New-York tribune., 1880-02-20

plicity. He rose at SIX and after rather late
breakfast devoted himself to bis letters anu news
papers by post till eleven o'clock, when he set aoou'
the regular work Of the day. At two. whatever tne
weather he took his daily walk, often with a oooA
in hand returning to dine at four. attcr WHICH hc
cOurted a sound nap by q lounge on tne soIa' WI"
some light reading till summoned to tea al SIX
His best time during the Winter was by cahuie-
lipbt supper broke off his studies at hai-pasl V'
and after toying with his books an hour OF So lie
went to bed. He had unpoetical cravings lor INC
comforts of beef and bread for wine II II couu DE
had and he il said. at supper for one mcditative
tumbler of punch or black currant rum" winter
was southeys harvest season. Then no visitor
dorkened his doors. except perhaps, Wordsworth,
who had plodded all the way from Rydal on his
;udafajcable legs In Summer the interruptions
were freouent Southey. " no always had time for
evervthinO found time for crowd not only OF
friends but of strangers. Many Americans visited
Greta Hall. and the cultivated and intelligent
specimens of our cOmpatriots were always eSpecrhy
welcome The society he loved best was tnat oi
old aud chosen friends. or if new friends, one AT a
time and only one Miscellaneous company To
certain extent dsordered and intoxicated him. lie
felt no temptation to say great deal, but wouiu
often say things strongly which had better Deeh el'
unsaid The literary tastes OF Southcy were OF
singuarly universal character. With the exception
of the exact sciences. aud the higher specalatlons
of philosophy, there was scarcely part o1 the uo-
main of knowledge in which he did not find him
self al home After the age Of thirty. however. bis
love of poetcal composition began to wane. and he
attached himself in preference TO historical studies.
As a prose writer, SOuthey was at bis best. In the
command Of pure and vigorous English he had few
rivals. The charming narrative OF his biography
has never been surpassed. No STYLE as the
writer of the work Justly remarks, is better fitted
for such purpose than that of Southey. " 1t does
not beat upon the with hard metallic vibration
The sentences not cast by the thousand III one
mould of cheap rhetoric, normade brilliant with one
cheap color. Never dthyrambic. he is never dull
he affects neither the trick of statencss nor that
of careless ease he does not seek out cuosltes OF
refinement nor caress delicate afecations. Because
his style is natural, it is inimiabe, and the only
way to write like SOuthcy Is to write we'll"
A BREEZE FROM THE WOODS. BY W. c. BARTLETT.
12mo pp 2l2. san Francisco; Authors PrlVa'e Eui'
ton.
The collection of literary and miscellaneous
essays contained in this volume were originally pub
lshed in the Overland Monthly" where they "ona
highly favorable reception from large circle OF readers
by their freedom and ygor Of thought their natura
ness OF feeling and the vvacy and elegance OF their
dictlon At the instance OF many friends the author mas
now issued private edition, which will not fail TO be
greeted with a cordial welcome by those already
familiar with its contents, while readers who be
come acquainted with them for the first time will re-
oice I'm SO fresh and delightful addition TO their nte
lectual pleasures Mr.. Bartlett makes personal con-
esson ut the close Of his preface which apy suggests
the tone OF the work II these pages disclose more OF
the freedom Of outdoor Efe than the philosophy born
nj priyate meditation because the author loves the
woods better than the garden better than the
low diet and high thinking Of any philosopher (who
above the clouds ana the friendships which have
rpcned under genial skies better than all" Most OF the
ESSAYS are devoted 10 PICTURES Of rural scenery and
illustrations Of rural life aoTdng an attractive cOntr
button to dyllc prose whose fragrant aromas form
SO agreeable an element I'm recent popular literature