The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-04
DRIFT FROM Two SHORES.

Sinoe Hawthorne American literature has had NO
such genius as Bret Hartc and his latest volume.
''Drift from Two Shores" (Houghtor, Osgood & co.,,
confirms this opinion, which gained ground when the
'Iuck Of Roaring Camp ana otner stories frst APP
peared Bret Haite 10 almost tho only writer Of short
the sale Of whose books Is rsmuueratve. As
a general thing publishers do not like to have any
thing TO do with short stories. They would rather
put a mediocre novel upon the market than a volume
OF tales, be they never bright. Bret Hurtcs, how
ever exception this rule, and II is his
rather than his novel that the public devour. In
tho present volume tho stories OF equal merit.
They all. however, stamped with the authors &C.
and could have been the work Of no other hand;
but one or Two are not quite up TO his Standard which
is the only one they could be measured by
THO best story In this collection Is jimmy" IL
Bret Harte had never written anything else, that
would have made him famous among all admirers of
artistic writing. Take the opening sentence Tor
ampcs--"l think that the lew who were permitted TO
know and love the object OF tins sketch spent tho
Of their days not only attitude oil apology Tor
having first failed TO recognize her higher nature
but that they suouli have lent a creduious
car " py,ors tradition Ing her family carac
tcristics. She had not escaped that calumny which
she shared with tho of her for those youthful
foIlies evities indiscret which belong TO I'M
mat riy 1t Is very probable that the nrmncss that
distngui shed her naturer viii In youth might havo
been taken 70. obsiinacy; that her nice DIS
elimination might a the same period have
been taken far adosscsnt caprice. and that
the positive expression OF her quick INTELLECT
might have been thought youthful impcrtincnce
before her wears respect for her
Judgment she was foaied mt Indian Greek, ana
Que month later, when she was brought TO esw.
yxr's Bar, was considered the smallest DONKEY ever
seen In the ioothills' "rhe Hudlum Band; or, tho
Boy Chief the Infant Politician and the Pirate Prod
KY condensed novel, is one Of the most delicious
bias OF burlesqus we have ever read. Mr.. Haries iun
runs riot In this sketch aud he angs his pen arouad
IKE the arms OF a windmill, SO that 10 hits on ali
sides He begins at was quiet New England VII
Iage Nowhere In the valley of the Con ncctcut the
autumn sun shone upon q more peaceful, pastrai,
manufacturing community. rho wooden nutmsgs
we're slowly ripenng the trees. and tho White pne
hams for Western consumption were gradually round
Ing into form under tho deft manipulation OF tho
hurdy American artisan The honest Connecticut
farmer quietly gathering from MS tnrsshing oor
tho shoe pegs, which, when intermixed with q lair
proportion OF oats offered plea aut substitute Tor
fodder to the ece civilizations OF Europe. sabbath
like stiffness prevailed Docmviiie was only eleven
miles from Hartford, and the surrounding landscape
smiled with the conviction OF being fully insured"
.The Man the 3escn'' and "Roger Catron's Fncnd"
arc the least powerful oil these stories bat sliIi Ike
all the others, they are Conspicuous for that
light though irm touch which IS Characteristic OF
tbis masters hand