New-York tribune., 1876-06-02

.ugs will probably fnd little favor with those who would
rcegte Christian truth within tho limits OF rigorous
creed but they make powerful appeal to sympathy 10
imagnation the religious instincts of humanity
THE SYLVAN YEAR. By PHrlIP GILBERr HAMERroN.
l2mO. PIP. 243. Roberts Brothers.
Under a thin vail of fiction, the poetic as
poets of the French landscape here set forth in con
ccton with series OF accurate sketches Of local natn
al history The laid in The forests between the
yinelands OF Burgundy and the course OF the river
Loire where the hero of the narrative occupies an Ola
ancestral residence in the bottom Of a little valley
called val Santc Veroniquc." After the close OF the
Frinco-Pr war, he had taken up his abode in
this sylvan sotu e. accompanied by bis yonng son. who
vas the only Surviving member Of the family III order to
rget his suerings gics under the soothing refresh
nents Of external The place abounded with game
and there many p0acher IN The forest, who were
Ieaed wi cnty by the propietOrs Instead OF being
subjected the severity of the law, aud in Ia te
embled hunters ANA rappes of the American back
woods rather than the English pOachcrs One OF these
resters plays con piclous part the narrative, and
introduced t. the reader the Weasel" which name
had been given him on account OF his adrOlincss ana
AGILITY the practice Of his profession Ills portrait is
irawn with the skill OF an artIst "rIe Weasel was All
Excellent specimen of the Of men that he belonged
o. az pure a Celt any in all France. We. who belong
70 the taller races of mankind, rather apt TO under
value the qualities OF the Cet His supeIlorities may be
summed UP In rapdty OF intelligence and Of action
rne Weasel was in stature below the low standard
4 his race, but he beautifully built with legs and
,rms fit for a painter's model and, Notwithstanding
labor as woOdcuttcr the hands retained an almost fem
inc deliclcy. The hair his head wasrcAly abundant
black and curly; the beard scanty like that
II AN adol, The were like the eyes OF wild
animal quite clear and brilliant but unpleasinty rapid
"a their He spoke III the most goodhumored
nanue aud the first quarter of an hour became
xtreney polite Would We not accept something
@ eati he would do what he could for our entertain.
nent' Having kept little years before, he
confessed tu skill in cookery, and produced IA
.pccimen OF it large oarthen pan filed with ciUet de
pre He had wine, rather rough 10 the palate, hut
;ouud-uia du pays grown in little experimental NiHe-
ard ON the outssirs OF the forest with sufficiently good
soil and southern aspect but much 10" LiSh above the
cvcl Of tie sea for any decacy Of favor. There
coats cheescs of his making, which were cxceient
,ud to conclude, be gave us coffee and dram OF
enitoye winch consisted Of brandy made from pressed
apcs in which he had stepped berries from the juniper
pushes that aboanded in the forest These luXures ana
Inc cigarettes SMOKED with aftcrward were quite
nough to prove that the Weasel did not really ana truly
belong class OF woodcuters by his habits Tor they
ave like ascetcs nor did he apprar IN the least anxious
TO 20 TO his daily aoor HIS earlier life innkocper
tud hi, frequent visits 10 the city where he ate Ia the
ltchcns ol Iii, patIcus had given Inn taste for good
living which may have been one OF the incentives TO his
rareeT a 6rdcDnnteT."
The fictitious element In the volume is quite subOrd
nate o. the descriptions of Nature wn Ii are given with
decacy Of touch well exactucss o dcai, that
orls an agreeable illustration Of the artistic peroe
uns and culture OF the writer Tue sudden change, IN
Winters night IN tie aspects Of the forest presents
,od specimen Of the visOr anI beauty Uf his delnea
tOus
Iis certainly not my intention to trouble the reader
much with changes of the weather, but mention
hs because II pfuiucrd one of those ebchantmeniS
which belong To syNdn sccnciy' ana 10 ~ an scth't}
alone TIE beauty Of hOlr-frUst ~ nothing by uscl'
NOTHING on nakcd rock or mUuntiin uothiug ~ tile
streets Of tie city aud out at sea II Is visible Only on
NJ ships cOragc, II by accident II may Wlten Tor
awhile But sylvan land cape II settles nhed amy
decoration. NJ nUnIan work ls delicate cnuugh &, nc
compared with dcncacy MS this no human artlhter
these millions Of uuy slrars that thrust out points or
IniIudg ginaue hue css lron The ghieSt slGJys t"ost
.Xtrcuntv Tire perfect beauty Of th adOnnent is Ms
uY trec-brtncheS. 4ud uust Visible on the lhn-
nest aud -bics' tie dark tHn twIss OF the hrcu,
uaf bend under the weight oi robin, ur on TIC slender
pu spnys the nrdchrITy tree tnai the mile birds
love -, we'll And II mol every lover OF Nature. how
ever eeeu hts perception, however inyeterde hs bdb oi
observation who has ddd tDc good IOrhe ~ e once l
his own cAistucc 10 see the LOa.Osi IN ltl lection IL
uccds a calm per ett tnat shlp Mth au mr. siIls
would sle mOtiolcSs upon tins sea; u needs also low
cloud ug1n the caltn wbJSe watery PARTICLES or hnl ow
spntIcs. whatever IN their Iuuhitc htiel>S IN may
he NAV ian and scttlc slowly tue stiffness OF the
night ana rccLe aud flscn the Iiniest point they
toucn. Nut Oucc dozen Winters does thiS taiiy
building prosper to lis completion Out wheh me tlhr is
disturbance from the great, slIOn@ gods II
TIE tempyst or the rays III Ia -,aruDg Amio, theu
strange cuchantment desccnds upon Tue iui' ST. ana
tragic beauty clothes II fragile that ihe ashCng oi
bd viii saitcr II, or wind iron hs RAPID Wings
The ho lasted iOr one day Ia ths perfect beauty
rs abundant "a considerable SNOWFALL but lnrph-
paIahy exquisite lie ug indeed To the opacity of
what the lace OF princess l. To tne ncn
OF ORDINARY lie During this one day OF strange
traunuillty | Walked mile after mile in the narrow
woodland roads deeply enjoying Ce solemrty OF tier
silence, and watching without SORROW the beautiful