New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MISS MILFORD.

Tho letters embraced in this collection contain q
sreat deal of amusing gossip much criticism Oh
cartons quality and pleasant glimpses OF character
"a, ,e cannot say that they fully justify the expec-
ht,ons aroused by the promise OF tho book MISS
Vjtford as the world has long known, was an
nmable and attractive lady, with a genius TOT
friendship and the circle Of her acquaintance was
arge and distinguished. But perhaps 1t Is mol INC
privilege of the must eStimable and sympatheuc
women to receive the most entertaining conhoenoes'
Ind il must be confessed that great many OF the
slectionate epstles here preserved even those lio
persons of literary note, more valuable lor 'hei
Indirect testimony TO the excellence of the lady VINO
,eceived them than for those intrinsic qualities
Shicb the general public will look fer. In shor.'
Nr I,Fstrange would have made his volume huch
S,tt.r IL his Judgment had been more severe let
nearly all the col respondence has at least the merV
of throwing "a pleasant light upon the geuue
.uthoress of sOur village" Oi whom IL has been
tnd that by example well as pTecept She bright
,ned the path along which she dwet, anu after All
,roper deductions have teen made ample occupa'
ION will be found in the book for some cheerful ana
instructive hours. Although Miss Milford wasS
famous and successful dramatst, tie letters nom
members of the theatrical profession arc not many.
The famous Mrs. Troope wrote to her often, ooln
from America and from her home in England 81
from this clty-"it is the only place where have
touud the society really good for anything" None
# her remarks about the United states show any
Miniature She protests that she has described things
inst as she saw them she censures the eXaggcratons
and plumbers of Captain Basil Halls ana she is very
happy in making money by her book; SO ttcs 1t
eh,uc p she cries. Many of Miss Mlttords best
friends and warmest admirers were Americans.
First among them are to be placed the sedgwicks
There are several excellent letters from Miss Z. Nj.
,edgwics in this volumel. and later she was on
terms of most cordial intercourse and correspond
ence with Bayard Taylor. james I. Fields and
others She met n. Z. Willis. and was much
pleased with him. He is very elegant young
man" she writes and more like one of the best OF
tur peers sons than rough republican, To those
Who remember how much offence was given in
England by the publication of his Penclllings by
The Way" the following extract from a letter oil
Nilis's to Miss Milford will be interesting:
You very kindly suggest book to me on Eng
land / cannot do IT, and will convince you OF II
In n moment have Seen overwhelmed with KIND
ness from the first step Oh The shores Oh TINS coun
fry and | have seen Everything eat beau: Not
iaiselv hut quite seriously, could not with truth
oxDress myself except IN supebqtve admiration OF
,vrIythns i'm England and this. though a true
vIGx, would seem in book like picture without
shade insipd. Besides, my countryinen would
tear Inr in pieces if | were 20 say IN PRINT tenth
part of what feel on the subject. And then roy
whole experience has been IN NeIli OF magnluctut,
bnt still pirate, hospitality. and could not make
book interesting without trenching on what is
sacred. have great reverence Tor househoiu gouS.
Still, | am writing constantly for an American
periodical The Nelc'Fork Mirror sketches OF dls-
ilnguishcd people ell, etc, and these VIII convey
70 INV corptrynen the MOST of what feel and see,
aud in a shape which Will never reach England
am Battered all tie Saint by your suggestion en-
met Jane Porter ana Miss Aiken and Tom
Moore and n troop more of beGHC esprtts yesterday
ut dinGer. What an Intoxicating life 1T is never
shall he content elsewhere. Any other country
would uDsphere me.
Miss Milford had an enthusiastic regard fer the
writings Of Oliver Wendell Holmes. whom she
called her "pet of pets" and there are several
admirable comments upon him IN her published
letters Certainly NO will quarrel with her for
esteeming the charming poet and essaylst so
Justly; but there some oddities III the following
example of the falibility of criticism at which Dr.
Holmes himself viii be not little surprised. IL
occurs in a letter to Digby Starkey, an freshman
who wrote an apologize poem on Judas. and who
replied, when asked why he took such character
under bis protection: Because no one else would
have anything to do with him."
Lungfellow has beautiful bits, but his prose is
trash aud confess that think he owes his success
here quite as much to ms iaults ms ooscuIlly us
merits. For my own part, greatly prefer the
healthy and cheerful masculine verse OF DE- Holmes
In consequence of my book, an English edition IS
lust printed DO read it, especially the latter part
of Maria" the introduction and commencement of
Asfraa ana tho /" Punchbowl" He is a marvel
Ions painter in worus and there is something about
the whole man wonderfully large and line. have
had from him letters as interesting as ever croseu
the Atlantic. | have now on my bed (wDereP am
writing Uncle TOMS Cabin another AMercan
book; from which, am told. Lord CarlIsli saIu
that he could not tear himself until ne tau Joi s
pleted it, have only Just begun 1t, bus HouoS II
it Will equally enihrall Inc. have no love ior
ne gro stories. Knowing many AmeTcans anu many
West Indians have learnt to consider einanclpa-
finn
MIR Webster 1.-THE greatest of lining Americans mas
lost his election because he was % GnaI ~
would cause an immedate DIVISION Oh tie Sni0n
and indeed mar the whole prosperity OF the tie. |
public and when maT so wise resigns tue nope Oh
power and risks hS popuaDy rdo " al os
conviction, they WHO nave no personal Ine"nS Vi |
judging would do wen 10 pause
She has much to say of James T. Fields: I" have |
known MANY brilliant takers" she writes, /" but |
never anyone that approached him. 1t is the |
triumph of meekness and animal spirits, without |
noise OF abruptness full of enjoyment and perfectly
unconscious" She tells the stOry-now so well
known-oi Carlyles depreciation of George Wash
ipgton IN q dinner-table conversation with Mr..
Fields, and adds the following supplement:
Another thing in Carlyle displeased him far more;
everyone knows that Emerson makes nm perfect
IDOL and 1t was thought that, if Carlyle cared for
anyone in the world, it was for Emerson. have
heard 1t SAID of them thoy are net only like
brothers but ike twIn-brOthers. Well, remember
That Emerson and Hawthorne both live at Concord,
aud You will appreciate the kindness OF Mr., Car
ye's speech.
. lsna, there g. place called Concord near YET
What like is itP .
q a pretty little Ncw-Epgland town." was Mr.
Fieldss answer. of no political Importance but
lively and pleasant as a residence"
"Pretty Lively !-ye ken had fanciea it to be
lull, dreary place. vi drowsy river making be,
e'e to creep through it, slow and muddy and
,tagnant, like the folk thai nhabit IT,"
SO much for Mr.. Carlyle, who has had the double
Misfortune Of writing according 10 the humOr-that
is the il-humor. of the moment, without the
slightest regard 10 consistency and truth and to be
surrounded by none but admirers, or listeners
borne down by mere noise. In England his fashion
waning ra pid!y, and have doubt hut that, like
most oyerratcd mon. he will live 70 share the