New-York tribune., 1876-05-23
TILE ATLANTIC.


Under the title of "a Prophet of the People"
this number has paper on Buddha and Buddhism re-
uea;ng the claims which are urged in many quar-
ters In favor the antique Oriental mysticism to place
among modern fashionable systems OF religion lhe Ola
legend is dressed up in attractive poetcAl form e&
hib!ting the Of Buddha, or Sakyamuni, as an
example of a pure and noble life. Even his failures
only serve TO urug him nearer TO our consciousness
But because the manifold sweetness that dsis from
his works and Teachings he VIII be counted In the
number OF those the heart OF humanity cbcrisbes
its most loving IL they be not its wisest beneiacors
Mrs Kcmble continues her "Old Woman's Gossip
which is no remarkable Tor the faDkness OF its com
municaton trivial details than for its reserve In regard
to tho most important incidents and experiences OF her
lie In connection with Tenuyson, Arthur Halldm. and
their early companions Mrs Komble presents striking
sketch OF Sterling, which shows a subtle insight
into the nature OF that original. but unpened genius
or all those very remarkable yOung men, John Sterling
was by far most brilliant and striking in his CONVEX
stion and the one OF whose future emucnce should
all OF lis have auurcd most confidently. But though his
life was cut Off prematurey it sufficiently prolonged
o dstrove this estimate OF his powers. The extreme
vividness Of his look manner and speech gave wonder
fu impression Of latent vitality and power; perlap'
some OF this ambent. flashing brightness may nave been
but the of the morbid physical conditions "i ms
existence like the nush on bis cheek and the IRE in his
eve tie over-sumuatcd and excited intellectual activity
t,e onYing OF disease, mistaken by for morning
instead splendOr promise OF future iigt and
heat instead OF prOgnOstcatOn OF approaching dardnss
and decay II certainly has always struck me as singn-
lar that Stirring i'm his life accomplished SO little and
left so little of the work by which men generally pro
nounced to be gifted with exceptional ability, should
have been the subject of such interesting biographies
as those ritten of hm by Jul us Hare and Carlyle
think lie must have been Of those persons in whom
genius makes itself felt and acknowledged chiefly through
the medium of personal mtcrcOuIsr-a not ufrequent
thing | think, with women and perhaps men, wanting
the full vgor Of normal health. suppose 1t is some
failure not much in the power possessed az In the
power Of producing it in less cyanesccnt form thau
that OF spoken words, aud the looks that with such
organizations are than the words Themselves.
sterng's genius was his Wesen. himself and he could lie
tach no portion Of it that retained anything like the
power and beauty would have expected. After all,
the world las twice moved (Oncc intellectually and
once mOaly) IA before since, by those whose
spoken WORKS. gathered up by Others are all that remain
of Them Personal influence is the strongest and the
most subtle Of powers and Sterling impressed all who
knew him as a man Of undOubted genius; those who
never knew him Will perhaps always wonder Why
Mr. Howells gives lively picture Of Shaker
village" which one would suppose offers rather un-
promising subject for his fine descriptive powers but
which he manages to clothe with an ideal glow. Mr..
ueury James IT,, commences n story called The
American" and T. b. AldI1ch Paul Haync, and others,
contribute noticeable poems.