The New York herald., 1878-12-16
HOLMES ''AIEMoIR OF MoTLEY"-LETTER FROM
PRINCE BISMARCK

fhANCE blSMAkCh.
BOSTON, Dec. l3, 1878.
The most important of the few books to be issued
tomorrow is DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes Memoir Of
John Lothrop Motley" work which it's author calls
merely outline but which is made interesting by
the authors STYLE the Importance of his subject and
the disputes concerning the of Mr.. Motley's
death DIR. Holmes has little but condemnation for
the public officials who recalled Mr.. Motley from his
foreign missions triing pretexts. but he gives
facts not already familiar Several letters. both from
foreigners and Americans who knew Mr.. Motley well.
are incorporated with the text. and few Of DR..
Holmes characteristic expressions. set here and
there, will be found amusing "The self-made man. "
he says, lis too commonly only half made" The
press is the american unholy inquisition." The
North american Rerie,o is 'the old watchdog of our
American literature. always ready with lam
bent phrases in stately articles for native
talent of certain pretension, and wagging
its appendix Of critical notices kindly at the
advent Of humber merit. and again. it is the cold
and awe inspiring New England and more than New
England representative Of the fates." The opening
chapter contains rather pretty picture of the sports
OF three boys, who, when century not far adj
vanced in its second Of years. used to play to-
father The first "the embryo dramatist Of
nations life history" The second, famous talker
and wit, who has spilled more good things on the
wasteful air in conversation than would carry diner
out through half dozen London seasons, and woke
up somewhat after the usual towering time Of author
ship to find himself very agreeable and cordially
welcomed writer-Thomas Gold Appleton. The third
champion of liberty, known wherever that
word is spoken orator whom to hear is to revive
all the traditions of the grace the address. the
manding sway of the slvertongued eloquence Of the
most renowned speakers-Wendell Phillips
Prince Bismarck whom Mr.. Motley is suspected Of
having depicted of the characters in '.Mortons
Hope" writes thus of the days when he, the Ameri-
historian and the botanist Keyserling were COM
rades at G0ttingen MOTLEY kept company with
German students though more addicted to study
than members of the fighting clubs corps. Al
though not having mastered yet the German Ian
guage. he exercised marked attraction by
a conversation sparkling with w.t. humor
and originality. In the autumn of 1888. hav-
ing both Of us migrated from Gottingen
to Berlin for the prosecution of our studies. be-
came fellow dodgers in the house No. 161 Friedrich
Srasse. There lived in the closest intimacy. sar
ing meals and outdoor exercise Motley by that time
had arrived at talking German fuently He occupied
himself not only in translatng Goethes poem.
Faust" but tried his hand in composing Ger
verses. Enthusiastic admirer of Shakespeare
Byron and Goethe he used to spice his conversation
abundantly with quotations from these his favorite
authors pertinacious arguer, much that
sometimes he watched my awakening in
order to continue a discussion some
topic Of science, poetry practical life
cut short by the chime Of the small hours. he
lost his mild and amiable temper. Our faithful COM
panion was Count Alexander Keyserling. a native Of
Courland, who has since achieved distinction as o
botanist. The most striking feature of his hand
some and delicate appearance uncommonly large
and beautiful eyes. He entered drawing
room without exciting the curiosity and sympathy OF
the ladies'
The Memoir will be published by Houghton Os-
good & Co., together with the two New England vol
umes of Poems of Places" and cheap edition
of Lucy LarcoIns childhood Songs" and q new
edition OF abby Sage Richardson's History of Our
Country" which has hitherto been u subscription
book.
Roberts Brothers have "Castle Blair" ready for
Saturday and most readers will agree that they have
done very wise thing in rcprinting it. Nearly all
the characters children and children who are at
once audGciouay wild and at the same time SO
true and brave that the sauccst aud widest of pert
little Yankees could not be injured by their example.
Lee Il Shepard will bring out Nasby's Paper city,
and Howards "Donald's School Days." the former
fairly good but coarsely written study of American
lifc the latter a child's book.