New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-30
BITS or CRITICISM.

AN OUTBURsT FOR ROsSETTI.-M. ROSsettis
new volume is not yersfiod pseudophilosophy nor
nor a mannercd ceverness: nor "A freshly discovered
afectatOn. The best part OF 1t is that rare and wonder
ful thing mere poery-cusered fruit fu OF the scent
and color OF the sun The French speak Of book
nourished with facts those poems are noursled with
in their creators formative spirit they have grown
gradually under his shaping hGncs they have been los
fine movements and gracious ways They are strange as
well lovely, but their srangeness never startes or
shocks to barren SURPRISE II Is strangeness sub
dued INTO harmony with lovelness appearing thus to be
no more the euence OF beauty We try these
poems with the ear and the ear grows TO comprehend
their moduated harmones and fainter shell-Ge MUIR
We try them with the eye and the eye is quick
ened and controlled by their plenitude and temperance
pure color We try them with the intellect and the
heart and find their gifts for these worth coyeting,
although il is true other masters have shown
excellent way.-lE. Dowden in The Academy.
DARwIN's CANoNIzATIoN OF WoRMs-Mr.
Darwins skin lies most Of all in just such surprises
that which he gives us in this delightful little volume
the growth OF coral reefs, the slow movements OF
climbing plants the effects of fertIzatOnsnd in
his wonder-working hands the mass Of dry detail be-
qUiCkened as II by magic into living romance,
u of vivid reality aud instinct with evolutionary plot
interest the most fascinating sort Something OF tho
same kind he has done with the common earthworm
the earthworm is mere blind dumb, senseless and
pleasantly Shiny anned. Mr. Darwin undertakes TO
habitate his character, and the earhworm steps forth
at once rs Intelligent and benelclent parsonage,
worker of vast geolosical changes, paner down ON
mountain sides, creator OF fertile aluvia cornands,
friend of in his agricultural operations, and an
though unconscious ally Society
the Preservation OF Ancient Monunents-fPall Mall
Gazette.
PORE AS \ SATIRIST.-His moral character OF
course affects his character "a satirist. Pope nos
what johnson called good hater, for his hatred
often unmanly; but like Dryden. he always succeeds
best in satire when strong personal cling prompts his
verse. An intense glow OF emotion anmaes his hnest
poetry Il the noble praise he hestOws his
friends and strongly still In his tremendous assaults
upon the of letters and the Grub-st hacks whom
he chose treat his In nine ont OF ten
the vocation In the first instance from the poet
but his Indignation, however unreasonable, was not
feigned really felt what he said or ne could mes
have said well Mhen the other mana, ne uttcs
yrtuous pattudes in prose- is to see that they
mean nothing The insinceFty or MS cOrrespOhuelcq
contrasts strongly with the eager ana Venomos sincerity
with which he attacks his Toes IN Nerse'-liho
Athen9um
WAN AND LITERATURE.-The most universal
oerns cannot be wholly Independent OF his surround
and without knowledge OF these he Is but par
tiailv intellgihe. But, pace the believers In tho
cnIStenng influences Of trade and travel, IT. generally
Inv political events that nations become knowh 10 ono
another. Trade teaches nothing but trade, ana II Is
always the VINO travel IL Is but few or the Few
who travel to any purpose and Is only one traveller or
so in alternate generations who can make that purpose
of profit TO Others When peaceful intercourse mas doo
its utmost II is by lighting that nations make one an.
acquaintance by the war OF one OF them Mth
n third party under circumstances interesting 10 Ine
other Out OF the jaws OF the lion comes the money! 70
doubt the cannon OF Van Tromp had something 70 40
with attracting MltOn's to the literature OF HOahu
Political importance does not necessarily mean poica
pOwer, and n country become important ~ psinS
IL while Italy the interesting VIC
Inn OF Austria and France that its literature was COM
mon object of study, and the Penlnsular war Was
probably the efficient OF SoutheYs ana L0chbarts
studies Ia Spanish literature. Ii certainly was the cause
OF the popular interest IN them-Ihe Saturday he'isw'