New-York tribune., 1877-11-27

to the existence OF pauper and It's temporary nj
deviation II not its radio cure Hence Dr. Hollands pur-
pose has been maiLry ddlcuc ethical, rcformaiory,
though he has eeced OF the resources of power
ful description animated narrative, aud eloquent laiir-
ton. uis hsro Nicholas MmHn, is man OF ard ut iul-
pulses AID enthusiastic aspirations, cuy0Usy concealed
beuea.n quiet exterior, and artless indifference to
porAlar, commonplace Interests. Slow IN speech ahd
somewhat brusuuo in mnnnor he h1d the awkwaIdnoss,
which i'm England is often rcckoncJ as grace. cca''
wholesome mon Nicholas simple in his tastes,
hearty i'm his friendships bat utterly lonely, without def
nite with inclination for the society OF young
men OF hrs own position. They regarded lim as
slow, almost Nmrlcton, in fact. The eIaiuai
unfolding OF Mmtcru's character from a dreamy,
imnwctcablc, apparonily crratic young man. to
wise and earnest worker for the good OF ms
fellows Is depicted with admirable skill furnishing ma
era,s Tor exciting episodes which tho autAor oesc'
tive talcut is spl-ycd n brilliant light No.ias
could be graphic and impressive Than tho account
Of Tho shipwreck which formed the tuInn--pont OF
Mintu5n's h tory, inspiring him with new motives OF
conduct and ondowug his future life with new sisui-
canoe The most sucecsslu. study IN the story is,
haps the character Of Benson The vhtod sonuchre of
the narrative whose vulgar nature and infamous career
are clothed I'm thin drapcry Of devotion 10 Duty, which
holy word dwcs his dcceiiful lips, whlc financial
vauy OF the dcecs, dye regns in his corrupt and rot
ten heart. Benson Of those quaint hypocries
who always prauug OF the sense OF duty. II lie
could not cat his breakfast with appetite be ate from
sense Of duty. II he whipped his child ne did it rom
sense OF duy. If he felt tempted to stay at home fo
ls church poycT-meeng, hc attended from sense Of
duty. II hc into society was not from any feeling
of good fellowship, lat fOm "a sense OF duty lie h""
"a OF duty 10 God TO society, and TO Emscli-the
latter probably being the strongest He owed 10 MN
self 10 bc prosperous well dressed, well manneIed'
deniGed. healthy. and happy. No doubt ever crossed
mind ne governed in all his life by the hsh-
est motive that man could entertain. His character made
% deep impression Mntu'n from the first moment 0i
their acquaintance. tic regarded hln as paragon OF
human excellence, and oitcu wondered how any man
could achieve such calmucss, such dignity, such nier
turual suavy such power over tine respect aud deer
cnce OF others The crash al last came, and the smooth
tonsucd Mr. Benson ended his career Of prosperous
res rcctthhty in dismal tragedy. Tie details OF Dis
history are managed with no small adroi,ncss He Is
never rcprcsent,d as an example of oasc vices, and
droIs Of piiv mingled with the dcttsta-
ton which ms character calls forth The steps by which
his ruin finally brought 20 pass certainly out OF
the common line, but they convey no suggestion
of impossiuily, ana come IN naturally enough
as the oonsequ nc-s Of his unique delI1yiiy
Dr. Holland shows little tact in preventing bis ahihy
a. novelist from being oNeuidden by his purpose as
Ilauurupist The wO parts are not easily adjusted TO
each other in a fictitious comuoslton The plot and the
moral are apt to he at and what is gained d. ethics
is lost in romance The author has not split On tins rock
n Nicholas Mmurn. His suggestions on practical re-
form are valuable than if they presented in
purely ddacc grb, and the interest OF the plot not
impaired by pleading the visions Of fancy with new
views of municipal economy. Dr. Hollands strongest
point is evidently description his weakest perhaps IL
dialogue but neither is made Intellectual 10y an excess OF
abstract discussion moral reflection IN the couStruc
on Of the plot, the want Of thorough fusion Of The
materials may be sometimes detected the work is NOT
sustained red heat long enough for complete analga
nation hut the fracmcn always glowing and IN
tense and any apparent lack Of unity IN ,le whole is To
great ext nt made mp by the hrlsncy OF the pats.
In the matter of dctIon, Dr. Holland is often more
cneUt to custom ana usage though not fortified
10y the best examples. than would satisfy the rigid adher-
classical English. His choice Of expressions occ
sionav of the slang OF The streets whlh, good
n its place is intruder IN COM position which may be
quoted as authority. Tie punctuation OF the volume,
We are sorry 10 saw abounds in the innovations whlcl
are creeping into American typography, giving il pie
bcau air rs compared with good English printing but
that is, 40 doubt the fault Of the prooircadcr. How
ever Ibis may be- Dr. Holland is 10 be congratulated Oh
the production OF q fresh specimen Of original and DOW
crfu American fiction. In point Of inventive imagina-
ton, conception OF character and natural description.
his may claim high rank ~ our naive literature,
ana vii enhance the weoaned reputation of the au-