New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-06
ing how to translate them into the peculiar language
of this instrument.
MIR. HAssARDs LONDON SKETCHES.

MN. HASSARDS LONDON SkEIChES.
| A PICKWfCKIAN PILGRIMAGE. BY JOHN r. G
HAssARD Boston, James r. OsgOOd Co.
| The charm of such writing as this book contains
is much more readily felt than described Mos!
readers, doubt, would first of all observe its
| perfect simplicity-which is and delightful
literary virtue. But this is only element of its
character. There is about it elusive quality OF
literary sentiments quiet, refined, whole hearted
and satisfied delight in literary associations
which at once stamps it the work of born artist
in literature This is the same attribute that has so
endeared the essays of Lamb and Leigh Hunt-and
it is attribute that no writer success.
fully counterfeit. Mr.. Hassard's theme was abso-
luely common place, in its waysde plainness yet,
by his innate literary devotion and the mingled
purity and piquancy of his style, he has invested it
with both romantic grace and a tender human
interest There is not an artificial idea
nor q strained expression in the whole
narrative; but, from first to last it CLOVIS with the
gentle ardor of a passionate lover of letters and
is fused and colored by genuine intellectual char
acter
The plan was to rambe through the streets of
London, and to visit some of those places which
have been immortalized in the novels OF Dickens ;
and then to record the observations and impressions
derived from this sort of dream-lixe m using over
the vanishing relics of great writer No design
could be simpler; and for that very reason, among
Others, not one writer IN thousand could
have fulfilled it without becoming insuffer-
ably tedious. Mr.. Hassard has shown that he pos
sessed every requisite for its successful accomplish
ment. His knowledge of Dickens is seen to be of
that wide and accurate kind which can ONLY come of
loving appreciation. He has read him with the
heart and the heart has better memory than the
mind HIS taste is found to be never at fault as to
the choice of Localities to be visited and described
The queer old tavcrns that are sacred now to the
memory OF Mr.. Plckwick and the Wcllers, the
lovely, haunted vicinage of ancient Rocb-
ester, the mysterious retreat of Mrs. Todgers
the sombre Inns of Court the opulent
squalor of Petticoat Lane, and the grim and gloomy
rookeres of Limehouse olc-all these are represent
atiyc spots to the votary of Dickens and suggest his
many-sded nature III its pathOs its humor its pity
ing humanity, its manly strength, and its chd-like
sweetness. Mr.. Hassard's story of these haunts-
touching their salient features lightly. and with
words that are full of coor-seems TO carry that
rugged gentle presence along the whole of it's course
so that his book is not less fine piece of suggestive
description than most significant tribute to the
vitality of the Influence of the great aathor in
whose footsteps he has trodden
1t would be strange il tho style of Dickens had
not affected that of his afeconate aud reyerent dis
ciple The lessons that il has manifesty helped to
teach him, however, among the best that
writer can learn. Clean precision aud harmonious
grouping are among the chief beauties of Dickens
llassard at the tiIuc, has playful humor and
n felicity of phrase that are entirely his own .'I
have an impression that he wore many but.
ton, but perhaps IL only his manner
that conveyed the sense of buit TONS" is for example
n sentence of uncommon and individual humor. with
a very vigilaut satircal spirit smiling behind its
mask. These chapters abound with similar touches
of quiet drollery and whan, az in the tranquil and
dream-lile narrative Of "a Boat VOYAGE on the
Vp he tN tNo,
loneliness and storcd antiquity which is the halow-
ing glory of England, his diction is at once
treighted with all the sweetness of his theme. Here
is the imaginative perception which, gazing on an
WED ruin, sees 1t not only it is but glorious with
the streaming standards and knightly professions of
the odcn time and here also is the comprehensive
sense OF beauty which equally perccives the tower
ing English elm with its dense terraces Of foliage
the poppy spangled hillside meadows that flash in
the sunshine like pennons of green and crimson and
the violet by n messy stone, half hidden from the
eye" IL is book that leaves behind it faint de-
hghtfu fragrance, and one that will not fail TO sur-
gest, to sympathetic readers, what n wealth of
thought and enjoyment, iii common waysi,le objects
awaits always the eyes that only have the power to
see it.
YOUNG FOLKS HISTORY OF THE WAR FOR THE
nHiOS By JOHN d. CHAMrIIN, JR. PIP 500 Henry
Mr.. Cbampn has made an attractive volume, and
mas put FORM OF Wcll-told, ed.
pact narrative the story of the great Civil War His
book has one serious fault, however. He attempts.
In the chapters devoted To the causes which brought
on the struggle to even up" both sides and to dis
tribute blame and praise equally between the
rebels and the defenders OF the Uuon rs to
leave the great question OF right and
wrong entirely obscured. He writes of war
waged by the South for the pcrpctuation and extern
sion of the barbarous institution of human slay-
cry as though he were describing the contests he
tween the Guephs and Ghibellnes and were under
no obligation as an author to point a moral for his
readers Now, II there is anything clear in history
1t is that there was right side and wrong side 10
the American Civil War. The older generation who
took part i'll the contest and have not ougrown the
strong feelings which hinder a dispassionate view
may be left in the fog of preiudice and
erroneous opinion without any great harm but
1t Is important that authors who write for the young
men of the country, who to control its DESTINY
III the near future, should present the terrible
lessons of the war that they cannot be msunder-
stood. The effort of the Southern politicians to de-
stroy the Union and build upon its ruins an empire
based upon slavery cost the lives of six hundred