The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-12
LITERATURE.
"a LEGACY" BIZ THE AUTHOR OF ''JoHN
HALIrAx"


HALIyAx."
In "a Legacy Harper 4 Brothers) Mrs. Muloek-
Cr4ik gwen the literary remains Of john Mar
TIN. sort OF pro,eee OF hsrs--s young man VINO,
though born In the Sums Of London, possessed re-
Dnsd intelligence and literary ambition. Martin was
introduced 10 Mrs. Craik Dy . mutual friend. and
ne TO her and talked over his hopes
and bis prospects 0he describes him At this inter
"a mere lad. though ne rust have been over
twenty one: but, far my memory serves me, he
dd not look above signlecn or nineteen
He dressed like a gentieman'-that IS,
the clothes he seemed completely his own
ana suitable to him thar whether or not they be-
onged to bis original rank in lie you never paused
70 consider. Without beng handsome or even good
looking he had the sort OF head that is called
pos,cal-rathsr shelIsysn in chnracter-with youth
iul grace about II aud unniistakabio relnement" Ho
brought bundle OF manuscripts with him and sat pa
uently while Mrs Crsk read them. T0s poems were
not above the leve, vi very youthful vorsyDg, and
she obliged Tell him the truth. no took IL ia
all kindness and gratitude. Without feeling
that the young man was genius he In
terested her. and their interview vas on the
whole u pleasant one. sue told him como again,
but he did still frequently, and
sent hcr MS manuscripts for criticism. This cor
resrondeace was kept up for several years, without
the display Of any great advance In tho poetry but mis-
letters were always markell by strong originality,
though brief BY the end Of eight years his poetry
began to show sigma Of great improvement At last
ne sent ner three act play, called sPacdo," which
given In this volume II Is modelled after the old
dramaiists, but Is no mere copy Of their work. IL ID
digniaed In tone and ioroDle In manner, with now
and then q shade Of melodrAmatic captrap. Not q
play ever to attain popularity, but a good reading
play, and one With more than the average
ing school In the country, but, falling Ill, he
returned to London 10 his sister, who lived in
ne,ghborhood worse even than the seven Disls. and
there he died in tho thirtisth year OF MS age. Mrs
Craik arrived at his lowly home juss hall hour after
the breath had lett his body The descripttono the
10 pathetic In the extreme The greater part Of
"A Legacy" Is made up Of extracts from Nartin's
.'Note Book 6f Thought, Experience, Reading" &C..
begun September II. 1872 and flushed December Il,
1874 In this nse book he shows that his strength lay
iu prose- writing Hts language il clear ana vigorous,
and his observations acute, and there innate re-
nnemont about everything he writes. He was un-
doubtediy hard thinker - well rs hard STUDENT
aud older and even wiser mea will ind food for
thought in tho jottings vi this poor boy
We thoroughly agree with Mrs. Craik that
his genius not in the direction of poe
try, bat his verses, while lacking originality
were never commonplace. They are perfectly simple
In thought and straightforward In expression. There
is settled melancholy running through them all, and
though no cries ont against tate is not in naudlin
tone, as seen by this sonnet
Oh, that my place among tho singers sweet
In Gods most holy temple might take,
Where all eooc music and Mi joys do msett
Oh that might all my sins iorsaKe;
Else i shall never that cool retreat
Upon whose shores tho eternal waves do boat,
Casting up precious driftwood from the small
Aud frstful sea Of time l AN q thrall
To Satan, stern taskmasterl would fain
Break all his bonds in sunder, but my strength
Is unavailiug. Constant, bitter pain
Therefore attends me. The good God 1t length
May with one finger set free
From preying doubt and selfish misery
The reader Of "A Legacy will soon see that Mar
TINS prose Is much better than his poetry and will
share with the lady who has ombalmed his momory Ia
this volume the regret that he did not i've uAl
promise here given Of distinguished future. There
10 something inoxpressibly touching In fragment OF
life IKE that Of David Gray John Martin Though
not AZ gifted q man as Gray. there much Of the
element In Martin. Mrs Craik has done her
work OF friendship WE'LL and has made place for
protege In the hearts Of Thousands who would never
have heard Of him but for her.