The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-09-18
Historic and Literary Miscellany,
by g.. Nh. ID. BAoss, Cincinnath:
Rnhprt Clarke G Go.

by q. M, Ds bAOSS, CluCAMmAths
q Robert Clarke & Co.
Through the kindness Of the author
we have received advance sheets of
this work. AS o journalist Mr.. BIoss
has long enjoyed repu tation second to
none in the West. AS miscellaneous
writer he displays an ease and readiness
that alone would insure popularity. His
productions are never OF that elaborate
sort that "smell Of the lamp" while at
the same time they are the result OF pro-
found thought and careful preparation.
His style is at once smooth, graceful and
vigorous, and his language is ever char
acterized by an elegant simplicity suited
to the most ordinary understanding.
His eminent scholastic requirements are
visible through all his writings, which
are thus adorned In a manner to be ad-
mired by the learned and appreciated by
the most illiterate.
We are well pleased that Mr.. Bloss
has at length decided to give to the pub
lie work like the present. It fills a
disideratum that has long existed in
American literature. 1t is handsomely
published and forms a volume OF nearly
five hundred pages. The collection COM
prlsed in it is, in every way, most judi
cious one. 1t contains some of his ablest
efforts, such as in the columns of news.
paper or magazine would be most widely
read. The great variety Of subjects dis
cussed, party politics. however, being
severely ignored, gives it almost an en-
cyclopedic character, and not an article
in it but, in our opinion, will be found
both entertaining and instructive. 1t is
precisely what the popular mind needs,
and we would cordially recommend it to
every one IN search of pleasant and prof
liable reading, and predict for it the
success which it assuredly deserves.
TO give better idea OF it's contents
we will here inserta few extracts. Un-
der the title, "The Prolixity of Modern
Authors," we find the following very
sensible remarks:
"The great, yea, the fatal defect OF the
literature OIL this age, particularly in the
United States, is its extreme prolixity
and yerbosity. Its compositions in ev-
cry department Of thought are swollen
to an almost interminable length. The
finest mental jewels are buried in the
wordy caskets in which they are placed.
Even II our literature in other respects
was deserving Of perpetuation, OF going
down to be admired by poslerity, its
immense proportions would prevent it,.
Ii human lives were Of the length of the
antedeluvian period, they would not sui
nee to make men acquainted with the
ponderous tones and overwhelming fo.
hos in which the learning of the nine-
teeth century is embedded. We are, to
use the expressive phrase of Carlyle,
literally going to "wind and tongue"
One is almost inclined to think it would
be blessing ii half the words in the
English language could be stricken out
of existence, in order to drive writers
into condensation and takers into brew
tty. We have often thought of what
would be the probable length of works OF
the scope of ''Hume's History of En-
gland" or "GibboHs Decline and Fall OF
the Roman Empire" if they were to be
undertaken by modern historians of the
school OF Bancroft, Theirs or Motley"
In "Sir Edward Lytton Bulwer' we
have an elegant mental portraiture OF
that great author:
SIN the long line of British authors,
from the time OF Chaucer and Shak-
speare down TO Dickens, there are few
names which have left behind them such
memorials of gseatness, associated with
such contemporary popularity as Sir
Edward Lytton BulWer. We call him
by the appellati0n under which he won
his laurels of fame rather Than that
which, by assuming, he obtained pecu.
mary fortune. Many OF to-day can re.
call the fervent burst OF enthusiastic ad-
miratien with which the advent of the
author of "Pelham" was received in the
domain Of fiction by all those who read
and speak the English language. He
was the legitimate successor of Sir
even excelled that immortal writer. In
the magnifcence OF his diction, in the
extraordinary exuberance in which he
clothed his brilliant Imagination, where,
indeed, had be a rivalp He is the Lord
Byron OF prose. There are some points
OF resemblance in the character and
lives Of these children of genius. Both
belonged to the higher GLASSES Of society
and represented noble houses. Both
united the generally opposite and antag.
onistical roles of men Of the world and
men OF Literature. In their style there
was the same warmth OF cOloring, the
same glowing and sparkling elnqusnee,
AMI i'll tnelr thoughts the same disregard
OF what was considered the moral and
religious sentiment OF The world"
And in another article splendid trib-
ute is paid to the genius of one greater
still;
ssSir Walter Scott may be considered as
the founder OF the school OF modern nov
elists, and no one since has begun to
equal him in it. His superiority arose
partly in this, that be had no successor
or predecessor who 80 faithfully por-
trayed the manners and customs and
incidents Of particular epoch. 1t was
Lord Brougham, we believe, who SAID
that there was more genuine history to
be found IN the Wayely Novels than
any other professed history thai had
been written. In his multitude of works
he has illustrated the days OF the CRU
sades, of chivalry, and OF the English
civil wars in SO weird and interesting a
manner as to leave an enduring impress
upon all who have perused them. AS a
mere story-teiler he was unexceIled.
His plots are absolutely inscrutab bic, an d
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