The New York herald., 1879-02-10

tentious and is not Justified either by the authors
claims or by the subject matter of the book.
In fact there 10 possibility suggested that the pub
lishers aud the authors views We're at cross pur-
poses and that the former have had more 20 do than
the latter in making a swan of the authors goose
Actually the book is an admirably arranged work of
its kind taking its place in literary sense with the
harmless biographical gossip that Mr. James T. Fields
gave in Yesterdays with Autlors' few years ago,
although be it said. that Mr. Hills work is OF more
practical value than its predecessor In fact. the
authors style is more practical than elegant, ana
until the concluding pages reached there few
evidences of the authors claims skilled utsrd-
tear. As analyst Mr.. Hill has not the acumen to
deal with such character as Irving's. In sum-
ming up the causes Of his failure as dram
atst. he says:-'Irving. like Milton. was too
much Of an artist for dramatist. He could
not narrow himself into variety OF characters by
subjective illusion" The authors meaning is per-
haps evident enough. but his analysis cannot be
commended as clear or competent. The extracts
made in illustration Of the bographers text well
selected and bestowed to emphasize the leading
idea of the author in exciting an interest in this
subject and his works. quotation from reminis-
cent letter of Irving written from Madrid his
sixty-second birthday we'll worth the trans
planting to soil. In it he says:-
My life has been checkered one crowded with
incidents and personages, and ull of shifting
and sudden transitions. ALI these can summon up
and cause to pass before and in this way can pass
hours together in a kind OF revery When l was
young my Imagination was always In the advance,
pictWing out the future and building castles in the
air; now memory comes in the place Of Imagination
and look back over the region / have travelled.
Thank God. the same plastic feeling which used to
deck all the future with the lines OF faryland throws
soft coloring the past, until the very toughest
places through which struggled with many
heartache. lose all the asperity in distance.
Mr.. Hill does not agree with Mr. G. P. Lathrop in
affirming that Irvings pathos is always lamentable
failure. "Who has thoughtfuly read The Widow
and Her Son. The Broken Heart, in The Sketch
Book Annette Dearbre. In 'Bracebridee Hail.
he says. 'needs no refutation of this sweeping as
sertion." The author narrates an anecdote that he
maintains is better evidence of Irving's power of
pathos than any metaphysical proof. An American
gentleman wh6 visited Lord Byron in 1924 two
months before his decease, relates this story
He Gord Byron) rose from his couch when en-
tered. and. pressing my hand warmly, said :-"Have
you brought The Sketch DookY" / handed it to
him. when, seizing it with enthusiasm, he turned to
.'The Broken Heart i.That," said he, ..is one of
the finest things written earth. and want to
bear an American read it: But. stay. did you know
bless him.. exclaimed Byron; che is genius, and
he has something better than genius--a heart.
ws wish S could 5 see him, but fear rs never & shall,
Heart What word" In closing the first para
graph said. "shall confess it, believe in broken
hearts" "Yes.' exclaimed Byron. land so do and
so does everybody but philosophers and FOOLS
While was reading OF the most touching por-
tions OF that mournful piece observed that Byron
wept. He turned his eyes upon me- and said: 'You
me weep. sir Irving himself never wrote that
story without weeping, nor can hear it without
sronb,e nevsr brings tears 10 nv ewes but always
have tears for The Broken Heart Sir, how many
such men Washington Irving are there in Amer
icaG God don't send many such spirits into the
world"