New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Mp CONGnoN,s kEMlNISCENCEs.

"REMINISCENCES OF A JOURNALIST BY CHARLES
CoSGDoN. 12mo. up. Kill, 1913 James H. ossoo"
A few months ago there Law upon our table vol
ume of "reminiscences by gentleman to whom Tor
tune bad been in some respects very kind. In long
life he had seen great deal OF the world, both nj
home and abroad he had known many dst'n-
gushed people; and his memory was well stored
with interesting rccollections. HIS book was one
to he read with avdty; but it was hardly one TO be
read with pleasure. No things seemed to have fixed
themselves moro strongly upon his mind than the
faults and foibcs of the companions and
preceptors of his youth. We love to think
Of afternoon As time of serene and kindly feelings
when the asperitics Of the hours of toni and struggle
are forgotten. Bat the author OF the volume 10
which we refer chatted from his armchair III
censorIous and ungraciOus temper. which made All
his listeners uncom Portable To such budget OF
memories NJ Congion's CHEEKY pages Offer the
strongest possible contrast. The readers OF ina
TRIBUNE VITO T. joycd these "reminiscences so highly
when they appeared in weekly chapters N the sun
day EDITION Of eur journal have no need 10 90 told
how genial and how gentle is the spirit which now
addresses them. The bright, healthy tone of
the book seems all the more admi-
rabie when we remember what
ncr of life it surveys. Please heaven
it will be long before We think OF our good friend
but sarely that may pass for protrscted career
which covers SO many stormy and critical periods,
which has run with. many astonishing social
changes and political revolutions and which has
been closely interviewer with great National
conflicts Ever since the authors ." small hands
were bistcred Ky beating the forms with the old
fashioned ink balls in the New Bedford printing
Office where his father worked off the 400 weekly
copies of his newspaper, Mr.. Congdon has been IN
the thick Of the irht OF journalism. He came TO
The TRIBUNE the fercost heat Of the antislavery
confess: he devoted himself with a zeal and
an energy unsurpassed 10 the defence Of human
liberty; and 10 the overthrow OF the slave power
it was he of al men. rs Horace treoleY wrote, who
"m,st skilfuy, effectively. perSlstently welded
the trenchant BLADE OF satire" The controversies OF
that time naturally aroused strong paSs,ons--an
honest scorn. noble Indignation, an invigorating
hatred and contempt for eminent political shams;
and hey left. all know. residuum of bitter
hess i'll the character of many al amlabe man who
took part in them. But Mr.. COngdOn has passed
through generation of lighting without being
soured by 1t. He has lived All his days in the tur
moil of political journalism. sharing in all
its excItements, hitting hard blows with the most
strruu1u JUS Of Us ; and lac has Kept the sweet
posure of gentle Christian philosopher. Herein
we think lies much of the singular charm Of his
book In drawing The portraits O. other people, Mr..
Coucdon has unconsciously made n winning picture
of himself.
The "reminiscences covera vast variety of topics
politics literature the life of an old whaling town,
the stage the pulpit tne interior Of the newspaper
office they abound IN fchcious sketches OF caarac-
ter they are rich in anecd0te; they are Favored
with delicate hum1r; they are freely spicei with
a mid, denci0Gs gossip which never runs into
Earrniity. b 1Sc who read them 10 numbers VII
scarcely reGl u over how many pleasant
fields they Stray until they see the
chapters cU,lcctr, Unlike many pIpers OF
their class they gam in effect by beng Brought 80
geLAer The, have been revised, moreover; much
neN matter ha- been added here aud there; unhu-
isbed portions nave been iiicd out and retouched,
and au introduction has been written which Is fresh
aud characteristics.