and every other interest was neglected.
1t was, in addition, too bulky for general ci1cu-
lation,-being in two volumes,-and too much
given to correspondence and prolonged discus
sions A more compact life was desired; one
that would give clear, bold sketch Of the man.
devoid OF superduous accessories and details.
Hence the present work. But the precise need
has NOT YET BEEN NET.
There is still room for third biography; ono
that shall be compassed within duodecimo vol
umo,-the most convenient and attractive Of all
book lorms,- shall tell the plain, unyar-
nished story OF Theodore Parkor's life in q aim
pie aud flowing narrative, which tho multitude
will read with easy comprehension.
Mr. rockingham las resolved the character
Of his subject into Its various elements, with
minute and pains~taking analysis, and there left
it to the ingenuity of the reader to reconstruct
again. It ia trying task, which the many will
fail Of accomplishing, and will turn from with
an incomplete sense OF what the man, Theodore
Parker, really WAS, and Of the exact work he
actually performed. It ia loss and disap-
pointment, for no man OF his generation more
deserved to be Bet before us in q Me-like eem-
blance, With body and soul faithfully outlined
and developed. He WAS an intellectual Titan
and moral hero, whose influence ovor his time
was immense, and whose example it will do the
world good 10 contemplate. Deprecate, con-
demn, az We may, his theology aud his politics,
We can but honor the honesty Of his principles.
tho bravery with which he proclaimed them, and
the courage with which he bore the persecution
for their Bake. that inflicted tho pains OF martyr
dom upon his sensitive spirit.
THEODORE PARKER
was the youngest OF eleven children, snd yetwas
welcomed a. = sweet blessing in the humble
home, where only the plainest fare was to be
had after hard toll On the poor acres OF = little
farm in Lexington, Mass. He was born Aug.
q, 1870 Of father who Was noted in all the
neighborhood for his strong sense, strict probity,
and good understanding; and Of u mother who
had deeply religious aud poetical nature, and
WAS remarkable, among other things, for fine
memory. Both parents we're members OF the
Unitarian denomination, liberal in faith, grave
in demeanor, chary OF speech, Of little education,
yet given to reading and thought, and fully ap-
preciatinR the importance and advantage Of
learning.
The boy ~:s early accorded tho use Of what
opportunities the rural districl-school OF those
days afforded, and WAS very soon distinguished
for an insatiate thirst for knowledge, and pro-
digious power OF retaining it. At years Of
age. having somewhere heard an emphatic dec
lAration OF the doctrine OF everlasting damna-
ton, he passed through an awful mental conflict
which filed night or two with such horror that
he could never afterward revive the recollection
without 3 shudder. But he came ont Of the SOL
itary fight with firm conviction, ne7er again
to be shaken, that Gods purpose in the creation
Of men included no possibility Of their eternal
misery. Before he VIA years old, he had read
trans1Ations Of Homer and Plutarch, Rollins
Ancient History, with such other volumes OF
prose and poetry as fell into his greedy clutches.
4 disease Of verse-mahng" seized him about
this time, from which he never recovered; but
his efforts at courting the muses. were nos mg-
nally successful - circumstance thst occaaioned
him some regret.
When be had reached his 10th year, be received
single term Of instruction at the 'Academy"
in Lexington, where it talked the master to keep
him in work,-his leesons, double tho usual
number, being 30 quickly disposed OF. His
catsaz Of tasching began u II, and extended