New-York tribune., 1878-11-19

Conld but return to my woods ssT once STeIt more
Kncel in their mOssCs as have kntit,
Sit where the cool white MYERS run, .,,
Away from the world and half hld from thc sun
Hear wind in the woods of my stolmtorn shore,
Il seems to me that then c.uld sing
And sing never have sung before
II.
Imiss how wholly miss my wood,
My majchlcSS, magnificent dark.eaycG mrs
That climb up the terrible he -hts Of Hood,
Wncre only the breath of white heaven stiIS!
ForInlcss masses Of Titan forms.
They loom like RUNS OF grandeur gone,
And lonesome death TO look upon.
III.
O God! once more in my life 10 hear
The voice of a wood that IS loud and alive,
That stirs with its beng like a vast beehive!
Aud oh, once more IN my llio to see
The great bright eyes Of the autercd deer;
10 sing with the birds that sing for ne,
To tread where ony The red man tIod'
To say no word, hut listen 70 God!
The composition Of these songs, III some instances Is
more finished perhaps 1t may be sand, more cOnven-
tional than the gushes OF passion, and sorrow, and
ecstacy which are poured forth in the tempestuous
charts Of the Western forest But hev still blend the
crudest conceptions with splendid bursts of poetry and
not unfrequenty the OF dcuon corceas
marvellous poverty OF thought as beneath shining sill
very veil The execution indicates habit OF ar
tistio study, but spontaneous glow OF passion
and often wild luXuriaHce and even grandeur
OF expression. Mr.. Miller makes little account OF ex-
terna nature Isolated aesthetic element, and finds
with his living flesh and blood He is equally regardless
of the traditions Of literature and Of morals OF which the
fruit is loOseness of sentiment and neglect OF scholarly
form His cbange OF "PBstum," for instance. into
"Pestem," OF N0rius into Marus, and other examples
not less eccentric, is proof of the want OF poetic
genius that he is not at home with classical
prOprietes.
THE STUDIO ARTS. BY ELIZABETH WINTHROP JOHNSON.
l2mO. pp 16l, Henry Holt & Co.
The leading practical rules of art, as laid
down by the highest authorities the subject are here
presented in q simple and popular form. In Offering
the little volume 20 the public the author dlscalms all
preteDsiOns TO originality, aud has merely aimed TO
furnish guide TO amateurs Of pictures rather than to
professional painters. The historical and blhHO-
graphical notices which supplement the ddactc por
OF the book viii be found useful 70 many readers,
but gmeuts Of the author which pronounced
with considerable energy cannot always be accepted
without reserve. Washington Alston, II is SAID, for
want Of suitable training aud surroundings"
met with only very partial success, and
"most Of his finished pictures are Ia some
way disappointing. AllstOn, who was one
OF the most highly educated artists Of his day. and
lug his life the midst OF the most refined and culti-
waited society, is not usually regarded as wanting In
suitable training and surroundings :" nor, whatever
disappointment have been felt in his great picture
Of Belshazzars Feast" the completion OF which was
interrupted by the sudden death Of the painter few
modern pictures have been generally regarded with
greater satisfaction than his jeremiah and the Scribe
The Spanish Maiden" Miriam Beatrice" the
"Vison Of spalatrO" Rosalie," Lorenzo and Jes-
sica 10 say nothing OF his larger paintings The Dead
Man Coming to Life" ST. Peter and the Angel" or
Uriel in the SUM-" which won for him fame both in
England and America scarcely surpassed by that OF any
living artist In most respects the studio Arts may
be accepted as convenient manual though not as an
oracle.
THE STORY OF LIBERTY. BY CHARIKs CARLETON
COFFIS SvO. pp 4bA. harper BlOtntIs
The romantic features in the history of civil
and religious liberty here traced from the signing OF
Magma Charia by King John 10 the landing OF the
Pilgrims in Plymouth. In the preparation Of the work,
MT Coffin has aimed chiefly at the entertainment and
instruction of juvenile readers, avoiding the formay
OF historical narrative, and presenting his material in
shape Of personal anecdotes memorable incidents,
and familiar illustrations. He makes no pIcensiODs to
rigid historical research but accepting the usually re-
ceyed of events without critical inquiry repro
duces them in vivid, picturesque narrative, which will
afford charm 10 readers Of every age
and description. The discussion of principles would be
out OF place In work OF this character
aud the author has wisely abstaned from the task lie
the victory of the barons over King John at
Runnymede the initial point Of modern freedom from
which have germnated the Parliament OF Great Britain
aud the Congress OF the United States. The leading
idea which pervades the volume that the people are the
only legitimate Of power, is faithfully followed
up and elucidated in the and often bloody con
fcs with the civil and ecclesiastical tyranny OF des
poc ages The Of tragic drama are depicted IN
sombre colors, and the price which men have paid for
liberty Is set forth In the recital OF usriOus examples.
In the pictorial illustrations Of the volume, which
abundant and admirable the reader Will find fresh
source OF interest which Is often almost equally attrao
tive with the original text.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES. BY VI. F. SwEETsER TURNER.
l2mo, PIP l62. HOughton, osgoOd, & Co.
In spite of its great brevity, this biograph-
ica sketch presents complete potraiture OF the ilu
trious English artist in his strength and his weakness,
depicting character of peculiar and original type,
with perhaps than a common share Of human in
trinity, though not without the admiXuIe OF many
genuine and robust virtues. The work Is founded on
Rlr Walter Thornburys standard biography, extracting
the most valuable elements OF that duse composition,
and also making udlCious Of the contributions OF
Hanortou Leslie, and other writers British art.
peealiy RuskIn, who have furnished important
rias for the Clucidaon OF tie subject Mr. tSwecser
has enlvened his narrative with an abundance Of
characteristic anecdotes which, together with tho crt
eisms OF competent judges Turner's paintings form
a readable and instructive volume.
CYPRUS BY r. H"mLToS 1n1.S LsSG SS svo PP, a7O Mac
The author of this work has been resident
for several years in The island Of Cyprus engaged in
financial and agricultural operations and during part
of the time acting the capacity OF consul with ample
opportunity for becoming acquainted with its CONNER
cia Industrial, and social resources, very consid
cradle portion of the volume devoted to the history Of
Cyprus, presenting in compact and lucid form, the
researches OF previous writers the subject Tue book
contains much interesting information, which until the
recent political changes not OF easy access and 4
large part OF il will be read with curiosity. especially
the account OF the authors experiments in island
farming.
The Dinner Year Book, by Marion Harland
serbners), forms excellent supplement to the