New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-17
BITS or CRITICISM.

SHAKESPEARE AND BEETHOVEN IN ONE
Those wno are acquainted WITH K chri Wagner's
erary compositions berg hardiy less individual than his
music and an adequate trans alton OF one OF hi, works
Ia his book Beethoven he says that what Shakespeare
/. 10 the 0rama, Beethoven Is to music. and that
the most perfect work OF art would oe found III ihe
combining OF the sister arts IN one This, as l. Wei
known, is what Wagner has attempted in Ills later
works. especially IN his "rrisan and Isolde" and the
a. Ring DIES N0eungen," with very large measure oil
success and the present volume while mOs interesting
as tribute OF great genius u another, Is also
hcant heng undoubtedly Intended, at least IN part,
as defence and Justification OF the theories of the
author Athenaum.
AN ENGLIsHMAN's OPINION OF HowELLs-
En- gnshmen do not oeB read the critical part Of
American reviews and II Is perhaps fortunate for Ir.
Howels's reputation that tlcy 90 not IL not unusual
10 fiDd spoken OF III these reviews sort OF
pound OF rnlckeray and Landor novelist possessed
OF the most remarkable insight into character and power
OF drawing il, and. tney would themselves say.
stylst Of unsurpassed originality ana force We have
seen II stated in many words that Mr. Howells yields
10 no Que living among those who write the English
language. Tnls silly prOylnclasm might, II antcl-
paied an actual acquaintance with the authors works.
rot tle inure tDeIr chances Fortunately, however.
of Nj. Howells's work notably "A Foregono Con-
cluslon cam over To Englnd early enough to get the
Of his nludicous trumpeters. IL anybody claims
for him the position o, the best novelist IN America
and OF writer who, with the heavy drawbacks Of his
dialect, stl deserves IA good place among his
English contemporaries. the claim certainly cannot be-
disputed. Mr.. Howelis o the class OF American
writers whom Mr.. Heury James also represents. Bat
he has perhaps the advantage of AIr. James less
logged cingng to European themes in greater range
freshness OF subject and III the absence Of AL but
FAINT flavor OF mannerism On The whole. he is
very pleasant author TO read though even ia ms case
We wish we cou Oe INDUCED with AN English edition
OF hs relieved OF the uBess ot orthography and
of phrase which dsfgure the book before Us.
However. " The Undiscovered Country" is good
enough o,ok 10 ENABLE the der to 20 On nadlnS i
presented 10 hlm line saturday Review.
Mr.. LoNGFELLow's ULTIMA TuULE.r-It is
sufficient that Nj Longieow Is veteran 40 zoe art u
poety aud that If he has at no time attaued TO IN,
most secrets, aud he unirequently produced
work best treated WIN httie Sood1n"Eed rdeue ne
has at the same TINE probably provided more English
speaking persons WIN poetry us they under
stand and enjoy tnan a0y OF his contemporaries.
In these verses al the notes or the work which Mr.
Longellow has been lndustriousy composing tor baia
century and recognizable. There Is IN nen the
poetic dlerentla 1t may b. sid. ~ small doses and
suited weakly constitutions but tdeu the weakly cUn-
situations matters pOetcal decidedly hemajoiiy
The treatment Of common place sentimeDt the cmpoy-
mcpt Of commonplace orudition, the uSe 0i
commonplace language 50 as just 10 ltt them all niue
out Of their commoup laceness NAV he sara 10 DC tne
without aoneuess, that each mans fay"rte authors are
those who lust above and not too Jar above has own
head aud the saving would certainly account for the
immense popularity which Nc. LOugielOw ,'as enjoyed,
ana In tue main very justly enjoyed. inege Is,
moreover as a rule, in Mr. Long fellows work certain
spontanety which justihes the clam he makes IA tho
enyo TINS book that the poes songs CONE 10 him las
the birds come Ia the spring. and thar when The angel
SAYS NtIte," ne needs wre them. Perhaps those
posts fortunate who do not Invariably obey rae
angels words VINO apply the critical method 10 the
messenger "a discern whether he be false true one.
But Mr ngfcllOw's own method is loSt n,d 10 GER
tam extent as the matter OF thai poetry usually
Justified OF al her caldren.-( rue Pail da Gazette.
LILLIAN H,wruoRNE's New BooK.-Mr. Haw-
shorue mas established pulaton Il rising author,
A. ON who has the power TO interest his readers. and his
wiring Is generally pleas M ana refined ms aIVnnse,
spread as warrant the republication ofevery uvaty
wncn he may have wrten Inc n,ee .slcs 20 ,Is ss
He mus gwen proof OF his power Ihtse snort stores arc
not the hralthies way OF testing exefesng o,
touches giving FAINT ghpses u genius anu origibany'
1.-The Athen8un.