New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-06
DIR. HOLINESS NEW BOOK.


A MORTAL ANTIPATHY. First Opening OF the New
svo. PIP. 307. HoughtOn Mldin * CO.
ANY new book from the pen Of DR.. Holmes must
be a notable addition to the treasures OF American
literature. aid the present volume has an especial
charm because it is n continuation OF that dellght
full series By which Holiness fame as prose-wrlter
will be longest sustained. Although "The New
Portfolio" has no formal connection with the Break
fastabe books IL Is none the less truly their egit'
mate SUCCESSOR presenting the same characteristic
features and enlvened by the same spirit. There
are obvious differences of manner; for as those
earlier collections of humor and wisdom, OF poetry
and shrewd common sense were the lrst OF their
kind so they are likely to be the last They owed
great deal of their fascination to the fact that they
gaveOnly sl Chilly idealized representation what
the familiar talk of kindly and learned VIII OF tue
time might be- if he talked except in his best
moods and under the most stimulating conditions
But times have changed since the AutOcrat' the
Professor and the Poet left tho break fast-tabe ::
and "A kindly and learned wit does not talk now In
the same tone that ho used then lie is little more
serious, a little more searching, little less ready
To DO amused Even our wit il more strenuous than
il used to be and the Doctor has certainly grown
grayer since we last met. Yet he will never outllye
ms light heart and his genial temper praise heaven
and If the pattern OF this book of-essays-wth-a-
story-n-t seems a little old fashioned, we may he
thankful that good an old fashion has 50 accom-
pished master to keep it alive.
The story which .orms the principal substance of
4" Mortal Antipathy" concerns young man who,
in consequence OF accident in childhood. Is
afflicted up to the age of twenty five. with dis
tressing antipathy to young women. IL Is not Il
mere unreasonable repugnance, but a nervous dis
order which places his life in imminent danger so
long rs he remains near the exciting cause. The
physiological explanation OF the malady IS given
wtha particularly and clearness capable OF mystI-
fying the most skeptical reader; and We can inn
agn no tho Doctors delight III thinking what puzzle
he has left TO DO solved. The singular idea is carried
out with an abundance OF interesting incident as
well as all tho apparatus of medical learning How
il ends the will prefer to learn for himself
after beginning tho book he will have desire to
Law 1t down. Most of the characters, like those in
earlier books, are spirited yet slight sketches. NJ ~
Lurda Vincent. however Is somewhat carefully
elaborated and she IL well worth the pains. for she
is one of DR.. Holiness most lifcilko and amusing
figures.
Considered merely story :" Mortal Antip-
athy' must be called ingenious vigorous. ana alto
gcthcr succcssfu-a snguldry complete answer TO
those who assure that all tho stories have been
told. To consider it merely as n story, however,
would be to overlook it, chef charm The author
might have dropped Maurice kirkw00d III the midst
of his troubles aud forgotten all about the pathology
zeal problem aud vet bow We should have do
lighted III the inmltabr pictures OF Ncw-En4ahd
~ tie ways, in the aspiring young woman with too
much brain. in the interviewing reporter, Ia the
.a,3ciol. countty DOCTOR in the gentle Italian
scryant-how wc should have Delighted most OF all
in the continual manifestation OF tho authors pei
sonahty. which, We fancy, has never seemed more
winning than IN these pages. By all means let he
New Portfolio soon be- opened aglm.