New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

NORIEY AND TYLER'S ENGLISH LITERATURE
AMANUAL OF ENGLISH LITERATURE by hk sSib
numerous retrenchn ents and aOdltOhs' Wy 4"O'AS
Cor TYLER. l2mo, pp. 66o ehedoh q w.
The original work, of which this is an anenuou
and improved edition, by distinguished American
scholar was an admirable manual for the use Oh tne
higher classes in schools and for the practical SUI
dent o, the elements Of English literature MI
Tyler instly remarks that for fulness OF learning
and for vigor and wholesomeness Of thought II Is
probably the best book OF the KIND hltherUo pro
duced in our language" 1t is, however aospUeo 10
the methods aud conditions OF study III EhglShu'
and has certain pecuarties that hinder It's success
full use by students in this country. Professor
TYLER accordingly, with the sanction OF Mr Morley
has undertaken such changes In the book as his o"
ACQUAINTANCE with it in the classroom had sug-
eested as desirable. As rule the work. In IT'S pres
ent FORM consists mostly of brief details and preg-
nant suggestions serving as a guide to the different
epoehs Of English literature in its progressive ue-
velopmept rather than series of complete sketches
for continuous perusal. There are, however, sew
eral portraiturcs of the great lights OF the respec
tive periods which. though on limited sca!e,
eyioce great soundness Of critical judgment and
often rare felicity of expression. OF these the
sketch of Roger Bacon presents favorable speci-
Rut the Great light IN science during all those ages,
Bscon Who born in PA was in his cradle in somer-
setsbre when the barOns obtained King Johh nls
signature To Magma Chsrta He belonged to rich fan-
iy, sought Rnowledge from CHI dhoOd, ana aNoiut" ~
sine of the day lie studied at oxford ana Paris ana
TIE death OF his father may have placed MS siart o. lug
Iatrrual estate Ia his hSnos lie spared no cos1 .o ~
tIuctors and transcTioers HOOKS ana Ihto5S
mastered only Latin Thoroughly, bul also htgT%
and Greek whlc. no. more man nv ime1 n ne we
tnen understood grSlnmauealy, ailagu6n tongues
more who could loosely read aud speak hOso tonsu H
rm %' IN ms own University OF oxford. Then he IN
drew entirely from the Cvli stie th"I Mts
joined the house OF the Franc scans on6ds
~ e in The ch for knowledge. Roger Bacon's
family committed itself 10 the kings sde II Snt 0lN
VIZ which Henry His greed, Ms corruption OF JGs'
bronebi mon him Tue success Of the haroRs ruined
Bacon's family. and sent ns mother DIO GeIS, anu
whole kindred into exile. Meanwhile the phOs'pLel
a. one o The oxford FTancscans, mad joined on oTGer
which prdec itself tie ch, cks put by II on me VANITY
OF learning But, ia spite Of ter se-oe ne
ciscans, at oxford and elsewhere. included many
learned men, who, by The caiy habit OF tteir Inlads
mpelod 10 give 10 scholarship Wnoi. SUM- p '
teal direction They alrt ady beginning to supply
fG T of Oxford til il rivalied that Of Paris Frar
Bacon me earliest of these teacAers SO was
Roger Bacon saw how clergy entanged ~ bar
rem subetes OF a logic Tar parted from an natural Laws
ouf OF which il spraug .ceYed that the use OF al
his knowledge, II lie could but make free use oil H.
would he 70 show how strength and peace were 10 De
given 70 the Church Aud then tie Pope who had been
tod OF his rare requirements and hs p.iios0p6e mna,
10 tie contrary, write Tor him what was IN his mind
Within his mind were the hrsi principles % uut anu
fruitful philosophy But 70 CON nit TO parchment al
that he bad been piuiug ~ Say woua cost hin %OO ID
references ana CNlcl-
linen .. lie was a Franciscan, vowed To poverty, ana
the Pope had money viiL the command TO "Ie.
BacOus cxed mother and brothers had spent an lheS
were worth upon their rauSoms Poor friends furnished
the necessary money, OF them by paNhlng RoOuS
Known to ms Holiness. There was difficulty oetNeen
the philosopher aud his immediate superiors, because
the Pope's command private, ana Only rehet 10
rr.iVed o oroers 10 re AK the disopiue which deprived
Franciscans of the luxury OF pen and ms But Obsa-
W'tbm a YEAR aud a nall 1860, his Opus Majus
Greater Work >, winch low Olin- a large Costlg-
printed folo his" Opus Minus" {. Lesser WorE y,
emit recaptuate its arguments and strengthen some
OF us parts.
The notices of Shakespeare. though simple and
inartlfcal in construction, evidently the fruit
Of elaborate thought and betIay profound insight
into the genius and character of the ilustrious
dramatist.
William Shakespeare was the great living writer at
the accession Of james l., when hs company became
that the Kings players inst ad OF the Lord C1am0si
1864 perhaps the 23d OF April for he bapuzed
birthday aud be died on the 23d Of April, l6l6. His
father was John Shakespeare, glover IN HenIey-SIy
smitterdeld Probably in 1857 John Shakespeare mar
NeG MARY !he yUunE H father had died month
before the marriage leaving to Mary by ans NH s9a
foHF acres With TWO 6ouses ana interest in other land at
Nilmcoe also two tenements at snltterheld, and 80
helped John Shakespeare for some years. but he was an
unpIos man, during all the years OF the boy
ste"dv INTO 6ebt and poverty In 1882 that SON. then
iSSesp Ter old appareny with no means OF gaining
a livelihood, married to Anne hathaway, then
twenty-siX old. the daughter Of husbanaman OF
the neiehbGrhood who had been dead about wear.
There is evidence whatever that this marriage was
other than happy one In the ear 1856 when william
Shakespeare was gWcntytWo, ne had Nlie ana tAlce
children 10 support. How could he best MAINTAIN theni
lie was poet Players had been 10 Stratf0rd. lie
Would go 10 London. and would seek his fortune by
steady work IN association with the rising power Of the
Ills wife and babies he would take with him into
the unwhoe osphere OF the great town. or bring
The ehilsren would drawing health from the fresh
breezes OF stIanerd the wife would DC living whole
some lie among her ola friends ncghbUrs ana Fca-
tous vale lie worked hard for tncm where money
couId he earned took holiday rests with them when
theatres were closed, and hoped thai hc might earn
enough to enable him to come home for good before ne
very Old, and live natural and bappy ME among
the quiet OF hs birthplace alnoug relatives Who
loved him, aud among the oo friends OF BIS cmldhsod
and his youth The man 0i inquest eeAius ls Ine hah
also highest sanity. Ia lower minds unusual excite
men, Of he brain may iead TO Doa Oh doiIns
OF expression with haI5red resemblance 10 Original
and energy Of thought Ephemcrai ana even iasune
regulations may founded this form Of wit but the
greatest among poets. ChRuccr OF shakespe9rcl Is
calm and simply wise lie is greatest OF poets not be
more intensely aud more truly than MS neghbors, tae
ties OF he He has keen happiness 10 the hone
circle IN associated with his ehdhOod III the
ReaGedu' ny H. LsSs wsr more NOT less TO tie
a pno f " X ~ IesJ; tlsn they would be 10 tae clti-
zen with perception OF tae hamOnes OF lie or ali
sbskespeare he'd because OF tIanscendent genius.
only simpler truer sense than any OF his nelghDols
The remarks on Ben Jonsou are equally desti-
tute of preteusOn, bat original in conception,
setting forth tine results Of deep reflection without
the slightest parade of manner. Ben Jonson,
under James l., gradually became the cOnvivial
centre of group of men of genius, and owed his
predominance to real intellectual power. The
playhouse audience was losing its old national
character. Secession of those men who might have
said Amen ct the close Of the Lookng-glass for
London aud En- gland meant the gradual loss of
main elefnent in the audIence-that part of il OH