New-York tribune., 1880-04-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
REMINIscENCEs OF CHANNING.

BoDY. t2mo. pp., 459. Roberts Brothers.
The first impressions of DIR. Charming received
by the editor of tins volume were when she was
child eight or nine years old living in the house of
her parents in the ancient seaport town OF Salem,
Massachusetts One fair Sunday morning it was
reported that DR.. Charming was to preach at the
Second Church, the place of worship attended by
her parents, and her thoughtful mother insisted on
taking the young Elizabeth with her to the service.
because, she said, takes Qenius TO reach the
hearts of children" The pastor of the venerable
church. the Rev. Thomas Barnard, was New
England minister of the old school. wearing even
on the weekdays black gown and cooked hat,
according to the goodly fashion which bad not then
entirely passed away. The excellent old man was
no BOarerges In the pulpit. though he was kind,
friendly sou aud had seen better days as preacher
The wondering child was overcome with surprise
when she saw small man. with rapid, nervous
motion, dressed in travellers great-eoat go into
the pulpit and without sitting down-for he was
little belated-take up the hymn book. turn its
leaves quickly, and enter the desk then slowly
raising his large remarkable eyes. began to read
devotional hymn. The attention of the little giri
was at once fixed by that look with which she be-
came so familiar in after life. and which she always
associated with the recorded of the martyr
Stephen. Tho same look repeated when he
arose after the hymn was sung, and slowly uttered,
as lie closed his eyes, solemn invocation, at the
commencement of the prayer new sense
seemed to DO awakened in her young heart at the
thought of mans communing face TO face with
God. She had been brought mp by religious devout
mother, aud was early accustomed to the exercise
of PRAYER, but so tame and conventional seemed
every act of worship which she had heard. that she
felt for the first time that man could now, like
prophet of old, converse with God us friend with
friend.
The principal part of Miss Pcabody's volume is de-
voted not so much to personal "reminiscences illus
trative of the character and ways of life of Dr.
Claiming. as to q record of his opinions and ideas
expressed in familiar conversation and correspon-
deDce. and noted down at the time in the journal OF
the editor. They rel late for the most part to d.
Channin,s views OH various topics of religion and
morals of education, of social reform and progress
and Of domestic culture. with occasional discussions
of books and literature. With little novelty, per-
haps. to readers who have become acquainted with
Dr. Chauning's mode of thinking through the pc
rusal of his writings, they still possess good deal
of interest as supplementary expressions OF his
views sometimes in the gradual processes OF torma
ton aud they often incidentally throw pure aud
beautiful light on his admirable private character
which. owing TO his habitual sensitveness and re-
serve. failed. in many cases, to be eomprehended,
and was rarely perhaps, thoroughly and wisely ap-
and the retirement of the domestic circle.
There are glimpSes of DR.. ChaIlnings private
lfe however which agreeably relieve the prevailing
severity of the work, and will engage the attention
of readers to whom the most trivial circumstances
in the surroundings of an iliuStrious man are not
without interest. Dr. Claiming, perhaps. was
found at his best in his favOrite Newport home,
and Miss Peabody produces several little scenes ard
incidents. which many would consider beneath the
dignity of a formal biography, but which are doubt
less worth recOrding;-
Dr. Charming rose very early indeed he did IN
Winters aud aztec his bath went out ar once into he
garden-as the whole GinDs farm was called Tor the
flowers. hOwerng and ubs an brds TIA; never
were startled by gun; AT O'clock be came IN to he
with morning glory. One cup Of black tea and one
slice of brown toast was ali that h stomach could bear
tempt 10 live on TOO little food when he fs' became
student divinity ana thought tnus 10 save tue nec's-
atty of bony exercise, ana so redeem time for study
The eject contraction or the stomach WEIGH is IN
incurahle disease. He said, when ling me this.
learned by this natural penalty he sacredness OF the
laws Of the physical system that tley too are the laws
O God Not being able to eat enough to support mans
bony. am unable 90 use my mind at all except FER
small noron OF me day. or c0nse thefG me- s
well as the generative action OF his laws bt Ssi- ny
Milton tins Lesson, when he puts into the mou.h
the tender Son Of God and elder brother Of man tie
ngaln in spiritual formi Every symbol oi Mitonls
Uga ys nSd exnsinS 10 EVs Nn" Or Tneses the Hei
s, ,nshity mat the way to sa vallon still open aud
that they adore the large merry involved n their
punishment FOR having abused the gift OF Paiads."
After breakfast. II Dr. Chauning dld not 80 To Ie on
children looking INTO the blIds'nests, an at ,hc pro-
gress made by every hOwei while enjoy G tir sunsne
IN former chamer, he summoned the whole household
be perfect iunlng Tor the music OF TUG day. OF to
thousand stringed harps OF the domestic OIchestia
seeS o nave a ecpeT of S M S" nats
fhp ~
iaole ~ DO summoned al any moment 10 LOOK al
Se passne beauty Of Sse regard
all he Summertime truly religious festival whose
with innocent animal life He often drove in the after
noons for exercise In rough Wagon sometimes IN
observe snd %oud pom, 9S every eany tf Gf The 1nd
%s ali took OUR bathing So6as ana
10 the beach; and in long band holding each other
to be @ On % hand for accidents 1--WE we would walk down to
meet the surf. and let 1t roll over U.S. "a sOri most
did not favor excursions OF any kud. we read Persian
Sketches" "aia Baba, aud other pleasant books or
"Made sunshine in the shady place"
In the drives had with Dr. Chsnning he sometimes
went the OF Newport and showed M the haupts
Of his youth. One day called on lady who pressed
IN Sswp0T ': Az lts Miss CLARKE said he s rich cake
has been tue ruin Of Newport" Aud when we came out
ehnaSOod was attached 10 the person OF an ola
%ay sHSs S nd
party Cookery seemed to be regarded as the most
serious and Lighest OF Aud certainly II is most
portant ara II It's ideal DC th health OF the physical
system instead of excess OF physical peasc. Ia
%hich mental aud moral pleasure is sacrheei The uni
yerSsl disease of the human is sufficient prcof
that we have not We, discovered yOu would perhaps
have Os knowledge OF the laws Of God with respect 10
tie body 10 lose consciousness OF these was pernats
tbe sin. Its first effect 70 spoil tue pure
mind 0f its original holy instincts and Gin It's powers OF
ses perception The last triumph Of Christianity may
be lie ,d,scovery Of "a peri CT hygiene"
II was on IN drives that Dr. Claiming spoke to nc
of his own personal experiences In his childhood and
while growing up Tie also talked to me great deal
about Rhode Island. whose government he Thought |
allowed freedom t0 individual dryelOrme1t
of Character. Among mauy singular characters tIat he
d. sorbed were some prOfessed ah i-ta; great
ply ician aud man who used 10 hhddUn n-rt 20
tie h,puae sport Ike various animals. IN ORDER rs
he said TO "expereuce Nature In all her oims" lie