New-York tribune., 1879-08-29

Otncr 1ODu WHICH WIZ pIODdoly pO
by Us during the next four years. When the
vast unopened tracts IN The West and the halt
cultivated wastes of the South are taken INTO
consideration, the commission appear to have
difficult work in hand.
Seventy years ago to-day was born one of iour
most distinguished men of letters. DR.. Oliver
Wendell Holmes early won well earned distluc-
tion and some Of his cleyerest productions are
those of a period cl his life not far removed from
boyhood. At twenty years Of age. he was the
recognized wit of Harvard College, at whose
lively salies the dons lost their gravity and the
undergraduates roarcd Dr. Holmes Is one of the
few poets whose mature work has kept the bril-
liant promise of youth His literary industry
has been great but SD far from growing weary
he has gone doing better and still better work and
surprising everybody By the development of fresh
talents. Since he read his Poetry, Metrcal
Essay" before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Har-
ward IN 1S30 he has written many poems equally
clever; but he has also gwen US several excellent
novels, and that thoroughly unique and original
series of which 81 ne AutOcrat Of the Breakfast
Table, was the beginning. The general reader per
haps will not know that DR.. Holmes has also won q
high place in the medical profession as n writer
upon professional topics frequently enlivening the
ing humor. In whatever literary work he has un-
Jertakeu his taste has been perfect, and Lls hand
sure Bat more than all we know that he will
prize the gratitude OF those 10 whom he has brought
pleasure and consolation. whose hours of pain he
has frightened aud to whom he has given such rare
and innocent happiness. OF all our literary men,
he alone perhaps eau truly boast that never IN
single instance has he boon dull; To which We may
add that he has never been careless. The construction
of of hs minor pieces Is pretty near PERFECTION
That they have won aud Kept an unusual popularity
may be attributed much to their artistic construc-
ton as to their tender thought and fidelity TO ma
ture. We might indulge in some serious reflection
upon the old age TO which DR.. Holmes is getting
somewhat near; but we can only think Of him as
vet full of the cheerful hilary OF his boyhood and
as having perhaps in his scientific studies found an
elixir of youth which will keep him buoyant. we
hope, for twenty years and more to come,
rumor reaches MS from private source that it is
probable the Rev. George Macdonald may visit this
country again during the Winter, bringing his wife
and children with him. The entire family have re-
Gently been giving series of dramatic perform
ances in London founded on The Pilgrims Progress.
Dr. Macdonald playing the part of Greathcart and
his wiso of ChristiaRa. The London press commend
highly the "cuuous and delicate quality Of the en-
tertalnmcnt;" The Academy declaring That the men,
bers of this little domestic company play up to each
other with a much fidelity and accuracy a. those
of the Com6die Francaise. There is touching
undcrcurrent Of meaning in this novel dramatic
venture which should be given IN justice to Dr.
Macdonald. Whatever may be the opinion of the
admirers, or rather disciples of this novel
ist or of the work he has done. they
are all agreed that be might have done
better had fate dealt ess hardly with him. With
constant i-health, and family of eleven children
and six adults depending his sole exertiOns he
has never been able to take time to give his best
thought in its best form 30 the world. The lofty
Imagination ami keen glimpses into truth which
find II his books are too often obscured
by hasty. soy enly floods Of words-and an
abundance cf padding. 4 man who is forced to
write incessandy, even while in the cars, in order
10 supply his children with bread. cannot stop to
elaborate thought or even 10 pay Difference to
grammar. To help him his wife a few years ago
contrved this little religious drama, which she and
her children acted in private houses with more ap-
pause than pecunary success. Dr. Macdonald HIM
self now takes the principal part, and the play is
produced in public
Tho venerable Mrs. Elizabeth Oakes Smith, whose
poems were well kuc, TO she last generation, has
lust sent a touching appeal TO the North on behalf
of the poor farmers and fishermen the North
Carolina coast VINO were ruined by the hurricane of
the 9TH inst. Most Of he owlying farms, accord
ing to Mrs Smith whose home il appears is in Car
teret County were swept bare Of houses, out-buIld
ings crops etc. The cotton fields look If burned
by fire; the corn is curled and blackered. The
whole of Carteret County she states. exposed to
the force Of the storm. A tidal wave rose and
destroyed all that the hurricane spared-cabins,
boats ii ye-stock, etc. Many Of the inhabitants are
Ashermeu, who earned scantY Ewing by carrying
their f,i, clans, and oysters to the larger towns
along ne coast Their pOoT httle vessels
lie In fragments all along the shore, and
they and the poor farmers with their wives
and children. are In danger of starvation.
unless timely aid is offered. We believe that Mrs.
Smith cannot overstate this matter. Anything as
Door or bare of the necessities of life North
Carolina coast farm at the best ot times is not
probaby 20 be found In the North, even in scanty
New-Englandj and a North Carolina coast farm
after hurricane and tidal wave is a subject upon
which amount OF pity or help can be wasted.
Mrs. Smith suggests that contributions for these
homeless foodless people shall be sent to the Ma
tional Bank at Newbern, n. U.
The plan Of the Mississippi planters TO put stop
to the emigration to Kansas has turned out as THE
TRIBUNE predicted. 10 the confusion of the plan
ters Before the negro committee had started on
their jour- cy Of inspection. tho whole country un4